DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Drawings
New corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in this application because the drawings filed 03/20/2024 are not proper black and white line drawings. This is frequently the result of drawings which are filed in a very dark grey (so dark that it is appears black such as RGB value 37, 37, 37) instead of pure black (RGB value 0, 0, 0). While very dark grey may appear black, it causes artifacts and inconsistent line thickness. Applicant is advised to employ the services of a competent patent draftsperson outside the Office, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office no longer prepares new drawings. The corrected drawings are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The requirement for corrected drawings will not be held in abeyance.
All drawings must be made by a process which will give them satisfactory reproduction characteristics. Every line, number, and letter must be durable, clean, black (except for color drawings), sufficiently dense and dark, and uniformly thick and well-defined. The weight of all lines and letters must be heavy enough to permit adequate reproduction. This requirement applies to all lines however fine, to shading, and to lines representing cut surfaces in sectional views. Lines and strokes of different thicknesses may be used in the same drawing where different thicknesses have a different meaning.
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
In the instant case, the abstract repeats information given in the title.
Claim Objections
The claims appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Claim 5 recites in part “the other one or more louver awnings”. This should be “an other one or more louver awnings” in order to establish appropriate antecedence.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-5 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by PG Pub. US 2025/0163703 – He.
Regarding claim 1.
He discloses a quickly installed, expandable, and modularly designed louver awning (See fig 1), comprising:
several leg tubes (1, fig 1);
a ring beam frame (including 9 and 17, fig 1) disposed on upper ends of the leg tubes (See fig 1); and
a louver system (including 28, fig 4) disposed on the ring beam frame (See fig 1), wherein the ring beam frame comprises several ring beams (9 and 17, fig 1) slidably installed on the leg tubes (See figs 1 and 13), ring beam linings (21, fig 1) are firmly disposed in ends of the ring beams (Paragraph [0046]; surfaces of the connection blocks 21 are mated with inner cavities of the cross beam bodies 17 and the side beam bodies 9,), and the ring beam linings are connected to the leg tubes through first fasteners (26, fig 3).
Regarding claim 2.
He discloses all limitations of claim 1.
He further discloses the ring beam lining (21, fig 1) is connected to a ring beam baffle plate (27, fig 3; examiner notes that Merriam-Webster online provides a definition of “plate” as “5: a horizontal structural member that provides bearing and anchorage especially for the trusses of a roof or the rafters”, and that the element 27 of He meets the limitation as currently claimed.) through the first fastener (26, fig 3), the ring beam baffle plate (27, fig 3) is suspended and extends inside the leg tube (1, fig 1) through the first fastener (26, fig 3), the ring beam lining and the ring beam baffle plate sandwich a shell wall of the leg tube (Paragraph [0046]; … the shape of the stand column connector 19 is identical to that of the top end of the stand column body 1, and second through holes 20 are formed in the positions of two sides of the stand column connector 19 corresponding to the mounting holes 7 on the two sides of the stand column body 1; … third through holes 23 are formed in the positions of the connection blocks 21 corresponding to the second through holes 20; and in this embodiment, the connection blocks 21 and the side beam bodies 9 and the cross beam bodies 17 adopt the split design and are fixed in a bolted manner), the first fastener is installed in the leg tube and the ring beam and connects the ring beam lining, the ring beam baffle plate, and the shell wall of the leg tube (Paragraph [0046]; bolts 26 and nuts 27 are further included, and the connection blocks 21 are bolted and fixed to the top ends of the stand column bodies 1 by means of the bolts 26 and the nuts 27).
Regarding claim 3.
He discloses all limitations of claim 1.
He further discloses a leg tube lining (19, fig 1) is fastened in the upper end of the leg tube (1, fig 1), and the ring beam lining (21, fig 3) and the leg tube lining are connected through the first fastener (26, fig 3; Paragraph [0046]; … the shape of the stand column connector 19 is identical to that of the top end of the stand column body 1, and second through holes 20 are formed in the positions of two sides of the stand column connector 19 corresponding to the mounting holes 7 on the two sides of the stand column body 1; … third through holes 23 are formed in the positions of the connection blocks 21 corresponding to the second through holes 20; and in this embodiment, the connection blocks 21 and the side beam bodies 9 and the cross beam bodies 17 adopt the split design and are fixed in a bolted manner).
