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 because:
Per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(p)(1) reference characters should not be used in association with brackets. Brackets should be removed from figures 2-4. The proper way to indicate a structure or section generally, such as door assembly 200 in figure 2, is with an arrow per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(r)(1).
Per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(q) lead lines are required for every reference character except those indicating the surface or cross section on which they are placed. Figure 1 reference numeral 1000, figure 2 reference numeral 100, figure 7 reference numeral 31, figure 8 reference numeral 32, and figure 10 reference numeral 71 all lack reference arrows and in the case of figure 7, 8, and 10 the reference numerals are also improperly located on the surface of the structure.
Per 37 C.F.R 1.84(r)(1) arrows should be on free standing lines, i.e. not touching the section indicated. The arrows touching the indicated structures in 1, 3, 4, and 7-9 should be made freestanding or changed to lead lines.
Per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(l) all lines, numerals, and letters should be clean, durable, black, and well defined. Some reference numerals, for example 520, 230, and 220 in figure 2, are overly bolded or thick and thus are difficult to read.
It is unclear what part reference numeral 62 is indicating in figure 2. Reference numeral 62 indicates the second locking assembly but that does not appear to be visible, or at least readily apparent, in the perspective view of figure 2.
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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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:
The specification includes first connecting pin 531 and second connecting pin 532. It appears that these pins are two of the connecting pins 530, however, the disclosure never says so.
Page 6 second full paragraph describes unlocking counterclockwise as being shown in figure 3, figure 3 shows the locked position while the unlocking is shown in figure 4.
Page 8 second full paragraph recites “the sliding assembly 30” instead of “the slider assembly 30”.
The description of the pressing portions on page 8 recites that in both clockwise and counterclockwise unlocking positions both the first and second connecting pins engage (either by pressing or being pressed) the respective first and second pressing portions. This matches what is shown in figure 4 where first pin 531 is in contact with pressing portion 311 of slider 31. However, it appears that once the unlocking position is achieved and the pin slides out the outlet the door panel is then manually moved open (see page 1 background) and when the door is moved open (i.e. approximately 90 degree rotation from normal driving position) the pin that slid out of the outlet would no longer be in contact with the pressing portion (i.e. the base is fixed to the door while the pin is fixed to the shaft so when the door pivots relative to the shaft the slider and pressing portion would move with it). As such it appears that the unlocking position is the position of the base, slider, and door at the moment the connecting pin is out of the channel and does not encompass the position of the structures during later door movement. Since this is a very narrow scope of unlocking position applicant should clarify the disclosure to indicate such as the general interpretation of unlocking position would include the position of the structures at any point after unlocking including after the door as moved not just at the moment of unlocking.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 2, 11, 12, and 15 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 2 lines 4 includes an extraneous parenthesis and space in “(321) ),”.
Claim 2 line 5-7 recite “in the unlocking position, the first connecting pin (531) presses the first pressing portion (311), and the second pressing portion (321) presses the second connecting pin (532)”. As noted in the above specification objection it appears that the unlocking position encompasses only the moment the opening structure is unlocked by the pin exiting the channel as during later movement of the door one of the pins would not be in contact with the respective pressing portion. For purposes of examination the claim will be interpreted in view of the disclosure as the unlocking position is only at the moment the pin exits the channel.
Claim 11 lines 2-3 recite “the slider assembly (30) or the first slider (31) and the second slider (32) are symmetrically arranged”. As the slider assembly comprises the first slider and second slider as recited in claim 4, from which claim 11 depends via claim 5, the “the slider assembly (30) or” is redundant.
Claim 12 lines 2-3 recite “the sliding assembly”. This appears to be a typo for “the slider assembly”.
Claim 15 line 1 recites “[a] revolving door assembly”. This appears to be the same as the revolving door of claim 1, from which claim 15 depends.
Claim 15 lines 3-4 recite “an emergency opening structure (100) according to claim 1”. The correct antecedent is the emergency opening structure according to claim 1.
