DETAILED ACTION
Response to Amendment
The Amendment filed 2/27/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-20 remain pending in the application.
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.
Claims 1-4, 8-11 and 15-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rolf (DE 10279181 B4) in view of Jerez (US 20200352095 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Rolf teaches a rotary apparatus for attachment to a rotating shaft, the rotary apparatus comprising:
a mounting base (8, see Figure 2) having a top side (top)and a bottom side (bottom), the mounting base comprising:
a mounting base circular plate (top of 8) disposed along the top side of the mounting base and defining a receptacle centrally located in the circular plate (see Figure 2-3); and a mounting base circumferential side wall (side wall of 13) connected to the mounting base circular plate and extending toward the bottom side of the mounting base (see Figure 2-3), the mounting base circumferential side wall defining a first aperture (16) and a second aperture (16); and
an attachment (14 or 19, see Figures 2-3) having a top side and a bottom side, the attachment comprising: an attachment circular plate (bottom of 18) disposed along the bottom side of the attachment; and
an attachment circumferential side wall (24) connected to the attachment circular plate and extending toward the top side of the attachment; and
a first resilient retaining clip (23, see Figures 2-3) and a second resilient retaining clip (23, see Figures 2-3) each connected to the attachment circumferential side wall and extending beyond the attachment circumferential side wall toward the top side of the attachment (see Figure 2-3), wherein each of the first resilient retaining clip and the second resilient retaining clip is partially defined by a pair of relief slots (space next to 23) disposed between the respective resilient retaining clip and adjacent portions of the attachment circumferential side wall (15/23, see Figures 2-3), and
wherein the first resilient retaining clip is configured to releasably lock into the first aperture, and the second resilient retaining clip is configured to releasably lock into the second aperture so as to releasably fasten the attachment to the mounting base (see Figures 2-3).
Rolf fails to teach a first aperture and a second aperture each extending from an intersection between the mounting base circular plate and the mounting base circumferential side wall toward the bottom side of the mounting base.
Pfaltzgraff teaches a vegetable cutting with the mounting base circumferential side wall defining a first aperture and a second aperture (space for 76, see Figure 2A) each extending from an intersection between the mounting base circular plate and the mounting base circumferential side wall toward the bottom side of the mounting base (see Figure 2A).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of Rolf to change the location of the apertures, as taught by Pfaltzgraff. Since the courts have been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. MPEP 2144.04 VI. C.
Regarding claim 2, modified Rolf further teaches the attachment includes a bump head attachment (10, see Figure 2) having trimming line and being configured to release a portion of the trimming line (see Figure 2 of Rolf).
Regarding claim 3, modified Rolf further teaches the attachment includes a blade attachment (22, see Figure 3 of Rolf).
Regarding claim 4, modified Rolf further teaches the blade attachment comprises a non-metal material (plastic blade 22, paragraph 0020 of translation of Rolf).
Regarding claim 8, Rolf teaches an apparatus comprising:
a motor (7) configured to provide a rotating motion;
a rotating shaft (shaft connected to 1) configured to rotate from the rotating motion provided by the motor;
a mounting base (8, see Figure 2) having a top side (top)and a bottom side (bottom), the mounting base comprising:
a mounting base circular plate (top of 8) disposed along the top side of the mounting base and defining a receptacle centrally located in the circular plate (see Figure 2-3); and a mounting base circumferential side wall (side wall of 13) connected to the mounting base circular plate and extending toward the bottom side of the mounting base (see Figure 2-3), the mounting base circumferential side wall defining a first aperture (16) and a second aperture (16); and
an attachment (14 or 19, see Figures 2-3) having a top side and a bottom side, the attachment comprising: an attachment circular plate (bottom of 18) disposed along the bottom side of the attachment; and
an attachment circumferential side wall (24) connected to the attachment circular plate and extending toward the top side of the attachment; and
a first resilient retaining clip (23, see Figures 2-3) and a second resilient retaining clip (23, see Figures 2-3) each connected to the attachment circumferential side wall and extending beyond the attachment circumferential side wall toward the top side of the attachment (see Figure 2-3), wherein each of the first resilient retaining clip and the second resilient retaining clip is partially defined by a pair of relief slots (space next to 23) disposed between the respective resilient retaining clip and adjacent portions of the attachment circumferential side wall (15/23, see Figures 2-3), and
wherein the first resilient retaining clip is configured to releasably lock into the first aperture, and the second resilient retaining clip is configured to releasably lock into the second aperture so as to releasably fasten the attachment to the mounting base (see Figures 2-3).