Regarding claim 4.
He discloses all limitations of claim 3.
He further discloses the leg tube lining (19, fig 1) comprises a leg tube lining body and two leg tube lining connecting (20, fig 1) parts respectively disposed on two sides of the leg tube lining body (See fig 1), the leg tube lining body is configured to be embedded into a tube cavity of the leg tube (Paragraph [0046]; In order to mount the cross beam combinations and the side beam combinations on the stand column combinations, the connection assemblies are provided at the junctions thereof. Specifically, the connection assembly includes a stand column connector 19 provided at the top end of the stand column body 1, the shape of the stand column connector 19 is identical to that of the top end of the stand column body 1, and second through holes 20 are formed in the positions of two sides of the stand column connector 19 corresponding to the mounting holes 7 on the two sides of the stand column body 1;), and the leg tube lining connecting parts are configured to be connected to the ring beam lining (Paragraph [0046]; second through holes 20 are formed in the positions of two sides of the stand column connector 19 corresponding to the mounting holes 7 on the two sides of the stand column body 1;); and the leg tube lining body is an L-shaped structure (See fig 1) or a U-shaped structure.
Regarding claim 5.
He discloses all limitations of claim 1.
He further discloses the leg tubes (1, fig 1) are capable of being connected to ring beams (9 and 17, fig 1) of the other one or more louver awnings (See fig 13), to implement splicing or expansion between different louver awnings (See fig 13).
Regarding claim 9.
He discloses all limitations of claim 1.
He further discloses the ring beam is provided with a ring beam slot (receiving 37 in fig 1), the louver system comprises a louver apparatus disposed at an upper end of the ring beam frame (See fig 1) and an electric driving module configured to drive the louver apparatus to fold and unfold (Paragraph [0043]; Specifically, when the angle of the louver combination needs to be adjusted, a driving motor can be turned on by means of an external controller, an output shaft of the driving motor can drive, by means of the gearbox 37, the driving sheet 36 to move, and then the louver combination is driven by means of the transmission sheets and the louver sealing plates 29 to perform angle adjustment. Electric driving is adopted in this embodiment,), the electric driving module comprises a cover plate (36, fig 1) and an electric driving mechanism disposed on the cover plate (Paragraph [0043]; Specifically, when the angle of the louver combination needs to be adjusted, a driving motor can be turned on by means of an external controller, an output shaft of the driving motor can drive, by means of the gearbox 37, the driving sheet 36 to move), the cover plate is detachably connected to the ring beam (See fig 1), and covers the ring beam slot, and the electric driving mechanism is installed in the ring beam through the ring beam slot (Paragraph [0043]; Specifically, when the angle of the louver combination needs to be adjusted, a driving motor can be turned on by means of an external controller, an output shaft of the driving motor can drive, by means of the gearbox 37, the driving sheet 36 to move, and then the louver combination is driven by means of the transmission sheets and the louver sealing plates 29 to perform angle adjustment. Electric driving is adopted in this embodiment,).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 6-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over He in view of PG Pub. US 2025/0034903 A1 – Shao and US Pat. 9,371,652 – Malott.
Regarding claim 6.
He discloses all limitations of claim 1.
He further discloses the louver system comprises a louver apparatus (including 28, fig 4) disposed on an upper end of the ring beam frame (See fig 1).
He does not disclose a worm gear mechanism configured to drive the louver apparatus to fold and unfold, and a rocking rod configured to drive the worm gear mechanism to work, an upper end of the rocking rod is provided with a limiting part, an input end of the worm gear mechanism cooperates with and is connected to a hanging piece, the hanging piece is provided with a limiting groove, a bottom opening, and a side opening, the limiting groove communicates with the bottom opening, the limiting groove communicates with the side opening, the limiting groove is configured to limit and cooperate with the limiting part, the bottom opening is used for the limiting part to extend into the limiting groove from a bottom of the hanging piece, and the side opening is used for the limiting part to extend from a side surface of the hanging piece into the limiting groove.
