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 .
Status of the Claims
This Office Action is in response to the amendments and/or arguments filed on December 23, 2025. Claims 1-14 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Election/Restrictions
Claims 12-14 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on December 23, 2025.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on January 9, 2026, February 19, 2025, and May 8, 2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 7-8 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.
In regards to claims 7-8, claim 7 is dependent upon claim 8, however claim 8 was not introduced prior to claim 7 and claim 8 is dependent upon claim 7, resulting in the claim being indefinite. The dependencies between claims 7 and 8 are unclear since they are dependent upon each other. For examination purposes, claim 7 has been interpreted as though it is dependent upon claim 6.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 9, and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lane et al. (US 4324525; already of record from IDS) in view of Oasa (US 20220081871).
In regards to claim 1, Lane discloses of a high dump bucket-based construction machine (“A bucket assembly and operating system for a conventional front end loader that increases the dump height for a given boom length. The bucket assembly includes a cradle pivotally attached to the end of a boom and a bucket rotatably supported by the cradle. Rotative movement in the cradle and bucket between rollback and dump positions is accomplished by fluid pressure operated actuators controlled by a fluid pressure control system. Sequence valves forming part of the control system are utilized to delay the application of fluid pressure to certain actuators so that sequential motion in the cradle and bucket is achieved without the necessity of additional operator controls. A bucket latching mechanism mechanically locks the bucket in its rollback position until the bucket dump sequence is initiated.” (Abstract)) comprising:
a boom that rotatably connected to a main body of the construction machine based on a first rotating shaft (“Referring also to FIG. 2, the boom assembly 12 is pivotally connected to the front end 14. It includes a pair of boom arms 28 pivotally attached at hinge points 29 to the mounting plates 30 (only one plate 30 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) integrally formed with the front end 14. Hydraulic actuators 32 having extensible rods 34 raise and lower the boom arms 28. Each actuator 32 is rotatable about a pivot point 35 on the mounting plates 30 (shown in FIG. 2).” (Column 4 lines 45-53), see also Fig 1);
a bucket support rotatably connected to the boom based on a second rotating shaft and configured to support a high dump bucket (“The bucket assembly 13 is pivotally attached to the arms 28 by hinge pins 36. The bucket assembly includes a cradle 38 and a bucket 40. The cradle 38 and the bucket 40 are individually pivotal between their own rollback and dump positions. In the preferred embodiment, a bucket latching mechanism (to be described) is connected to the cradle 38 and is adapted to engage and maintain the bucket 40 in its rollback position within the cradle 38. In FIG. 1, the cradle 38 and the bucket 40 are both shown in their dump positions. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a variety of cradle/bucket positions with the boom raised and lowered, respectively.” (Column 4 lines 54-65), see also Fig 1);
the high dump bucket rotatably connected to the bucket support based on a third rotating shaft (“The bucket 40 is coupled to the cradle assembly 38 by the hinge pins 87 (a portion of one being shown in FIG. 8) which extend through aligned apertures 150 located in the side plates 130 in each actuator housing 124, and the sleeve 86 mounted between the cradle plates 58a, 58b. A teardrop-shaped mounting plate 152 is welded to one end of the hinge pin 87. When the pin 87 is in its operative position, the plate 152 abuts and is bolted to one of the side plates 130 by a threaded fastener 153. The plate 152 prevents relative rotation and axial movement between the pin 87 and the bucket 40. Consequently, the hinge pins 87 and hence the bucket 40 are rotatably supported by the bushings 88 press-fitted into the sleeves 86 (see FIG. 4).” Column 7 lines 14-27), see also Column 6 lines 1-10 and Fig 6).
However, Lane does not specifically disclose of a bucket angle sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the high dump bucket; and
a control unit configured to determine a posture of the construction machine based on bucket angle data obtained from the bucket angle sensor.
