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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I claims 1-10 in the reply filed on 02/03/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 11-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.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 02/03/2026.
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) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Goetz et al (2005/0029849A1). Goetz et al. shows the use of a seat (2) comprising: a chassis having a seating surface (36), a backrest (90), and an armrest (60); and a working attachment (68,70) fixedly secured to the chassis, the working attachment including a worksurface (72), the worksurface having a first position in which the worksurface is positioned at a height above a top surface of the armrest on a first side of the armrest (Figs. 2-3) such that the worksurface is positioned over the seating surface, the worksurface having a second position in which the worksurface is positioned on a second side of the armrest opposite of the first side (see Fig. 6 and para[0049]). Regarding claims 2-3, the working attachment includes a support section (70) and a vertical section (68) , the vertical section defining a first axis of rotation (58), the support section extending perpendicular to the vertical section, the support section including a support coupling (Fig. 3) that is pivotally coupled to the worksurface. the worksurface rotates relative to the support section about a second axis of rotation (74) that extends through the support coupling and is parallel to the first axis of rotation (see para[0045, 0049]). Regarding claim 4, the chassis includes a mount (54), the mount defining a receiver that selectively receives a first portion of a mounting shaft (56), the working attachment selectively receiving a second portion of the mounting shaft (Fig. 6), the mounting shaft fixedly securing the working attachment to the chassis. Regarding claim 5, the working attachment including a mounting section (56,32) having a horizontal tube (32) and a vertical tube (56) , the horizontal tube fixedly secured to the chassis, the vertical tube extending perpendicular to the horizontal tube, the vertical tube receiving the vertical section of the working attachment (see para[0045]). Regarding claims 6-7 the vertical section (68) is rotatably fixed to the relative to the vertical tube (56) which has a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the first axis. Goetz et al. has disclosed the at the vertical section can translate into and out of the vertical tube, via a linear actuator i.e. a pneumatic shock absorber or movable within between a first and second position and clamped in position (see para[0045], [0048]) in regards to claims 8-10.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Reference Nos. 5,169,210, 5,653,499, 5,765,911, 6,422,646, 12,004,663, and 2015/0241041 show features of the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY D BARFIELD whose telephone number is (571)272-6852. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANTHONY D BARFIELD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
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April 03, 2026
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