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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 22 is objected to because “connected between corresponding two of the connecting seats” requires grammatical correction such as --connected between a corresponding two of the connecting seats--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 6, 7, 9, 19, and 22 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding Claims such as 6 and 7:
“the lateral hinge” is indefinite as found in lines 2 and 3 of claim 6, and line 3 of claim 7 as non-limiting examples. It is indefinite as to which of the required “two lateral hinges” these recited “
the lateral hinge” is referring to. Clarification is required.
Regarding Claim 9, it depends from a canceled claim 5.
Regarding Claim 19, “and a corresponding one of the support bars is separated from the camping cart in a folded state” is an improper hybrid claim of a method step and apparatus since it fails to recite intended use language therefore positively requiring the method step to be “separated from the camping cart in a folded state”. Note too that as claimed the scope requires the structure to only be in a folded state such that it isn’t capable of moving to an unfolded state [as previously claimed] while also being required to always be in the folded state as claimed here since there is no intended use language. It is suggested that intended use language such as ‘configured to’ or the like be provided for clarity.
Regarding Claim 22, “the connecting seat” in the 2nd to last line is indefinite. To which of the “connecting seats” is this one referring to?
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 17-22 and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Regarding Claim 17,
Requiring the cart be a device is redundant and doesn’t further limit the parent claim.
Claims 18-22 and 24 are rejected for depending from a rejected claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
(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.
Claims 1-4, 6, 9-13, and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Cui et al. (US 10730729).
Regarding Claim 1,
1. (Original) A foldable cart frame (see fig.’s 1 and 2), comprising a first frame (104/152 as seen in fig. 3; and the four 206’s on the left side of fig. 5) and a second frame (122/154 as seen in fig. 3; and the four 206’s on the right side of fig. 5) arranged in a length direction (as depicted in fig. 1 and 5), wherein the foldable cart frame further comprises:
a middle frame (150 in fig.’s 3 and 5) arranged between the first frame and the second frame,
wherein the first frame and the middle frame are connected by a first folding component (as depicted between fig.’s 2 and 5) to [intended use] enable the first frame to be folded and unfolded with respect to the middle frame (as seen in fig. 2), and a first storage cavity is formed between the first frame and the middle frame when unfolded (as depicted in fig. 1); and
wherein the second frame and the middle frame are connected by a second folding component (as depicted between fig.’s 2 and 5) to [intended use] enable the second frame to be folded and unfolded with respect to the middle frame, and a second storage cavity is formed between the second frame and the middle frame when unfolded (as depicted in fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 2,
2. (Original) The foldable cart frame according to claim 1, wherein the first folding component and the second folding component are foldable capable of folding; intended use language] and unfoldable [capable of unfolding; intended use language] relatively independently [in an independent manner] of each other (movement of the horizontal scissor linkage 20 22 152 154 is inherently driven by wheels 600 which would collapse the first frame first since the other set of wheels are passive - alternatively note the horizontal scissor linkage can inherently be manually pushed or pulled to expand or retract. As an alternative interpretation, ‘relatively independently’ as claimed is broad and doesn’t necessarily include the scope that the two folding components don’t move simultaneously since they have relatively independent structures that move them - to obviate this alternative interpretation of the broad scope as claimed, the applicant can narrow the meaning of ‘relatively independent’ by reciting that the first folding component is configured to move between folding and unfolding positions while the second folding component remains still and vice versa).
Regarding Claim 3,
3. (Currently Amended) The foldable cart frame according to claim 1, wherein the first folding component is adapted to fold only inward of the first storage cavity, and the second folding component is adapted to fold only inward of the second storage cavity (as depicted in fig. 2; each 206 folds inwardly).
Regarding Claim 4,
4. (Currently Amended) The foldable cart frame according to claim 3, wherein the first folding component comprises two lateral hinges (206/210; fig. 5) arranged opposite each other in a width direction, each of the lateral hinges comprising a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate (at 206’s and 210) that are pivotally connected to each other, wherein the first hinge plate is pivotally connected to the first frame, and the second hinge plate is pivotally connected to the middle frame (as seen via fig.’s 2 and fig. 5), and the first folding component further comprises a bottom hinge (at 152) extending in the length direction (as seen in fig. 5), the bottom hinge comprising a third hinge plate (156; fig. 3) and a fourth hinge plate (158) that are pivotally connected to each other (as seen between fig.’s 2, 3, and 5), wherein the third hinge plate is pivotally connected to the first frame (via 400; fig. 8), and the fourth hinge plate is pivotally connected to the middle frame (via 320; fig. 3).
