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 2 (Figs 11-13) in the reply filed on 3/6/26 is acknowledged. Applicant is correct that claim 10 is to be prosecuted with either group due to showing the device of each group in use.
Applicant submits that claims 1-20 read on the elected group. Claims 1-20 are examined below.
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 1-10, 15 and 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.
Claim 1 recites, “share a longitudinal axis” which is vague and indefinite, because it is unclear how the recited panels structurally share the longitudinal axis. Claim 1 further recites, “aligned with” which renders the claim indefinite because the claim fails to define the manner or reference frame in which the hinge components are aligned relative to one another and/or the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, the metes and bounds of the claim are unclear. See also claims 3 and 4.
Claims 1, 3, 10, 15, and 20 recite the phrase “able to” which renders the claims indefinite because the phrase is vague capability language rather than a positive structural recitation. Thus, the scope of the claim is unclear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10, 15 and 20 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 11-14 and 16-19 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: (claim 1) – note the hinge components aligned at different offsets from the longitudinal axis by first and second distances, respectively, where the first distance is less than the second distance – note the configuration of the combined upper surface; (claim 11) – note the hinge plates offset different distances from the respective longitudinal axes by first and second distances respectively, where the first distance is shorter than the second distance, relative to each respective connection with the support panels; and (claim 17) note the hinge plates positioned inside and outside of each other relative to the combined longitudinal axis of adjacent support panels – note the configuration of the combined upper surface.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure and will be used in subsequent office action rejections, as applicable.
The list of supports is as follows: US-20240140127-A1.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MONICA E MILLNER whose telephone number is (571)270-7507. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-4:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Terrell McKinnon can be reached at 571-272-4797. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MONICA E MILLNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632
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