Oasa, in the same field of endeavor, teaches of a bucket angle sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the high dump bucket (“The bell crank 123 transmits the power of the bucket cylinder 125 to the bucket 122. A first end of the bell crank 123 is attached to a bottom portion of the bucket 122 via a link mechanism. A second end of the bell crank 123 is attached to a tip end portion of the bucket cylinder 125 via a pin. A bucket angle sensor 1231 for detecting a bucket angle θ.sub.B is provided in a central portion of the bell crank 123. The bucket angle θ.sub.B is represented by an angle formed between the straight line extending forward from the vehicle body 110 and a straight line extending along a bottom surface of the bucket 122. When the bucket angle θ.sub.B is positive, the bucket 122 is tilted to a tilt side, and when the bucket angle θ.sub.B is negative, the bucket 122 is tilted to a dump side. The bucket angle θ.sub.B is obtained by adding the boom angle θ.sub.L to an angle of the bucket 122 with reference to the boom 121 which is obtained from the measurement value of the bucket angle sensor 1231.” (Para 0024)); and
a control unit configured to determine a posture of the construction machine based on bucket angle data obtained from the bucket angle sensor (“The state determination unit 315 determines a work state of the work vehicle 100 based on the traction force calculated by the traction force calculation unit 314, the measurement values of the boom angle θ.sub.L and the bucket angle θ.sub.B which are acquired by the measurement value acquisition unit 313, and the operation amounts of the boom lever 157 and the bucket lever 158 which are acquired by the operation amount acquisition unit 311. The work state includes at least an excavation state and a dump state.” (Para 0063), “In addition, the state determination unit 315 determines that the work state is the dump state when the bucket angle θ.sub.B is smaller than a predetermined dump threshold. The dump threshold is a negative value, and is a value lower than a lower limit value of the bucket angle range. That is, when the bucket angle θ.sub.B is smaller than the dump threshold, the bottom surface of the bucket 122 is tilted in the dump direction.” (Para 0065), see also Para 0064).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the machine with a high dump bucket, as taught by Lane, to include a bucket angle sensor used to determine a posture of the construction machine, as taught by Oasa, with a reasonable expectation of success in order to determine the working state of the machine, such as to determine if the bucket is in a dump state (Oasa Para 0063 and 0065).
In regards to claim 2, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 1, wherein when the control unit receives a first user input for performing a high dump operation, the control unit changes a rotation angle of the high dump bucket to a predetermined first angle through the second rotating shaft based on the bucket angle data (“When the command input unit 312 receives an input of the start command of the automatic drive control, the control device 300 performs the automatic drive control described below. First, the drive control unit 317 determines whether or not the input start command is a start command relating to the automatic dump control (Step S31).” (Oasa Para 0078), “The measurement value acquisition unit 313 acquires the measurement values from the boom angle sensor 1211 and the bucket angle sensor 1231 (Step S34). The drive control unit 317 determines whether or not an angle of a control object (the boom 121 or the bucket 122) reaches a predetermined angle (rising angle, lowering angle, tilt angle, or dump angle) (Step S35). When the angle of the control object does not reach the predetermined angle (Step S35: NO), the command input unit 312 determines whether or not an input of the stop command is received (Step S36). When the stop command is not input (Step S36: NO), the operation amount acquisition unit 311 determines whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever (the boom lever 157 or the bucket lever 158) relating to the automatic drive control, which has returned to a predetermined play range immediately after the start command is input, exceeds the predetermined play range again (Step S37). When the operation amount of the operation lever does not exceed the play range (Step S37: NO), the process returns to Step S33, and the output of the drive command is continued. In another embodiment, when the operation lever is fixed after the start command of the automatic drive is input, in Step S37, the operation amount acquisition unit 311 may determine whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever falls within a range in which the operation lever is unfixed.” (Oasa Para 0081), see also Oasa Para 0036).
The motivation of combining Lane and Oasa is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 3, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 2, wherein when a rotation angle of the boom is equal to or greater than a predetermined standard, in a case where the control unit receives a second user input for setting an angle of the high dump bucket, the control unit sets an angle corresponding to the second user input to the predetermined first angle (“The boom lever 157 is operated to set a speed of a raising operation or a lowering operation of the boom 121. The lowering operation is performed when the boom lever 157 is tilted forward and the raising operation is performed when the boom lever 157 is tilted rearward. Hereinafter, the raising operation and the lowering operation of the boom 121 will be referred to as a lift operation. In addition, when the boom lever 157 is tilted forward by a certain angle or larger, a start command of automatic drive control (automatic lowering control) for automatically driving the boom 121 to a predetermined lowering position is output to the control device 300. When the boom lever 157 is tilted rearward by a certain angle or larger, a start command of automatic drive control (automatic raising control) for automatically driving the boom 121 to a predetermined raising position is output to the control device 300. For example, the lowering position may be a position when the lift cylinder 124 contracts to the maximum, or a position corresponding to a ground contact height of the work vehicle 100. For example, the raising position may be a position when the lift cylinder 124 expands to the maximum. In addition, the lowering position and the raising position may be optionally set by an operator. The raising position and the lowering position are not limited to the above-described examples. However, in either case, the raising position is set above the lowering position in a vehicle body coordinate system.” (Oasa Para 0034), see also Oasa Para 0035-0036 and 0081).
