DETAILED ACTION
The Information Disclosure Statements filed on May 20, 2025 and January 30, 2026 have both been reviewed and considered by the Examiner.
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 .
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) 1-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Napieralski et al (US 10,266,183).
Napieralski et al discloses a trolley 2 operating along a beam and having
a width adjustment system. The trolley is comprised of a first side plate 6 having two or more wheels 8 disposed thereon and the first side plate is configured to couple with the beam, the first side plate having an opening on an adjacent washer 24 with threads disposed therein. A second side plate 6 having two or more wheels 8 disposed thereon, the second side plate configured to couple with the beam, the second side plate having an opening on an adjacent washer 24 having threads disposed therein, as shown in the exploded view of figure 6. A load bar 16 having a first end disposed opposite from a second end, the load bar having right hand threads extending in the longitudinal direction toward the first end and a left-hand thread extending in the longitudinal direction toward the second end. The load bar 16 having an anti-rotation profile in cross-section, as shown in figure 3, and along a midportion between the right- and left-hand threads as shown in the exploded view of figure 6. A load plate 40 having an opening 42 defined therein, the opening having a first portion defining an anti-rotation keyway configured to receive the anti-rotation profile on the load bar to prevent relative rotation between the load bar and the load plate and the opening having a second portion that is larger than the first portion, the second portion is configured to allow the load bar to rotate independently of the load plate. Rotation of the load bar from one end while the load bar is disposed in the second portion of the opening in the load plate causes the first side plate and second side plate to move toward each other to adjust the width of the beam trolley.
The load plate 40 has a second opening 44 configured to receive a pin.
The first and second side plates have second openings 7 configured to receive pins 10.
The trolley is further comprised of a jam nut 36 disposed on the load bar.
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) 12-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Napieralski et al (US 10,266,183).
Napieralski et al disclose the trolley and adjustment system as described above. However, Napieralski et al does not show a pair of load bars on the assembly. It would have been an obvious multiplication of parts to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to come to the expected result that a pair, or multiple load bars would allow for heavier and bulkier loads to be transported through the system or for the subsequent load bars to act as a redundancy for the first load bar in the event of a malfunction.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Buhlmayer et al (US 9,663,331) and Munro (US 4,371, 203) show various types of adjustable trolleys.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert J McCarry Jr. whose telephone number is (571)272-6683. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, S. Joseph Morano can be reached at 571-272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Robert J McCarry Jr/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
RJM
July 14, 2026
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