Rolf fails to teach a first aperture and a second aperture each extending from an intersection between the mounting base circular plate and the mounting base circumferential side wall toward the bottom side of the mounting base.
Pfaltzgraff teaches a vegetable cutting with the mounting base circumferential side wall defining a first aperture and a second aperture (space for 76, see Figure 2A) each extending from an intersection between the mounting base circular plate and the mounting base circumferential side wall toward the bottom side of the mounting base (see Figure 2A).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of Rolf to change the location of the apertures, as taught by Pfaltzgraff. Since the courts have been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. MPEP 2144.04 VI. C.
Regarding claim 9, modified Rolf further teaches the attachment includes a bump head attachment having trimming line and being configured to release a portion of the trimming line (see Figure 2 of Rolf).
Regarding claim 10, modified Rolf further teaches the attachment includes a blade attachment (22, see Figure 3 of Rolf).
Regarding claim 11, modified Rolf further teaches the blade attachment comprises a non-metal material (plastic, paragraph 0020 of the translation of Rolf).
Regarding claim 15, Rolf teaches an apparatus comprising:
a rotating shaft (shaft in 7) configured to rotate;
a mounting base (8, see Figure 2) having a top side (top)and a bottom side (bottom), the mounting base comprising:
a mounting base circular plate (top of 8) disposed along the top side of the mounting base and defining a receptacle centrally located in the circular plate (see Figure 2-3); and a mounting base circumferential side wall (side wall of 13) connected to the mounting base circular plate and extending toward the bottom side of the mounting base (see Figure 2-3), the mounting base circumferential side wall defining a first aperture (16) and a second aperture (16); and
an attachment (14 or 19, see Figures 2-3) having a top side and a bottom side, the attachment comprising: an attachment circular plate (bottom of 18) disposed along the bottom side of the attachment; and
an attachment circumferential side wall (24) connected to the attachment circular plate and extending toward the top side of the attachment; and
a first resilient retaining clip (23, see Figures 2-3) and a second resilient retaining clip (23, see Figures 2-3) each connected to the attachment circumferential side wall and extending beyond the attachment circumferential side wall toward the top side of the attachment (see Figure 2-3), wherein each of the first resilient retaining clip and the second resilient retaining clip is partially defined by a pair of relief slots (space next to 23) disposed between the respective resilient retaining clip and adjacent portions of the attachment circumferential side wall (15/23, see Figures 2-3), and
wherein the first resilient retaining clip is configured to releasably lock into the first aperture, and the second resilient retaining clip is configured to releasably lock into the second aperture so as to releasably fasten the attachment to the mounting base (see Figures 2-3).
Rolf fails to teach a first aperture and a second aperture each extending from an intersection between the mounting base circular plate and the mounting base circumferential side wall toward the bottom side of the mounting base.
Pfaltzgraff teaches a vegetable cutting with the mounting base circumferential side wall defining a first aperture and a second aperture (space for 76, see Figure 2A) each extending from an intersection between the mounting base circular plate and the mounting base circumferential side wall toward the bottom side of the mounting base (see Figure 2A).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of Rolf to change the location of the apertures, as taught by Pfaltzgraff. Since the courts have been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. MPEP 2144.04 VI. C.
Regarding claim 16, modified Rolf further teaches the attachment includes a bump head attachment (10, see Figure 2) having trimming line and being configured to release a portion of the trimming line (see Figure 2 of Rolf).
