Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
This action is in response to applicant’s amendment received on 04/29/2026. Applicant’s election with traverse of Invention I, Species A, claims 1-6, is acknowledged. The traversal is on the grounds that search and examination of the entire application can be made without serious burden to the Examiner. This is not persuasive. Specifically, the Examiner is required to utilize different search queries; and the art applicable to one invention will not necessarily be applicable to the other invention. Therefore, the restriction requirement is deemed proper and therefore is made FINAL.
Claims 1-10 are pending. Claims 7-10 are withdrawn from consideration as being drawn to a nonelected invention.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because sheet 118 is identified in figure 9 with character number 119. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 115 in figure 9 and 215 in figure 10. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended.
Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities (please refer to the PG Pub of the instant application):
In paragraph 0025, line 10, “second sheet 20” should read –second sheet 22--.
In paragraph 0029, lines 7, 8, 9 and 11, “scissor jack 112” should read –scissor jack 114--.
In paragraph 0030, line 13, “the sheet 112” should read –the sheet 118--.
In paragraph 0031, line 1, “FIG. 9” should read –FIG. 10--.
In paragraph 0031, lines 9, 10, 11 and 13, “scissor jack 212” should read –scissor jack 214--.
In paragraph 0032, line 12, “the sheet 212” should read –the sheet 218--.
In paragraph 0033, line 1, “FIGS. 10 and 11” should read –FIGS. 11 and 12--.
In paragraph 0033, line 8, “sheet 311” should read –sheet 322--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 5-6 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 5, in line 7, “…and the second move to…” should read –…and the second sheet move to…--.
Regarding claim 6, in line 3, “and then the second sheet moves…” should read –and when the second sheet moves…--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION. — The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 4, the claim recites the limitation “the at least one seal of the second sheet” in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
For the purpose of this examination, the claim has been interpreted to mean, in line 5:
--at least one seal of the second sheet--.
In line 6:
--the at least one seal of the second sheet that extends…--.
and, in lines 8-9:
--wherein when the second sheet moves to the closed position the at least one seal of the second sheet contacts a stop on the rib.--.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 are allowed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GUSTAVO A HINCAPIE SERNA whose telephone number is (571)272-6018. The examiner can normally be reached 9am-5:30pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Len Tran can be reached at 571-272-1184. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GUSTAVO A HINCAPIE SERNA/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/JENNA M MARONEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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