DETAILED ACTION
This is the first Office Action on the merits based on the 18/743,746 application filed on 06/12/2024. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claims 1-15, as originally filed, are currently pending and considered below.
Claim Objections
Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In Claim 10, line 1, the limitation “the first washers” should be --- the plurality of friction-reducing first washers ---
Appropriate correction is required.
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 8-10 and 13-14 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.
Regarding claim 8, the phrase "such as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the lifting cable" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 10, the phrase "such as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the position" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the lifting cable guide mechanism" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the lifting cable" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7, 11-12 and 15 are allowed.
Claims 8-10 and 13-14 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 Office notes that the continuation, App. 18/965,309, has been allowed and contains allowable subject matter similar to the indicated allowable subject matter of the current application.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, none of the prior art of record either alone or in combination
teach or suggest all the structural and functional limitations as recited in the claim, and more specifically, a pulley bracket attached to the swivel bracket using a plurality of first washers, a second bolt, and a second locking nut; and a pulley attached to the pulley bracket with a third bolt and a third locking nut; wherein the V brace, the V brace bracket, the swivel bracket, the pulley, and the pulley bracket along with the plurality of friction-reducing first washers collectively form a main assembly, to be inserted through a hole in a beam of the weight lifting apparatus, and wherein the main assembly is fastened to the beam using a conical tapered nut, thereby facilitating fit on the weight lifting apparatus.
Regarding claim 11, none of the prior art of record either alone or in combination
teach or suggest all the structural and functional limitations as recited in the claim, and more specifically, a V brace to the V brace bracket with a plurality of V brace attachment bolts and corresponding V brace attachment nuts; attaching, a pulley bracket to the swivel bracket with a plurality of first washers, a second bolt, and a second locking nut; mounting, a pulley onto the pulley bracket with a third bolt and a third locking nut; inserting, a main assembly comprising above mentioned components through a hole in a beam of the weight lifting apparatus; and connecting, the main assembly to the beam of the weight lifting apparatus using a conical tapered nut allowing to secure a thread onto the first bolt that passes through multiple different-sized holes on the weight lifting apparatus.
The prior art of record Gresham (US Patent Pub. No. 2021/0299510; FD: 12/31/2020), Liu (CN 110797794; FD: 12/02/2019), Decker (US Patent Pub. No. 2024/0416169; FD: 06/14/2024), and Cunningham (US Patent No. 3,705,708; FD: 07/19/1971) fail to teach or render obvious the independent claims.
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Liu discloses a pulley system (Corner pulling device seen in Figure 1 above) for a weight lifting apparatus (i.e., the system is capable of attaching to a lifting apparatus utilizing brackets 1 and 2), comprising: a swivel bracket (Second clamping seat 321; Figure 1) attached to a V brace bracket (First clamping seat 311; Figure 1); a V brace (Fixing plate 2; Figure 1) attached to the V brace bracket using a plurality of V brace attachment bolts and V brace attachment nuts (i.e., the top and bottom bolts and nuts annotated in Figure 1 above); a pulley bracket (Connecting plate 41; Figure 1); and a pulley (Pulley 5; Figure 1) attached to the pulley bracket with a third bolt and a third locking nut (i.e., the third bolt and third locking nut annotated in Figure 1) but does not teach a V brace bracket using a first bolt and a first locking nut positioned on a rear side of the V brace bracket; a pulley bracket attached to the swivel bracket using a plurality of first washers, a second bolt, and a second locking nut; wherein the V brace, the V brace bracket, the swivel bracket, the pulley, and the pulley bracket along with the plurality of friction-reducing first washers collectively form a main assembly, to be inserted through a hole in a beam of the weight lifting apparatus, and wherein the main assembly is fastened to the beam using a conical tapered nut, thereby facilitating fit on the weight lifting apparatus.
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Gresham discloses a pulley system (Adaptive pulley arm assembly 100; Figure 1) for a weight lifting apparatus (i.e., an exercise machine that is adaptable for the rail 210), comprising: a swivel bracket (First rail grabber 122; Figure 1) attached to a brace bracket (Second rail grabber 124; Figure 1) using a first bolt (Interconnector 130; Figure 1) and a pulley (Roller 150; Figure 1) attached to the pulley bracket with a third bolt (Roller support 160; Figure 1) and a third locking nut (Connector 162; Figure 1) but does not teach a swivel bracket attached to a V brace backet; a first locking nut positioned on a rear side of the V brace bracket; a V brace attached to the V brace bracket using a plurality of V brace attachment bolts and V brace attachment nuts; a pulley bracket attached to the swivel bracket using a plurality of first washers, a second bolt, and a second locking nut; wherein the V brace, the V brace bracket, the swivel bracket, the pulley, and the pulley bracket along with the plurality of friction-reducing first washers collectively form a main assembly, to be inserted through a hole in a beam of the weight lifting apparatus, and wherein the main assembly is fastened to the beam using a conical tapered nut, thereby facilitating fit on the weight lifting apparatus.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 Notice of References Cited for additional pertinent prior art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW M KOBYLARZ whose telephone number is (571)272-8096. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:30-5:00.
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/ANDREW M KOBYLARZ/Examiner, Art Unit 3784
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