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 .
35 USC 112(a) Rejection
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention.
As to claim 1, there is nothing in the specification and drawings that expresses how the hinge 204 is both connected and oriented between the head 212 and the linear displacement actuator 202, such that the hinge 204 might deflect the head 212 due to movement of actuator 201, and provide amplification of displacement. Figure 2 shows components 212,204,202, but does not provide for what exactly the (U-shaped) hinge 204 is physically connected to, or even how the hinge acts as “a spring fulcrum” (Para 32) in such yet-to-be described explained assembly. Presently, Figure 2 by itself appears to illustrate a collection of relatively immovable components 212,204,202 (with the exception of the flexible load cells 206,208); that is, it does not provide any indication as to what parts are connected to what parts, and what parts are moving with respect to what parts (again, with sole exception of head 212 that has 2 flexible portions). How the piezo element 202 serves to displaces/moves head 202 is not at all apparent. There is no working example, nothing in the prior art aides in providing a connection, and no manner of experimentation is apparent in this mechanical assembly.
35 USC 112(b) Rejection
Claims 7-11 are 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.
As to claim 7, does each of the “plurality” (line 1) of tribometers include/comprise all of claim 1? The claim does not state one way or the other.
As to claim 7, “The tribometer” (line 1) preamble is not consistent with the substance of the body of the claim. Consider that claim 7 substantively appears to be - - A multi-stage tribometer comprising a plurality of tribometers mounted on a deck, each tribometer including the tribometer of claim 1 - - , or something like that. Applicant might reconsider the preamble of claim 1. Presently, it’s not clear if claim 7 is limited to at least 2 tribometers, or at least 3 tribometers (i.e. the sum of the one tribometer of claim 1 and the “a plurality” (line 1, claim 7).
As to claim 12, the location of an apparatus is not structurally related to such. Consider replacing “is used’ with - - is configured to be - - .
Prior Art no Applied
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Mollenhauer et al 6666066 teach (Figure 2) friction testing including a drive 5, normal 8 and tangential 6 force sensos, drive 5 and elastic bending element 3 between the sensors 8,6 and drive 5.
Gitis et al 6324918 teach (Figure 1A) a bidirectional force sensor.
Park et al KR 20080068506 use of elastic element 23 in a friction testing of a test sample 10.
FR 2865808 teach a Tribometer that employs an elastic return actuator 22 (i.e. spring) to return an arm 23 to a rest position on f tribometer. There are normal force sensor 30 on the subassembly.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT R RAEVIS whose telephone number is (571)272-2204. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina DeHerrera, can be reached at telephone number 303-297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center to authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to the USPTO patent electronic filing system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
Examiner interviews are available via a variety of formats. See MPEP § 713.01. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/InterviewPractice.
/ROBERT R RAEVIS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855