Regarding claim 17, modified Rolf further teaches the attachment includes a blade attachment (22, see Figure 3 of Rolf).
Regarding claim 18, modified Rolf further teaches the blade attachment comprises a non-metal material (plastic, see paragraph 0020 of the translation of Rolf).
Claims 5, 12 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rolf (DE 10279181 B4) in view of Jerez (US 20200352095 A1) and in further view of Jerez (US 20200352095 A1).
Regarding claim 5, 12 and 19, modified Rolf further teaches the blade attachment comprises of plastic (paragraph 0020 of the translation of Rolf)
Modified Rolf fails to teach the blade attachment comprises metal.
Jerez teaches a lawnmower with a blade made of plastic of metal (paragraph 0006).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of Rolf to make the blade metal, as taught by Jerez, in order to use the suitable material for cutting unwanted plants (paragraph 0006 of Jerez).
Claims 6-7, 13-14 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rolf (DE 10279181 B4) in view of Jerez (US 20200352095 A1) and in further view of Jerez (US 20200352095 A1) and in further view of Price (US 20020029483 A1).
Regarding claims 6, 13 and 20, modified Rolf further teaches a fastening mechanism for the blades (21, see Figure 3 of Rolf).
Modified Rolf fails to teach the mounting base further includes a threaded receiving hole, wherein the attachment includes a bolt hole, and a bolt disposed in the bolt hole (see Figure 1), and wherein the attachment is configured to releasably fasten to the mounting base such that the bolt can screw into the threaded receiving hole.
Price teaches the mounting base further includes a threaded receiving hole (114s, see Figure 2), wherein the attachment includes a bolt hole (hole for 40/46/52), and a bolt (40/46/52, which can be bolts with threads, paragraph 0031) disposed in the bolt hole (see Figure 1), and wherein the attachment is configured to releasably fasten to the mounting base such that the bolt can screw into the threaded receiving hole (see Figure 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of modified Rolf to change the fastening mechanism arrangement of Rolf into the thread system, as taught by Price, in order to better secure the blade to both the mounting base and attachment (abstract).
Regarding claims 7 and 14, modified Rolf further teaches two sets of blade arrangement at 180 degrees apart (see Figure 3).
Modified Rolf fails to teach the mounting base further includes a second threaded receiving hole and a third threaded receiving hole, wherein the threaded receiving hole is disposed adjacent to the receptacle, wherein the second threaded receiving hole is disposed adjacent to the receptacle, wherein the third threaded receiving hole is disposed adjacent to the receptacle, wherein the threaded receiving hole, the second threaded receiving hole, and the third threaded receiving hole are equally radially disposed, wherein the threaded receiving hole is circumferentially separated from the second threaded receiving hole by 120° and is circumferentially separated from the third threaded receiving hole by 120°, and wherein the second threaded receiving hole is additionally circumferentially separated from the third threaded receiving hole by 120°.
Price further teaches the mounting base further includes a second threaded receiving hole (other 114) and a third threaded receiving hole (another 114, see Figure 2), wherein the threaded receiving hole is disposed adjacent to the receptacle, wherein the second threaded receiving hole is disposed adjacent to the receptacle (See Figure 2), wherein the third threaded receiving hole is disposed adjacent to the receptacle (see Figure 2), wherein the threaded receiving hole, the second threaded receiving hole, and the third threaded receiving hole are equally radially disposed (See Figure 1 and 2), wherein the threaded receiving hole is circumferentially separated from the second threaded receiving hole by 120° and is circumferentially separated from the third threaded receiving hole by 120° (see Figure 1 and 2), and wherein the second threaded receiving hole is additionally circumferentially separated from the third threaded receiving hole by 120° (see Figure 1 and 2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of modified Rolf to change the number of blade set arrangement from two to three, as taught by Price. As one of ordinary skill in the art understand that the number of blades is based on the want of the end user for the load on each blade during cutting.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/27/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/LIANG DONG/Examiner, Art Unit 3724 3/10/2026