Claim 15 is directed to the combination (revolving door) but depends from the subcombination (emergency opening structure). As this raises antecedent issues such as those noted above examiner suggests claim 15 be rewritten in independent form to avoid such issues.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: control mechanism in claims 13 and 14. Examiner notes the support for control mechanism in page 14 of the disclosure includes either the slider 30 or the slider 30 and the locking assemblies 61,62. For purposes of examination the control mechanism will be interpreted as slider 30 or its equivalent.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend 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 avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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.
Claim(s) 1-7 and 11-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CH 2799808 to Xia (from IDS of 9/19/2025, hereinafter Xia).
Regarding claim 1, the emergency opening structure for a revolving door is shown in Xia in figures 1-7 with
An emergency opening structure configured to connect with a first connecting pin (5a) and a second connecting pin (5b) installed on a driving shaft (figures 1 and 2 vertical shaft forming pivot axis for door assemblies 27) for the revolving door, and comprises:
a slider assembly (3,4) having a first side surface (lower 8,9 figure 4) and a second side surface (upper 8,9 figure 4) opposite to each other; and
a base (1) having a sidewall (figure 4, wall including portions 7), the slider assembly (3,4) being disposed on an inner side of the sidewall (figure 4) and configured to move relative to the base (1), a first sliding channel (lower 11 figure 4) being formed between a first portion (lower 7 figure 4) of the sidewall (figure 4) and the first side surface (lower 8,9 figure 4), and a second sliding channel (upper 11 figure 4) being formed between a second portion (upper 7 figure 4) of the sidewall (figure 4) and the second side surface (upper 8,9 figure 4),
wherein the first sliding channel (lower 11) and the second sliding channel (upper 11) are configured to accommodate the first connecting pin (5a) and the second connecting pin (5b), respectively,
wherein the emergency opening structure has a normal driving position (figure 2) and an unlocking position (figure 3), and in the normal driving position, the first connecting pin (5a) and the second connecting pin (5b) are clamped in the first sliding channel (lower 11) and the second sliding channel (upper 11), respectively, and in the unlocking position, the base (1) rotates around the second connecting pin (5b) to a position where the first connection pin (5a) slides out of the first sliding channel (lower 11), while the second side surface (upper 8,9) and the second portion (upper 7) of the sidewall (figure 4) remain pressing against the second connecting pin (5b) so as to prevent the second connecting pin (5b) from disengaging from the second sliding channel (upper 11).
Regarding claim 2, the first side surface (lower 8,9) has a first receiving portion (lower 8) and a first pressing portion (lower 9), and the second side surface (upper 8,9) has a second receiving portion (upper 8) and a second pressing portion (upper 9), wherein in the normal driving position, the first connecting pin (5a) contacts the first receiving portion (lower 8), and the second connecting pin (5b) contacts the second receiving portion (upper 8), and in the unlocking position (see above claim and specification objections for interpretation), the first connecting pin (5a) presses the first pressing portion (lower 9), and the second pressing portion (upper 9) presses the second connecting pin (5b), wherein the first receiving portion (lower 8) and the second receiving portion (upper 8) are formed as concave surfaces, and the first pressing part (lower 9) and the second pressing part (upper 9) are formed as convex surfaces on Xia.
Regarding claim 3, the emergency opening structure further has another unlocking position (page 3 of translation in IDS door folds forwards and backwards), wherein in the another unlocking position, the base (1) is rotated around the first connecting pin (5a) to a position where the second connecting pin (5b) slides out of the second sliding channel (upper 11), and the first side surface (lower 8,9) and the first portion (lower 7) of the sidewall (figure 4) keep pressing against the first connecting pin (5a) to prevent the first connecting pin (5a) from disengaging from the first sliding channel (lower 11) in Xia.
Regarding claim 4, the slider assembly (3,4) comprises a first slider (lower 3 figure 4) and a second slider (upper 3 figure 4), wherein the first side surface (lower 8,9) is formed on the first slider (lower 3), the second side surface (upper 8,9) is formed on the second slider (upper 3), and the first slider (lower 3) is configured to push the second slider (upper 3) to move in Xia.
