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 .
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 7/8/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claim 13 the recitation “non parallel” appears to be a typo.
Suggested correction “non-parallel”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
5. 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, 8, 14 and 15 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 1 the recitation “…an eccentric drive pin mounted eccentrically on said drive shaft, which eccentric drive pin engages the drive channel of the transfer member…”, is NOT clearly defined. With emphasis on the term “which”, this is an indefinite on the grounds that it raises the question as to whether there are multiple eccentric drive pins. The current limitation raises a question with respect to the “drive pin”
Suggested Limitation(s):
“…an eccentric drive pin mounted eccentrically on said drive shaft, in which the eccentric drive pin engages the drive channel of the transfer member…”.
“…an eccentric drive pin mounted eccentrically on said drive shaft, wherein the eccentric drive pin engages the drive channel of the transfer member…”.
“an eccentric drive pin mounted eccentrically on said drive shaft, the eccentric drive pin adapted to engage the drive channel of the transfer member…”.
Regarding claim 1 line 13 the limitation “….a guide configured to guide the transfer member back-and-forth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drive channel axis.… “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially perpendicular”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
“…a guide configured to guide the transfer member back-and-forth in a direction perpendicular to the drive channel axis.…”.
Regarding claim 1 line 16 the limitation “….the guide and transfer member are rotatable for assuming a desired rotational position between and including a first rotational position in which the drive channel axis extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (L) of the link member.… “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially perpendicularly ”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
“….the guide and transfer member are rotatable for assuming a desired rotational position between and including a first rotational position in which the drive channel axis extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (L) of the link member.… “.
Regarding claim 1 line 18 the limitation “….the link member and the guide is configured to move the transfer member back-and-forth substantially in the longitudinal direction of the link member.… “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “ back & forth substantially in the longitudinal direction”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
“….the link member and the guide is configured to move the transfer member back-and-forth in the longitudinal direction of the link member.… “.
Regarding claim 1 line 20 the limitation “….in which the drive channel axis extends substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) of the link member an.… “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially in the longitudinal direction”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
“….in which the drive channel axis extends in the longitudinal direction (L) of the link member an.… “.
Regarding claim 1 line 21 the limitation “….the guide is configured to move the transfer member back-and-forth substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the link member. “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
“….the guide is configured to move the transfer member back-and-forth perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the link member. “.
Regarding claim 8 lines 3-4 the limitation “….which only allows said back-and-forth movement of the transfer member in said direction (D) substantially perpendicular to the drive channel axis… “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially perpendicular”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
“….which only allows said back-and-forth movement of the transfer member in said direction (D) perpendicular to the drive channel axis… “.
Regarding claim 14 the limitation “…the pivot arm that extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) ... “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Suggested Limitation(s):
Regarding claim 14 the limitation “…the pivot arm that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) ... “.
Regarding claim 14 the limitation “…the position of the pivot axis of the pivot arm is adjustable in a direction substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction ... “, is ambiguous and overly broad. With emphasis on the phrase “substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction”, this is a relative phrase with respect to the structure and / or description of the claimed invention, the applicant has not clearly established (i.e dimensional characteristics etc) how “substantially” is defined. Therefore, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Claims 2-4, 5-7, 9-13, and 16-20 are rejected based on their dependency of rejected claims 1, 8, 14 and 15.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
Claims 2-20 would be allowable based on their dependency of claim 1.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Cotrell et al discloses A system for fatigue testing wind turbine blades through forced or resonant excitation of the base of a blade . The system includes a test stand ) and a restoring spring assembly mounted on the test stand. The restoring spring assembly includes a primary spring element that extends outward from the test stand to a blade mounting plate configured to receive a base of blade . During fatigue testing, a supported base of a blade may be pivotally mounted to the test stand via the restoring spring assembly . The system may include an excitation input assembly that is interconnected with the blade mounting plate to selectively apply flapwise, edgewise, and/or pitch excitation forces. The restoring spring assembly may include at least one tuning spring member positioned adjacent to the primary spring element used to tune the spring constant or stiffness of the primary spring element in one of the excitation directions. (Abstract)
The cited pertinent art of record does not anticipate nor render obvious a guide configured to guide a transfer member back-and-forth in a direction perpendicular to a drive channel axis, wherein the guide and transfer member are rotatable for assuming a desired rotational position between and including a first rotational position in which the drive channel axis extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction (L) of a link member and the guide is configured to move the transfer member back-and-forth in the longitudinal direction of the link member, and a second rotational position in which the drive channel axis extends in the longitudinal direction (L) of the link member and the guide is configured to move the transfer member back-and-forth perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the link member.
Conclusion
US 10337969 B2 High speed vacuum cycling excitation system for optical inspection systems
US 10876943 B2 High speed vacuum cycling excitation system for optical inspection systems
US 11933067 B2 System for identification and active control of vibrations in a structure and relating method
WO 2023195501 A1 TEST DEVICE, HEDGE TRIMMER, AND ELECTRIC ACTUATOR
RU 2664982 C1 STAND FOR TESTS OF HELICOPTER ELEMENTS WITH COAXIAL SCREWS
RU 2628873 C2 STAND FOR TESTING ELEMENTS OF BELILIARY HELICOPTER WITH OUTSIDE SCREWS
WO 2011061141 A1 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING FATIGUE FOR MECHANICAL COMPONENTS OF AN AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE METHOD
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDRE J ALLEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2174. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 9am-5PM.
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.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina M Deherrera can be reached at (303) 297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ANDRE J ALLEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
Prosecution Insights