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 as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: The reference numeral 106 mentioned in paragraph [0024] is not found in the Figures. 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. 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 line 12 of paragraph [0025] “105” should be changed to –106--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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)(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, 3-9 and 11-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Dean (US 4,232,776).
Dean shows a moving walkway transit system 10 having a moving walkway and a control system best shown in Figures 5 and 8 which controls various operational aspects of the moving walkway.
Re claim 3, various speed profiles may be implemented by the control system.
Re claim 4, shown is a plurality of modules 14, 16 and 18 which may operate at the same or different speeds.
Re claim 5, column 9, lines 54-57 disclose the use of a digital display as a warning feature is so desired.
Re claim 6, sensors 159 and 160 are used to monitor passengers and control when the modules speed up and slow down.
Re claim 7, safety stops may be initiated if computer 210 detects an abnormal condition.
Re claim 8, the computer 210 tracks and records aspects of the walkway 10.
Re claim 9, the walkway is operated and monitored by the control system.
Re claim 11, as per claim 3 rejection.
Re claim 12, as per claim 4 rejection.
Re claim 13, as per claim 5 rejection.
Re claim 14, as per claim 6 rejection.
Re claim 15, as per claim 7 rejection.
Re claim 16, as per claim 8 rejection.
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) 2 and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Dean in view of Matheisl et al. (US 2018/0002143).
Dean does not disclose the use of a GPS device. However, disclosed by Matheisl et al. is the use of a GPS device on a transport unit such as a moving sidewalk (see paragraph [0017}). To include such a GPS device on the modules of Dean would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success as it would help to keep track of where the various modules are located both during use or storage.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES R BIDWELL whose telephone number is (571)272-6910. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8 to 4.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gene Crawford, can be reached at telephone number (571)272-6911. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMES R BIDWELL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651 01/08/2026