Regarding claim 5, the slider assembly (3,4) further comprises a sliding sleeve (12) between the first slider (lower 3) and the second slider (upper 3), the sliding sleeve (12) being configured to slide relative to the base (1) along a first direction (longitudinal direction of spring 18), and the first slider (lower 3) being configured to slide relative to the base (1) along a second direction (pivotal sliding around 15) intersecting with the first direction to push the second slider (upper 3) to move via the sliding sleeve (12), so that the second side surface (upper 8,9) of the second slider (upper 3) and the second portion (upper 7) of the sidewall (figure 4) keep clamping the second connecting pin (5b) in Xia.
Regarding claim 6, the slider assembly (3,4) further comprises: a compression spring (18), one end of which is inserted into the sliding sleeve (12), and the other end of which is connected to the sidewall (figure 4) of the base (1) in Xia.
Regarding claim 7, the sliding sleeve (12) has a tubular body portion having a constant cross section and a radial protrusion (13) formed at one end of the tubular body portion close to the sidewall (figure 4) of the base (1), wherein, in the normal driving position, the first slider (lower 3) and the second slider (upper 3) press against the radial protrusion (13), and in the unlocked position, the first slider (lower 3) and the second slider (upper 3) press against the tubular body portion, wherein the radial protrusion is closer to the sidewall (figure 4) of the base (1) than the tubular body portion in Xia.
Regarding claim 11, the base (1) is formed in a symmetrical structure and has a center line (extending radially along base 1), and the first slider (lower 3) and the second slider (upper 3) are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line (figure 4) of the base (1), wherein the center line of the base is substantially perpendicular to a center axis (vertical axis) of the driving shaft (figures 1 and 2) of the revolving door, and the sliding sleeve (12) is arranged along an extending direction of the center line of the base (1) in Xia.
Regarding claim 12, the emergency opening structure further comprises a cover plate (22) for covering at least the slider assembly (3,4), wherein the cover plate (22) is fixedly connected to the base (1) through screws (29) in Xia.
Regarding claim 13, the emergency opening structure is shown in Xia in figures 1-7 with
An emergency opening structure for a revolving door (figures 1 and 2), a driving shaft (figures 1 and 2 vertical shaft forming pivot axis for door assemblies 27) of the revolving door is connected to the emergency opening structure through a first connecting pin (5a) and a second connecting pin (5b) that are parallel to each other, characterized in that the emergency opening structure comprises a main body (1) mounted to a door assembly (27) of the revolving door and a control mechanism (3,4) provided in the main body (1), and is configured to comprise:
a first accommodating cavity (lower 11 figure 4) for accommodating the first connecting pin (5a) and having a first outlet (between 7 and 9 in figure 4); and
a second accommodating cavity (upper 11 figure 4) for accommodating the second connecting pin (5b) and having a second outlet (between 7 and 9 in figure 4),
wherein the control mechanism (3,4) is configured to allow the main body (1) to pivot about the second connecting pin (5b) while preventing the second connecting pin (5b) from disengaging from the second accommodating cavity (upper 11) via the second outlet, and/or allowing the main body (1) to pivot about the first connecting pin (5a) while preventing the first connecting pin (5a) from disengaging the first accommodating cavity (lower 11) via the first outlet.
Regarding claim 14, the control mechanism (3,4) is configured to enable the first connecting pin (5a) to disengage from the first accommodating cavity (lower 11) via the first outlet when the main body (1) rotates around the second connecting pin (5b), and to enable the second connecting pin (5b) to disengage from the second accommodating cavity (upper 11) via the second outlet when the main body (1) rotates around the first connecting pin (5a) in Xia.
Regarding claim 15, the revolving door (figures 1 and 2) includes a door assembly (27) and a driving shaft (figures 1 and 2) has a connecting flange (24 or 25) where the first connecting pin (5a) and the second connecting pin (5b) are connected with the connecting flange (24 or 25), wherein a central axis (vertical axis) of the driving shaft is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal center line (radial center line along base 1 and arm 2) of the emergency opening structure, and the first connecting pin (5a) and the second connecting pin (5b) extend parallel to the driving shaft in Xia.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 8 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claim 9 and 10 are objected to as depending from objected to claim 8.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE A KELLY whose telephone number is (571)270-3660. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Coupe can be reached at 571-270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CATHERINE A KELLY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619