The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that use the word “means”, “step”, or a generic placeholder but are nonetheless not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph because the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure, materials, or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “pad replacement unit” in Claims 1, 9, 11, 13, and 15, “pad storage unit” in Claims 1, 3, 4, and 13-15, “pad transfer unit” in Claims 1-3 and 13-15, “movement module” in Claims 2, 3, and 14, “hook members” in Claims 10-12, and “cleaning system” in Claims 13-15.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are not being interpreted to cover only the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant intends to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to remove the structure, materials, or acts that performs the claimed function; or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) does/do not recite sufficient structure, materials, or acts to perform the claimed function.
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.
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 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.
Claims 1-3, 6-10, and 13-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ma et al. WO 2022/253345 (hereafter Ma et al.).
Regarding Claim 1, Ma et al. anticipates:
1. A station (base station 200) for use with a robot cleaner (cleaning robot 100), the station comprising:
a pad replacement unit (unlabeled pad receiving cavity area near mop board 110 in Figure 2);
a pad storage unit (assembly comprising first storage bin 210 and second storage bin 220) above the pad replacement unit and including a received pad container (second storage bin 220) and a pad supply container (first storage bin 210); and
a pad transfer unit (mop picking device 300), wherein
the pad replacement unit, the pad storage unit, and the pad transfer unit are configured so that
the pad transfer unit is movable in a first direction (upward, Figure 2) along a movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35) from the pad replacement unit to the pad storage unit while supporting a used pad (used mop board 110) that was detached from the robot cleaner and loaded in the pad replacement unit, so that the used pad is moved by the pad transfer unit to the pad storage unit to be received in the received pad container (Figures 5-8 and 38-42), and
the pad transfer unit is movable in a second direction (downward, Figure 2), opposite the first direction, along the movement path from the pad storage unit to the pad replacement unit while supporting a new pad (new mop board 110) that was stored in the pad supply container and supplied to the pad transfer unit, so that the new pad is moved by the pad transfer unit to the pad replacement unit to be attached to the robot cleaner (Figures 12-14 and 42-50), and
the pad storage unit is configured to move the received pad container (Figures 6 and 42) and the pad supply container (Figures 12 and 50) so that the received pad container is located on the movement path when the used pad is to be received in the received pad container (Figures 6 and 42), and the pad supply container is located on the movement path when the new pad is to be supplied to the pad transfer unit (Figures 12 and 50) .
Regarding Claim 2, Ma et al. anticipates:
2. The station of claim 1, wherein
the first direction (upward, Figure 2) is up along an up/down direction,
the second direction (downward, Figure 2) is down along the up/down direction, and
the pad transfer unit (mop picking device 300) includes:
a pad holder (connecting part 311) configured to support the used pad (used mop board 110) when the pad transfer unit moves in the first direction (upward, Figure 2) along the movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35)(Figures 5-8 and 38-42) and to support the new pad (new mop board 110) when the pad transfer unit moves in the second direction (downward, Figure 2) along the movement path (Figures 12-14 and 42-50), and
a movement module (first moving mechanism 310) configured to move the pad holder in the first direction and the second direction (Figures 5-8, 12-14 and 38-50).
Regarding Claim 3, Ma et al. anticipates:
3. The station of claim 2, wherein the pad storage unit (assembly comprising first storage bin 210 and second storage bin 220) and the pad transfer unit (mop picking device 300) are configured so that
the pad storage unit moves the received pad container (second storage bin 220) to be located on the movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35)(Figures 6 and 42) so that, when the pad holder (connecting part 311) is supporting the used pad (used mop board 110) and the movement module (first moving mechanism 310) moves the pad holder in the first direction (upward, Figure 2), the pad holder becomes inserted into the received pad container (Figures 5-8 and 38-42), and
when the new pad (new mop board 110) is to be supplied to the pad transfer unit, the movement module moves the pad holder in the first direction in an empty state without supporting the used pad (Figures 11 and 42), and the pad storage unit moves the pad supply container (first storage bin 210) to be located on the movement path (Figures 43 and 44) so that the pad holder moving in the first direction becomes inserted into the pad supply container (between Figures 44-45).
Regarding Claim 6, Ma et al. anticipates:
6. The station of claim 1, wherein,
when the received pad container (second storage bin 220) is located on the movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35), the pad supply container (first storage bin 210) is not located on the movement path (Figures 6 and 42), and
when the pad supply container is located on the movement path, the received pad container is not located on the movement path (Figure 12).
Regarding Claim 7, Ma et al. anticipates:
7. The station of claim 2, wherein the pad holder (connecting part 311) has a support posture (mechanical claws holding mop board 110 for transport) in which the pad holder supports the used pad (used mop board 110) or the new pad (new mop board 110), and a separation posture (positioned for removal of new or used mop board 110 from connecting part 311 by removal mechanism 320) in which the pad holder allows separation of the used pad (Figure 8) or the new pad (Figure 15) from the pad holder.