The motivation of combining Lane and Oasa is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 4, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 2, wherein the predetermined first angle is tilted further by a predetermined angle toward a front side in a full crowd state of the high dump bucket (“The boom lever 157 is operated to set a speed of a raising operation or a lowering operation of the boom 121. The lowering operation is performed when the boom lever 157 is tilted forward and the raising operation is performed when the boom lever 157 is tilted rearward. Hereinafter, the raising operation and the lowering operation of the boom 121 will be referred to as a lift operation. In addition, when the boom lever 157 is tilted forward by a certain angle or larger, a start command of automatic drive control (automatic lowering control) for automatically driving the boom 121 to a predetermined lowering position is output to the control device 300. When the boom lever 157 is tilted rearward by a certain angle or larger, a start command of automatic drive control (automatic raising control) for automatically driving the boom 121 to a predetermined raising position is output to the control device 300. For example, the lowering position may be a position when the lift cylinder 124 contracts to the maximum, or a position corresponding to a ground contact height of the work vehicle 100. For example, the raising position may be a position when the lift cylinder 124 expands to the maximum. In addition, the lowering position and the raising position may be optionally set by an operator. The raising position and the lowering position are not limited to the above-described examples. However, in either case, the raising position is set above the lowering position in a vehicle body coordinate system.” (Oasa Para 0034), see also Oasa Para 0035-0036 and 0081).
The motivation of combining Lane and Oasa is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 5, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 2, wherein the control unit receives the first user input based on whether a bucket kick-out function is activated and a joystick associated with the construction machine is operated to the first end (“The bucket lever 158 returns to a neutral position after outputting the start command of the automatic drive control. In another embodiment, a position of the bucket lever 158 may be fixed after outputting the start command of the automatic drive control until the automatic drive control ends. Even when the bucket lever 158 is fixed, the operator can unfix the bucket lever 158 by operating the bucket lever 158.” (Oasa Para 0037), “The stop switch 159 is operated to stop the various types of automatic drive control. When the stop switch 159 is pressed, a stop command is output to the control device 300. For example, the stop switch 159 is provided in the bucket lever 158.” (Oasa Para 0038), “The command input unit 312 receives an input of the start command of the automatic drive control from the boom lever 157 and the bucket lever 158. In addition, the command input unit 312 receives an input of the stop command of the automatic drive control from the stop switch 159.” (Oasa Para 0058)).
The motivation of combining Lane and Oasa is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 6, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 1, further comprising a boom angle sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the boom (“A base end portion of the boom 121 is attached to a front portion of the front vehicle body 111 via a pin. A boom angle sensor 1211 for detecting a boom angle θ.sub.B is provided in the base end portion of the boom 121. The boom angle θ.sub.B is represented by an angle formed between a straight line extending forward from the vehicle body 110 and a straight line extending from the base end portion to a tip end portion of the boom 121. As the boom angle θ.sub.B increases, the position of the tip end of the boom 121 becomes higher. As the boom angle θ.sub.B decreases, the position of the tip end of the boom 121 becomes lower. In another embodiment, a lift cylinder stroke sensor for measuring a stroke amount of the lift cylinder 124 may be provided, and the boom angle θ.sub.B may be detected based on the stroke amount of the lift cylinder 124.” (Oasa Para 0022)),
wherein when the control unit receives a third user input to perform a high dump operation, the control unit changes the rotation angle of the boom to a predetermined second angle through the first rotating shaft based on boom angle data obtained from the boom angle sensor, and changes the rotation angle of the high dump bucket to a predetermined first angle through the second rotating shaft based on the bucket angle data (“When the command input unit 312 receives an input of the start command of the automatic drive control, the control device 300 performs the automatic drive control described below. First, the drive control unit 317 determines whether or not the input start command is a start command relating to the automatic dump control (Step S31).” (Oasa Para 0078), “The measurement value acquisition unit 313 acquires the measurement values from the boom angle sensor 1211 and the bucket angle sensor 1231 (Step S34). The drive control unit 317 determines whether or not an angle of a control object (the boom 121 or the bucket 122) reaches a predetermined angle (rising angle, lowering angle, tilt angle, or dump angle) (Step S35). When the angle of the control object does not reach the predetermined angle (Step S35: NO), the command input unit 312 determines whether or not an input of the stop command is received (Step S36). When the stop command is not input (Step S36: NO), the operation amount acquisition unit 311 determines whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever (the boom lever 157 or the bucket lever 158) relating to the automatic drive control, which has returned to a predetermined play range immediately after the start command is input, exceeds the predetermined play range again (Step S37). When the operation amount of the operation lever does not exceed the play range (Step S37: NO), the process returns to Step S33, and the output of the drive command is continued. In another embodiment, when the operation lever is fixed after the start command of the automatic drive is input, in Step S37, the operation amount acquisition unit 311 may determine whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever falls within a range in which the operation lever is unfixed.” (Oasa Para 0081), see also Oasa Para 0036 and 0063-0064).
