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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “power distribution cabinet” of claim 13 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 informalities: In paragraph [0040] the “contact main shaft” is described using both the numbers “10” and “20”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-3 and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 2, line 7 the phrase “by driven” should be “to be driven.”
In claim 3, line 1 “wherein interlock” should read “wherein the interlock.”
In claim 3, line 4, “ratably” should be “rotatably”.
In claim 19, line 2 “wherein interlock” should read “wherein the interlock.”
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 1-20 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.
As to claim 1, lines 2 and 3 each require “a load.” it is unclear if “a load” refers a common load shared by both the first power source and the second power source, or if each power source is directed to a respective load.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the charging main shaft" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the charging main shaft" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the charging main shaft" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
As to claim 9, it is unclear if the interlock is configured to lock the user interface when the first switch or the second switch are at the ON state or if the interlock is configured to lock the user interface when the first switch and the second switch are at the ON state. The same applies to unlocking the user interface when the first and second switch are at the OFF state.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the charging main shaft" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitation "the charging main shaft" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 211428056 to Xu et al.
Xu discloses;
As to claim 1, a dual power transfer switch (1, Fig. 1) comprising: a first switch (11) configured to connect a first power source to a load (para 22 “as shown in FIG. 2…the execution switch 11 and the execution switch three 21 connected with the first power supply (also called common power supply)”); a second switch (12) configured to connect a second power source to a load (para 22 “the execution switch 12 and execution switch four 22 connected with the second power supply (also called standby power supply)”); a user interface (23) configured to receive a user operating handle (234) for operating the dual power transfer switch; and an interlock device (35) comprising an interlock member (42) which is adapted to act on the user interface (23) to prevent or allow a user to operate the dual power transfer switch through the user interface (by means of locking baffle 232 Fig. 5, preventing insertion of 234) in accordance with states of the first switch and the second switch (para (30) “only when the bypass conversion switch 1 of the executing switch 11 or executing switch 12 is provided with a closing, the shaking mechanism 23 can be the drawer type automatic conversion switch 2 of the switch main body for driving, the drawer type automatic transfer switch 2 of the switch main body can be shaking from the drawer seat 20 or shaking out.”), wherein the interlock member (42) is configured to move to different positions so as to lock or unlock the user interface (para (36) “Specifically, one end of the locking rod 422 is inserted in the locking hole 2321 of the baffle 232, the locking rod 422 locking the baffle 232, the baffle 232 cannot move”) in dependence on different rotation positions of a main shaft (111) of the dual power transfer switch (see Fig. 3, first main driving shaft 111 rotates connecting rod 311 (para 36), which rotates 342 via 3112, 342 rotates 351 via 40, 351 activating 41 which activates 42).
As to claim 13, a power distribution cabinet (5), comprising: a first power supply terminal for receiving a first power from a first power supply (switch 11 must have a first power supply terminal for receiving the first power from the first power source); a second power supply terminal for receiving a second power from a second power supply (switch 12 likewise must have a second power supply terminal for receiving the second power from the second power source); a load terminal for providing the first power or the second power to a load (switches 11 and 12 are part of a transfer switching arrangement, para 22, which must therefore contain a load terminal); a dual power transfer switch according to claim 1 configured to selectively connect the first power supply terminal or the second power supply terminal to the load terminal (again para 22, switches 11 and 12 are part of a transfer switch, selectively routing power between “common power” and “stand-by power”).
Claim(s) 1-2, 13 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 109065385 to Haian.
Haian discloses;
As to claim 1, a dual power transfer switch (Fig. 4) comprising: a first switch (for switching between load 830 and common power supply 810) configured to connect a first power source (810) to a load (830); a second switch (for switching between load 830 and standby power supply 820) configured to connect a second power source (820) to a load (830); a user interface (21) configured to receive a user operating handle (the fact that interface 21 can be manually drawn out implies use of a handle of some sort) for operating the dual power transfer switch; and an interlock device comprising an interlock member (22) which is adapted to act on the user interface (21) to prevent or allow a user to operate the dual power transfer switch through the user interface in accordance with states of the first switch and the second switch (see paragraph from spec below with annotations), wherein the interlock member is configured to move to different positions (locked and unlocked) so as to lock or unlock the user interface in dependence on different rotation positions of a main shaft (120, 140) of the dual power transfer switch.
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As to claim 2, The dual power transfer switch of claim 1, wherein the dual power transfer switch comprises a charging system (111, 131, 113, 133) and a contact system (120, 140), the charging system comprising a charging main shaft (111, 131) and a charging spring (113, 133) for rotating the charging main shaft, the charging main shaft being configured to drive a contact main shaft (120, 140) of the contact system to switch ON/OFF states of the first switch and the second switch; and wherein the interlock member (22) is configured by driven by the charging main shaft via a driving device (22, see annotation Fig. 3 below) connected thereto.
As to claim 13, A power distribution cabinet (10), comprising: a first power supply terminal (121) for receiving a first power from a first power supply (810); a second power supply terminal (141) for receiving a second power from a second power supply (820); a load terminal (proximate 830) for providing the first power or the second power to a load; a dual power transfer switch according to claim 1 configured to selectively connect the first power supply terminal or the second power supply terminal to the load terminal.
As to claim 18, the power distribution cabinet of claim 13, wherein the dual power transfer switch comprises a charging system (111, 131, 113, 133) and a contact system (120, 140), the charging system comprising a charging main shaft (111, 131) and a charging spring (113, 133) for rotating the charging main shaft, the charging main shaft being configured to drive a contact main shaft of the contact system to switch ON/OFF states of the first switch and the second switch (see annotations below); and wherein the interlock member is configured by driven by the charging main shaft via a driving device (22, see annotation Fig. 3 below) connected thereto.
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-12, 15-17, and 20 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.
a) The allowable features of claim 3 being “a first link rotatably and eccentrically mounted to the charging main shaft.”
b) The allowable features of claim 12 being “the interlock member is rotatably mounted to the user interface.”
c) The allowable feature of claim 20 being “a mounting plate provided with a through hole, wherein the charging main shaft is disposed on a first side of the mounting plate.”
Claims 14 and 20 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. The allowable feature of claim 14 being “wherein the interlock member is rotatably mounted to the user interface.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 2,921,998 to Pokorny et al., and US 7,910,845 to Kozar discloses a retractable interlocking means. US 3,783,209 to Cleaveland discloses a pivotable interlocking means.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMIL ALEXANDER DECKER whose telephone number is (571)272-6578. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm Mon-Fri.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jayprakash Gandhi can be reached at (571) 272-3740. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMIL ALEXANDER DECKER/Examiner, Art Unit 2841
/ROBERT J HOFFBERG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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