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 statements submitted on 6/15/2026 have been considered by the examiner.
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, 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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4-6 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Grasl (USPN 6,419,603) in view of Bringolf et al. (USPN 5,803,418).
Grasl discloses a belt actuator system, comprising: at least a drive unit (not shown); a belt zipper system (see Fig. 2) configured to form a third belt element (16) in a zip-fastening manner of a first belt element (14) and a second belt element (15) comprising: a guiding arrangement (30) configured to move the first belt element and the second belt element in a synchronous manner; a first zip-fastening arrangement (17/18) comprising a first movable coil (17) and a second movable coil (18) arranged in a same second plane (see Fig. 2), the first movable coil and the second movable coil being tractional gears (see Fig. 2); wherein the first zip-fastening arrangement is configured to connect a first part (20) of the first belt element with a second part (21) of the second belt element in a zip-fastening manner to obtain the third belt element, and wherein the drive unit is connected to (via 17) the first zip-fastening arrangement configured to drive the first zip-fastening arrangement , wherein the defined first distance of the first plane of the guiding arrangement related to the second plane of the first zip-fastening arrangement in a defined horizontal and / or vertical direction; wherein the first guiding element and at least a second guiding element (see Fig. 2) of the guiding arrangement are arranged at a distance in horizontal direction of the first plane; wherein the belt elements comprise a belt surface (see Fig. 2, side of belts 14 and 15 opposite of where 20/21 are formed) having a plurality of tooth-like form elements (see Fig. 2); wherein the coils of the first zip-fastening arrangement comprises each a coil surface (see Fig. 2, 17/18 have teeth that mesh with the toothed belts) having a plurality of tooth-like form elements that is identical to the belt surface of the belt elements; enabling to move the both belt elements in synchronous manner; wherein the belt elements are made of a same material (belts are described as being cut from the same extrusion, see at least Column 3, lines 47-51).
Grasl does not disclose a second zip-fastening arrangement comprising a third movable coil and a fourth movable coil arranged in a same third plane, wherein the third plane is arranged in a second horizontal distance to the second plane of the first zip-fastening arrangement, additionally Grasl does not explicitly disclose a single motor driving the embodiment depicted in Figure 2, though it is strongly implied by the disclosure of Grasl (see Column 5, lines 18-20).
Bringolf discloses a second zip-fastening arrangement (35a/b) comprising a third movable coil (35a) and a fourth movable coil (35b) arranged in a same third plane (see Fig. 5), wherein the third plane is arranged in a second horizontal distance (see Fig. 5) to a second plane (see Fig. 5) of a first zip-fastening arrangement (34a/b), and a drive unit (not shown in Figure 5) being a single motor (Column 4, lines 40-56).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified belt actuator system of Grasl to have a second zip-fastening arrangement and be driven by a single motor, in order to increase the stability of the third belt element as it leaves the assembly module, as taught by Bringolf (Column 4, lines 32-39) and in order to assemble and disable the belt elements automatically in a motorized fashion, as taught by Bringolf (Column 4 lines 45-46).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAKE COOK whose telephone number is (571)272-5968. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:00 PM.
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JAKE COOK
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3618
/Jake Cook/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618
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