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
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “36” has been used to designate both an object and a mass assembly. 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. 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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
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.
Claims 1-23 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the three-axis releasable coupling" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the three-axis releasable coupling" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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.
Claim(s) 1- 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Reynolds et al (US 20170072558).
Reynolds et al disclose a multi-axis attachment system comprising: a first attachment subsystem configured to be coupled to an autonomous mobile robot (18) and including one or more primary latching assemblies (22); and a second attachment subsystem configured to be coupled to a robot accessory mounting cart (12) and including one or more secondary latching assemblies (14); wherein the one or more secondary latching assemblies (14) are configured to releasably engage the one or more primary latching assemblies (22) to effectuate the three-axis releasable coupling of the robot accessory mounting cart (12) and the autonomous mobile robot (18).
Re claim 2, the robot accessory mounting cart (12) is configured to receive one or more accessories (36) configured to work with the autonomous mobile robot (18).
Re claim 3, the one or more accessories includes a robotic arm assembly (106).
Re claim 4, the one or more accessories includes a monitoring system (24).
Re claim 5, the robot accessory mounting cart (12) includes one or more outrigger wheels (110).
Re claim 6, the primary latching assemblies (22) and/or the secondary latching assemblies (14) include one or more female latching receptacles (coupler, see Fig 8) configured to receive one or more male latching appendages (sensor, see Fig 8).
Re claim 7, the primary latching assemblies and/or the secondary latching assemblies include one or more male latching appendages (sensor, see Fig 8) configured to be positioned within the one or more female latching receptacles (coupler, see Fig 8).
Re claim 8, the primary latching assemblies and/or the secondary latching assemblies include one or more manually- operated latching assemblies (see ¶104).
Re claim 9, the primary latching assemblies and/or the secondary latching assemblies include one or more automatically- operated latching assemblies (see ¶103).
Re claim 10, the multi-axis attachment system is configured to locate the robot accessory mounting cart (12) on top of the autonomous mobile robot (18) in the XY-plane (see Fig 8).
Re claim 11, the multi-axis attachment system is configured to lock the robot accessory mounting cart (12) on top of the autonomous mobile robot (18) in the X-axis (see Fig 5).
Re claim 12, Reynolds et al disclose a multi-axis attachment system comprising: a first attachment subsystem configured to be coupled to an autonomous mobile robot (18) and including one or more primary latching assemblies (22); and a second attachment subsystem configured to be coupled to a robot accessory mounting cart (12) and including one or more secondary latching assemblies (14); wherein: the one or more secondary latching assemblies (14) are configured to releasably engage the one or more primary latching assemblies (22) to effectuate the three-axis releasable coupling of the robot accessory mounting cart (12) and the autonomous mobile robot (18), and the robot accessory mounting cart (12) is configured to receive one or more accessories (36) configured to work with the autonomous mobile robot (18).
Re claim 13, the one or more accessories includes a robotic arm assembly (106).
Re claim 14, the one or more accessories includes a monitoring system (24).
Re claim 15, the robot accessory mounting cart (12) includes one or more outrigger wheels (110).
Re claim 16, the primary latching assemblies and/or the secondary latching assemblies include one or more female latching receptacles (coupler, see Fig 8) configured to receive one or more male latching appendages (sensor, see Fig 8).
Re claim 17, the primary latching assemblies and/or the secondary latching assemblies include one or more male latching appendages (sensor, see Fig 8) configured to be positioned within the one or more female latching receptacles (coupler, see Fig 8).
Re claim 18, a multi-axis attachment system comprising: a first attachment subsystem configured to be coupled to an autonomous mobile robot (18) and including one or more primary latching assemblies (22); and a second attachment subsystem configured to be coupled to a robot accessory mounting cart (12) and including one or more secondary latching assemblies; wherein: the multi-axis attachment system is configured to locate the robot accessory mounting cart (12) on top of the autonomous mobile robot (18) in the XY- plane, and the multi-axis attachment system is configured to lock the robot accessory mounting cart (12) on top of the autonomous mobile robot (18) in the X- axis.
Re claim 19, the robot accessory mounting cart (12) is configured to receive one or more accessories configured to work with the autonomous mobile robot (18).
Re claim 20, the one or more accessories includes a robotic arm assembly (106).
Re claim 21, the one or more accessories includes a monitoring system (24).
Re claim 22, the primary latching assemblies (22) and/or the secondary latching assemblies (14) include one or more manually- operated latching assemblies (see ¶104).
Re claim 23, the primary latching assemblies and/or the secondary latching assemblies include one or more automatically- operated latching assemblies (see ¶103).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20200324976 robotic cart
US 10668617 robotic cart
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VICKY A JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7106. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John R Olszewski can be reached at 571-272-2706. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VICKY A JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617
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