Regarding Claim 8, Ma et al. anticipates:
8. The station of claim 7, wherein the pad holder (connecting part 311) has the separation posture (positioned for removal of new or used mop board 110 from connecting part 311 by removal mechanism 320) or the support posture (mechanical claws holding mop board 110 for transport) depending on position of the pad holder along the up/down direction (support posture along entire path, separation posture at three locations).
Regarding Claim 9, Ma et al. anticipates:
9. The station of claim 8, wherein the pad holder (connecting part 311) has the separation posture (positioned for removal of new or used mop board 110 from connecting part 311 by removal mechanism 320) when located at the pad replacement unit (unlabeled pad receiving cavity area near mop board 110 in Figure 2), the pad holder has the support posture (mechanical claws holding mop board 110 for transport) when moving from the pad replacement unit toward the received pad container (second storage bin 220), and the pad holder has the separation posture when located at the received pad container (Figures 5-8 and 38-42).
Regarding Claim 10, Ma et al. anticipates:
10. The station of claim 9, wherein the pad holder (connecting part 311) includes a plurality of hook members (locking part which includes mechanical claws or hooks) configured to pivot to support the new pad (new mop board 110) or the used pad (used mop board 110) in the support posture (mechanical claws holding mop board 110 for transport).
Regarding Claim 13, Ma et al. anticipates:
13. A cleaning system (system comprising base station 200 and cleaning robot 100) comprising:
a robot cleaner (cleaning robot 100);
a pad replacement unit (unlabeled pad receiving cavity area near mop board 110 in Figure 2);
a pad storage unit (assembly comprising first storage bin 210 and second storage bin 220) above the pad replacement unit and including a received pad container (second storage bin 220) and a pad supply container (first storage bin 210); and
a pad transfer unit (mop picking device 300), wherein
the robot cleaner, the pad replacement unit, the pad storage unit, and the pad transfer unit are configured so that
the pad transfer unit is movable in a first direction (upward, Figure 2) along a movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35) from the pad replacement unit to the pad storage unit while supporting a used pad (used mop board 110) that was detached from the robot cleaner and loaded in the pad replacement unit, so that the used pad is moved by the pad transfer unit to the pad storage unit to be received in the received pad container (Figures 5-8 and 38-42), and
the pad transfer unit is movable in a second direction (downward, Figure 2), opposite the first direction, along the movement path from the pad storage unit to the pad replacement unit while supporting a new pad (new mop board 110) that was stored in the pad supply container and supplied to the pad transfer unit, so that the new pad is moved by the pad transfer unit to the pad replacement unit to be attached to the robot cleaner (Figures 12-14 and 42-50), and
the pad storage unit is configured to move the received pad container (Figures 6 and 42) and the pad supply container (Figures 12 and 50) so that the received pad container is located on the movement path when the used pad is to be received in the received pad container (Figures 6 and 42), and the pad supply container is located on the movement path when the new pad is to be supplied to the pad transfer unit (Figures 12 and 50) .
Regarding Claim 14, Ma et al. anticipates:
14. The cleaning system of claim 13, wherein
the first direction (upward, Figure 2) is up along an up/down direction,
the second direction (downward, Figure 2) is down along the up/down direction,
the pad transfer unit (mop picking device 300) includes:
a pad holder (connecting part 311) configured to support the used pad (used mop board 110) when the pad transfer unit moves in the first direction (upward, Figure 2) along the movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35)(Figures 5-8 and 38-42) and to support the new pad (new mop board 110) when the pad transfer unit moves in the second direction (downward, Figure 2) along the movement path (Figures 12-14 and 42-50), and
a movement module (first moving mechanism 310) configured to move the pad holder in the first direction and the second direction (Figures 5-8, 12-14 and 38-50), and
the pad transfer unit and the pad storage unit are configured so that
the pad storage unit moves the received pad container (second storage bin 220) to be located on the movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35)(Figures 6 and 42) so that, when the pad holder (connecting part 311) is supporting the used pad (used mop board 110) and the movement module (first moving mechanism 310) moves the pad holder in the first direction (upward, Figure 2), the pad holder becomes inserted into the received pad container (Figures 5-8 and 38-42), and
when the new pad (new mop board 110) is to be supplied to the pad transfer unit, the movement module moves the pad holder in the first direction in an empty state without supporting the used pad (Figures 11 and 42), and the pad storage unit moves the pad supply container (first storage bin 210) to be located on the movement path (Figures 43 and 44) so that the pad holder moving in the first direction becomes inserted into the pad supply container (between Figures 44-45).