However, Shao teaches a worm gear mechanism (9, fig 12) configured to drive the louver apparatus (3, fig 1) to fold and unfold, and a rocking rod (91, fig 12) configured to drive the worm gear mechanism to work (Paragraph [0052]; When in the manual drive mode, the end portion of the worm is fixed to a sleeve, which can be manually driven by means of a handle 91.),
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the awning of He with the worm gear and rocking rod of Shao. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of allow for operation of the louvers.
Also, Malott teaches an upper end of the rocking rod is provided with a limiting part (at 500 in fig 4), an input end of the worm gear mechanism (at 113, fig 4) cooperates with and is connected to a hanging piece (112, fig 4; See also fig 3), the hanging piece is provided with a limiting groove (See annotated fig 4), a bottom opening (to receive 500, fig 4; See annotated fig 4), and a side opening (See annotated fig 4), the limiting groove communicates with the bottom opening (See annotated fig 4), the limiting groove communicates with the side opening (See annotated fig 4), the limiting groove is configured to limit and cooperate with the limiting part (See annotated fig 4), the bottom opening is used for the limiting part to extend into the limiting groove from a bottom of the hanging piece (See annotated fig 4), and the side opening is used for the limiting part to extend from a side surface of the hanging piece into the limiting groove (See annotated fig 4).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to further modify the awning of He with the rod connection of Malott. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of allowing releasable attachment of the rocking rod.
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Regarding claim 7.
The combination of He, Shao, and Malott teaches all limitations of claim 6.
The combination, in Malott, further teaches the limiting groove and the side opening are horizontally penetrating structures (See annotated fig 4), the bottom opening communicates with a lower end of the side opening and a front side of the limiting groove (See annotated fig 4), the lower end and the front side penetrate to the outside (See annotated fig 4), and an upper end penetrates to the side opening (See annotated fig 4), and a rear side penetrates to the limiting groove (See annotated fig 4).
Regarding claim 8.
The combination of He, Shao, and Malott teaches all limitations of claim 6.
The combination, in Malott, further teaches the limiting part (at 500 in fig 4) comprises two limiting pins (See annotated fig 4) respectively disposed on a left side and a right side of the rocking rod (See annotated fig 4).
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over He in view of US Pat. 10,858,840 – Ji et al., hereinafter Ji.
Regarding claim 10.
He discloses all limitations of claim 9.
He further discloses the electric driving mechanism comprises a push rod (34, fig 6) and a push rod connecting piece (32, fig 4) rotatably connected to the push rod (Paragraph [0042]; It should be noted that the driving assembly includes first linkage rods 34, the first linkage rod 34 is provided with a plurality of connection holes 35 in a length direction in a linear array manner, and the plurality of connection holes 35 are provided in correspondence to the plurality of louver transmission shafts 32;),
He does not disclose the push rod is an automatically telescopic push rod, a rear end of the push rod is connected to the cover plate through a third fastener, the cover plate is connected to a hoop member through a second fastener, and the hoop member holds a body of the push rod tightly on the cover plate.
However, Ji teaches the push rod (8, fig 3) is an automatically telescopic push rod (Column 5, lines 55-56; the electric control mechanism includes a linear actuator 8), a rear end of the push rod is connected to the cover plate through a third fastener (See annotated fig 3), the cover plate is connected to a hoop member (See annotated fig 3) through a second fastener (See annotated fig 3), and the hoop member holds a body of the push rod tightly on the cover plate (See annotated fig 3).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the awning of He with the push rod and attachments of Ji. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of providing a lower profile actuator for an aesthetic appearance.
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN W HANES JR whose telephone number is (571)272-8840. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST.
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/J.W.H./Examiner, Art Unit 3634
/DANIEL P CAHN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3634