The motivation of combining Lane and Oasa is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 9, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 1, wherein when the control unit receives a fourth user input for performing a high dump operation, the control unit dumping-drives the high dump bucket through the third rotating shaft (“The bucket 40 is coupled to the cradle assembly 38 by the hinge pins 87 (a portion of one being shown in FIG. 8) which extend through aligned apertures 150 located in the side plates 130 in each actuator housing 124, and the sleeve 86 mounted between the cradle plates 58a, 58b. A teardrop-shaped mounting plate 152 is welded to one end of the hinge pin 87. When the pin 87 is in its operative position, the plate 152 abuts and is bolted to one of the side plates 130 by a threaded fastener 153. The plate 152 prevents relative rotation and axial movement between the pin 87 and the bucket 40. Consequently, the hinge pins 87 and hence the bucket 40 are rotatably supported by the bushings 88 press-fitted into the sleeves 86 (see FIG. 4).” Lane Column 7 lines 14-27), see also Lane Column 6 lines 1-10 and Fig 6), “The measurement value acquisition unit 313 acquires the measurement values from the boom angle sensor 1211 and the bucket angle sensor 1231 (Step S34). The drive control unit 317 determines whether or not an angle of a control object (the boom 121 or the bucket 122) reaches a predetermined angle (rising angle, lowering angle, tilt angle, or dump angle) (Step S35). When the angle of the control object does not reach the predetermined angle (Step S35: NO), the command input unit 312 determines whether or not an input of the stop command is received (Step S36). When the stop command is not input (Step S36: NO), the operation amount acquisition unit 311 determines whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever (the boom lever 157 or the bucket lever 158) relating to the automatic drive control, which has returned to a predetermined play range immediately after the start command is input, exceeds the predetermined play range again (Step S37). When the operation amount of the operation lever does not exceed the play range (Step S37: NO), the process returns to Step S33, and the output of the drive command is continued. In another embodiment, when the operation lever is fixed after the start command of the automatic drive is input, in Step S37, the operation amount acquisition unit 311 may determine whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever falls within a range in which the operation lever is unfixed.” (Oasa Para 0081), see also Oasa Para 0036).
In regards to claim 11, the claim recites analogous limitations to the combination of claims 1 and 6, and is therefore rejected on the same premise.
Claim(s) 7-8 and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lane in view of Oasa as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Park (US 20130046447).
In regards to claim 7, Lane in view of Oasa of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 8.
However, Lane in view of Oasa does not specifically teach of the control unit receives the third user input based on whether the joystick is operated to the second end in a state in which a kick-down button of a joystick associated with the construction machine is pressed.