Regarding Claim 15, Ma et al. anticipates:
15. A cleaning pad (mop board 110) replacement method for a cleaning system (system comprising base station 200 and cleaning robot 100) that includes a robot cleaner (cleaning robot 100) and a station (base station 200) that includes a pad replacement unit (unlabeled pad receiving cavity area near mop board 110 in Figure 2), a pad storage unit (assembly comprising first storage bin 210 and second storage bin 220) above the pad replacement unit and including a received pad container (second storage bin 220) and a pad supply container (first storage bin 210), and a pad transfer unit (mop picking device 300), the cleaning pad replacement method comprising:
moving, by the pad storage unit, the received pad container and the pad supply container so that the received pad container is located on a movement path (along vertical track shown in Figures 2 and 35) of the pad transfer unit that extends from the pad replacement unit to the pad storage unit and the pad supply container is not located on the movement path (Figures 5-8 and 38-42);
moving the pad transfer unit in a first direction (upward, Figure 2) along the movement path from the pad replacement unit to the pad storage unit (Figures 6 and 42) while the received pad container is located on the movement path and the pad transfer unit supports a used pad (used mop board 110) that was detached from the robot cleaner and loaded in the pad replacement unit (Figures 6 and 42), so that the used pad is moved by the pad transfer unit to the pad storage unit to be received in the received pad container (Figures 6 and 42);
after the used pad is received in the received pad container, moving, by the pad storage unit, the received pad container and the pad supply container so that the pad supply container is located on the movement path and the received pad container is not located on the movement path (Figure 12);
supplying a new pad (new mop board 110) stored in the pad supply container located on the movement path to the pad transfer unit (Figures 12-13 and 42-46); and
moving the pad transfer unit in a second direction (downward, Figure 2), opposite the first direction, along the movement path from the pad storage unit to the pad replacement unit while the pad transfer unit supports the new pad supplied to the pad transfer unit (Figures 14 and 47), so that the new pad is moved by the pad transfer unit to the pad replacement unit to be attached to the robot cleaner (Figures 14-15 and 47-50).
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 of this title, 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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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 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.
Claims 11 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ma et al. WO 2022/253345 (hereafter Ma et al.) in view of design choice.
Regarding Claim 11, Ma et al. teaches:
11. The station of claim 10, further comprising:
a first rotation guide unit (see discussion below) configured to guide pivoting of the plurality of hook members (locking part which includes mechanical claws or hooks) when the pad holder (connecting part 311) is located at the pad replacement unit (unlabeled pad receiving cavity area near mop board 110 in Figure 2) so that the pad holder has the separation posture (positioned for removal of new or used mop board 110 from connecting part 311 by removal mechanism 320) at the pad replacement unit.
Ma et al. discloses a connecting part 311 that includes locking part that could comprise mechanical claws, hooks or magnets to secure the mop board 110 for transport. Ma et al. discloses pivotally operating release mechanism 600 in Figures 48 and 49 that pry the mop board away from the connecting part to release it. Ma et al. does not disclose a first rotation guide that would allow the mechanical claws or hooks to pivotally move to improve the release of the mop board from the connecting part. It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to one having ordinary skill before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the mechanical claws or hooks to be pivotally connected to a first rotation guide that would allow them to be actuated for release without a need to forcibly overcome the mechanical connection to release the new mop board onto the pad storage unit for connection to the cleaning robot 100.
Regarding Claim 12, Ma et al. teaches:
12. The station of claim 10, wherein the received pad container (second storage bin 220) includes a second rotation guide unit (see discussion below) configured to guide pivoting of the plurality of hook members (locking part which includes mechanical claws or hooks) when the pad holder (connecting part 311) is located at the received pad container so that the pad holder has the separation posture (positioned for removal of new or used mop board 110 from connecting part 311 by removal mechanism 320) at the received pad container.
Ma et al. discloses a connecting part 311 that includes locking part that could comprise mechanical claws, hooks or magnets to secure the mop board 110 for transport. Ma et al. discloses pivotally operating release mechanism 600 in Figures 48 and 49 that pry the mop board away from the connecting part to release it. Ma et al. does not disclose a second rotation guide that would allow the mechanical claws or hooks to pivotally move to improve the release of the mop board from the connecting part. It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to one having ordinary skill before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the mechanical claws or hooks to be pivotally connected to a second rotation guide that would allow them to be actuated for release without a need to forcibly overcome the mechanical connection to release the used mop board onto the second storage bin for eventual disposal.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 and 5 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim but it would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure can be found in form PTO-892 Notice of References Cited. Specifically, the prior art references include pertinent disclosures of robotic cleaner stations designed to replace mop pads on robotic cleaners.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARC CARLSON whose telephone number is (571)272-9963. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6:30am-3:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, BRIAN KELLER can be reached on (571) 272-8548. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARC CARLSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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