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 .
This is the first office action for application number 18/670,901, Support System for an Extendable Covering, filed on May 22, 2024.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character "92" has been used to designate both an arrow in Fig. 6 and a wheel in Fig. 8b; and reference character "212" in Fig. 11a has been used to designate both a hole pattern and a screw connection. 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.
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: "110" in Fig. 13a and "446" in Fig. 14a. 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 informality: in paragraph [0072] in lines 2 and 3, the recitation of reference character "54" appears to be incorrect and should be --52--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-20, 22, and 23 are objected to because of the following informalities: in line 1 of claims 2-20, 22, and 23, "A" should be changed to --The--. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that use the word “means” or “step” but are nonetheless not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph because the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure, materials, or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: "means of a single action" in claim 5.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are not being interpreted to cover only the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant intends to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to remove the structure, materials, or acts that performs the claimed function; or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) does/do not recite sufficient structure, materials, or acts to perform the claimed function.
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 14 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.
Claim 14 recites the limitations "the hole" in line 1; "the distribution extension" in line 3; "the plurality of spaced holes" bridging lines 3 and 4; and "the at least one of the first and second hole configurations" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Note, claim 14 depends directly from claim 3.
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) 1-7, 15, 21, and 22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 8,967,568 to Wills et al., hereinafter, Wills. Wills discloses a support system for supporting at least one extendable covering (4), wherein the support system comprises a bracket (7 and 8) and an extendable covering end piece (6), wherein the bracket is adapted for being connected to a wall or ceiling (Col. 3, lines 12-16), wherein the bracket and the extendable covering end piece comprises corresponding connection means (12 and 13, Col. 3, lines 47-55)) for connecting the extendable covering end piece to the bracket in a way that the extendable covering may hang supported by the bracket in a first orientation, wherein the support system comprises an adjustment arrangement (14, 15, 16, and 17) for fine adjustment of a position of the extendable covering relative to the wall or ceiling to a second orientation and wherein the adjustment arrangement comprises means for locking (17) the extendable covering in the second orientation relative to the wall or ceiling when the extendable covering hangs supported by the bracket; wherein the adjustment arrangement is arranged to be accessible from below for the fine adjustment when the bracket is connected to the wall or ceiling and the extendable covering end piece is connected to the bracket; wherein the bracket comprises an inner end (at 9) that is adapted to be connected to the wall or ceiling and an outer end (the lowest end of element 7 at 15), wherein the connection means of the bracket is arranged between the inner end and the outer end, and wherein the adjustment arrangement comprises a manually actuatable movable device that is arranged between the connection means of the bracket and the outer end; wherein the locking means comprises a fastener for locking the extendable covering in the second orientation; wherein the fastener is adapted for locking the extendable covering in the second orientation by means of a single action being performed; wherein the fastener comprises a screw; wherein the adjustment arrangement comprises a first part (15) that forms a part of the bracket and a second part (14) that forms a part of the extendable covering end piece, wherein the fastener is adapted for locking the first part relative to the second part; and wherein the connection means of the bracket is arranged to be accessible for the corresponding connection means of the extendable covering end piece allowing connection of the extendable covering end piece to the bracket by a movement of the extendable covering end piece towards the bracket when the bracket is connected to the wall or ceiling.
In regards to claims 21 and 22, Wills inherently discloses a method for mounting an extendable covering (4) to a wall or ceiling, wherein the method comprises the steps of connecting a bracket (2) to the wall or ceiling (Col. 3, lines 12-16), connecting an end piece of the extendable covering to the bracket in a single action in a way that the extendable covering hangs supported by the bracket in a first orientation and fine adjusting a position of the extendable covering relative to the wall or ceiling to a second orientation, and locking the extendable covering in the second orientation relative to the wall or ceiling when the extendable covering hangs supported by the bracket; and comprising the step of locking the extendable covering in the second orientation by means of a single fastener by performing a single fastening action.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8-13, 16-20, and 23 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claim 14 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the limitations of wherein the adjustment arrangement has first and second parts, the first part having a first hole configuration, the second part having a second hole configuration, and wherein the first and the second hole configurations are adapted for alignment to provide for a plurality to different relative positions of the extendable covering end piece for the fine adjustment and wherein the fastener is adapted for being engaged in the aligning first and second hole configurations for locking; the limitations wherein the corresponding connection means of the bracket and the end piece are adapted for a click connection; and/or the limitations of an elongated support member and the bracket, each comprise corresponding connection means for arranging the bracket in a desired operations position along the elongated support member.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. U.S. Patent No. 12,185,859 to Quatraro et al. is directed to a suspension system for curtain rods and a wall plate for serving to a wall and a slidably adjustable member for adjusting the position of the relative to the wall plate. U.S. Patent No. 11,352,835 to Tao is directed to a roller and an insert plate-assisted roller securing device. U.S. Patent No. 10,704,324 to Goldberg et al., is directed to mounting assembly for mounting a covering to a support structure including a bracket and bracket adapter. U.S. Patent No. 10,214,960 to Ng is directed to an adjustable roller blind mounting bracket having a bracket member for mounting to a surface, an adjustment plate slidably received on a face of the bracket member, and an adjuster to alter the position of the plate relative to the bracket member. U.S. Patent No. 8,122,932 to Cannaverde is directed to a system for adjusting the height of a covering, such as, window or wall covering. U.S. Patent No. 7,854,419 to Ng et al. is directed to an adjustable mounting bracket for mounting a roller blind to a surface. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0205216 to Vrielink id directed to a method and apparatus for installation of a cassette system for enclosing window coverings hardware.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANITA M KING whose telephone number is (571)272-6817. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30am-4:00pm.
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/ANITA M KING/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632 December 12, 2025