Park, in the same field of endeavor, teaches of the control unit receives the third user input based on whether the joystick is operated to the second end in a state in which a kick-down button of a joystick associated with the construction machine is pressed (“In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides a position control method for a working machine of a construction machinery for controlling positions of a boom 20 and a bucket 30, the method comprising: (a) if a kick-down signal is input, determining whether or not a boom-down signal is input; (b) if the determination result of (a) step shows that the boom-down signal is not input, outputting the kick-down signal to a transmission control unit; and (c) if the determination result of (a) step shows that the boom-down signal is input, moving the boom 20 and the bucket 30 to a preset position without outputting the kick-down signal to the transmission control unit.” (Para 0015), “First, if the operator pushes the kick-down switch 50, a kick-down signal is input to the controller 80 (S100). Then, the controller 80 determines whether or not a boom-down signal is input (S110). If the operator pushes only the kick-down switch 50 but fails to generate a boom-down signal, the controller 80 outputs the input kick-down signal to the transmission control unit 51 (S120). Then, the transmission control unit 51 transmits a command for lowering a gear stage to the transmission (not illustrated) to lower the gear stage. Accordingly, an RPM of the engine is increased to increase a discharged flow amount of the pump 10.” (Para 0040), see also Fig 4).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the third user input, as taught by Lane in view of Oasa, to include being based on the operation of the joystick having a kick-down button , as taught by Park, with a reasonable expectation of success in order to minimize manufacturing costs of the construction machinery (Park Para 0015-0016).
In regards to claim 8, Lane in view of Oasa further in view of Park teaches of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 7, wherein when the joystick is operated while at least one of the rotation angle of the boom and the rotation angle of the high dump bucket is changed, the control unit stops changing the angle (“The measurement value acquisition unit 313 acquires the measurement values from the boom angle sensor 1211 and the bucket angle sensor 1231 (Step S34). The drive control unit 317 determines whether or not an angle of a control object (the boom 121 or the bucket 122) reaches a predetermined angle (rising angle, lowering angle, tilt angle, or dump angle) (Step S35). When the angle of the control object does not reach the predetermined angle (Step S35: NO), the command input unit 312 determines whether or not an input of the stop command is received (Step S36). When the stop command is not input (Step S36: NO), the operation amount acquisition unit 311 determines whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever (the boom lever 157 or the bucket lever 158) relating to the automatic drive control, which has returned to a predetermined play range immediately after the start command is input, exceeds the predetermined play range again (Step S37). When the operation amount of the operation lever does not exceed the play range (Step S37: NO), the process returns to Step S33, and the output of the drive command is continued. In another embodiment, when the operation lever is fixed after the start command of the automatic drive is input, in Step S37, the operation amount acquisition unit 311 may determine whether or not the operation amount of the operation lever falls within a range in which the operation lever is unfixed.” (Oasa Para 0081), “On the other hand, when the angle of the control object reaches the predetermined angle (Step S35: YES), when the stop command is input (Step S36: YES), and when the operation amount of the operation lever relating to the automatic drive control exceeds the play range (Step S37: YES), the drive control unit 317 stops the output of the drive command to the control valve 261 (Step S38), and ends the process.” (Oasa Para 0082)).
The motivation of combining Lane, Oasa, and Park is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 10, Lane in view of Oasa further in view of Park teaches of the high dump bucket-based construction machine of claim 9, wherein the control unit receives the fourth user input based on whether a kick-down button of the joystick is pressed (“In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides a position control method for a working machine of a construction machinery for controlling positions of a boom 20 and a bucket 30, the method comprising: (a) if a kick-down signal is input, determining whether or not a boom-down signal is input; (b) if the determination result of (a) step shows that the boom-down signal is not input, outputting the kick-down signal to a transmission control unit; and (c) if the determination result of (a) step shows that the boom-down signal is input, moving the boom 20 and the bucket 30 to a preset position without outputting the kick-down signal to the transmission control unit.” (Para 0015), “First, if the operator pushes the kick-down switch 50, a kick-down signal is input to the controller 80 (S100). Then, the controller 80 determines whether or not a boom-down signal is input (S110). If the operator pushes only the kick-down switch 50 but fails to generate a boom-down signal, the controller 80 outputs the input kick-down signal to the transmission control unit 51 (S120). Then, the transmission control unit 51 transmits a command for lowering a gear stage to the transmission (not illustrated) to lower the gear stage. Accordingly, an RPM of the engine is increased to increase a discharged flow amount of the pump 10.” (Para 0040), see also Fig 4).
The motivation of combining Lane, Oasa, and Park is the same as that recited for claim 1 above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kamado et al. (US 20240159023) discloses of an excavator that has a boom, arm, and bucket that can be used for high-dump bucket construction.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Kyle J Kingsland whose telephone number is (571)272-3268. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abby Flynn can be reached at (571) 272-9855. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KYLE J KINGSLAND/ Examiner, Art Unit 3663