Regarding Claim 6,
6. (Currently Amended) The foldable cart frame according to claim 4, wherein a folding linkage mechanism (formed by 104/400; see fig. 3, 5, and 8) is arranged between the lateral hinge and the bottom hinge to [intended use] enable stable synchronous folding or unfolding of the lateral hinge and the bottom hinge (it performs this intended use as claimed).
Regarding Claim 9 as best understood,
9. (Currently Amended) The foldable cart frame according to any one of claim 5, wherein the first folding component and the second folding component are arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle frame. (as depicted in fig. 3 and 5)
Regarding Claim 10,
10. (Original) The foldable cart frame according to claim 1, wherein the middle frame is configured in a U-shape (as seen in fig. 5, note the vertical posts extending upwards from each side of the top of 150 in fig. 5 - these posts are part of the middle frame), and comprises two lateral columns (said described vertical posts above; see fig. 5) arranged opposite each other in a width direction, and a bottom beam (where 150 points in fig. 3) for (intended use) connecting the two lateral columns (as seen in fig. 5).
Regarding Claim 11,
11. (Currently Amended) The foldable cart frame according to claim 1, wherein at least one locking apparatus (the connection at pins 318 or 320; or 210 of the posts/columns on the middle frame) is provided on the middle frame (see fig.’s 3 and 5), and is configured to [functional use] lock the first frame and/or the second frame to the middle frame (see definition of lock 4 inserted below “an interlocking or entanglement of elements or parts - this is claimed very broadly and is being interpreted as such with the broadest reasonable interpretation.).
lock 1
n.
1. A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing.
2. A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section.
3. A mechanism in a firearm for exploding the charge.
4. An interlocking or entanglement of elements or parts.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Regarding Claim 12,
12. (Original) The foldable cart frame according to claim 11, wherein the locking apparatus comprises: a first locking portion for [intended use] locking the first frame to keep the first folding component in a folded state; and a second locking portion for [intended use] locking the second frame to keep the second folding component in a folded state. Note that 318/320/210 lock the elements together in both the folded and unfolded states since without their locking ability [interlocking/enganglement of parts] the frames would not be locked/entangled together]. Again, this is claimed very broadly and is being interpreted with the broadest reasonable interpretation as claimed.
Regarding Claim 13,
13. (Currently Amended) The foldable cart frame according to claim 12, wherein the locking apparatus is configured as two sets of locking apparatuses arranged opposite each other in a width direction of the cart frame, wherein each set of locking apparatuses comprises two locking apparatuses arranged on upper and lower sides of the middle frame, respectively, or each set of locking apparatuses comprises two locking apparatuses arranged on left and right sides of the middle frame, respectively.
Regarding Claim 15
15. (Currently Amended) A camping cart, comprising a cart frame, wherein the cart frame is the foldable cart frame according to any one of claim 1. Cui functions as a cart and can be used in camping or for constructing camping sites, etc.
Regarding Claim 16,
16. (Original) The camping cart according to claim 15, wherein a first housing (see annotated fig. 5 below) is fixedly attached to the first frame, and a second housing is fixedly attached to the second frame; and when the first folding component and the second folding component are both in a folded state, an accommodating cavity is formed between the first housing and the second housing to accommodate the cart frame (see explanation below).
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Regarding Claim 17,
17. (Currently Amended) An outdoor camping device, comprising a camping cart, wherein the camping cart is the camping cart according to claim 15 (as depicted in fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 18,
18. (Original) The outdoor camping device according to claim 17, wherein the camping cart has a support apparatus on a top thereof, the support apparatus comprising: at least one pair of support bars (see annotated fig. 5 inserted below) arranged opposite each other in a width direction of the camping cart (as seen in fig. 5), the support bars extending in a length direction of the camping cart (they are 3 dimensional and have a length dimension extending in the length direction as claimed), wherein the pair of support bars are configured such that the support bars are adapted to [intended use] support a functional unit across the storage cavity in the width direction and to limit movement of the functional unit in the width direction, the functional unit being at least one of a table board, a stove, or a basin (they are capable of performing this function as so broadly claimed, note that the functional is not positively recited structure as claimed with the intended use language).
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Regarding Claim 19,
19. (Original) The outdoor camping device according to claim 18, wherein the support bars are detachably attached to the top of the camping cart (this is inherent via the fasteners which fasten them into the post housings), and a corresponding one of the support bars is separated from the camping cart in a folded state (as best understood [see 112 rejection above], it can perform this function).
Regarding Claim 20,
20. (Original) The outdoor camping device according to claim 18, wherein the camping cart is provided with a plurality of end corner members at end corners thereof (see annotated fig. 5 inserted below), the end corner members having positioning portions extending in the length direction (they are 3 dimensional and have length dimensions in the length direction), and the support bars being detachably attached to the positioning portions (this is inherent via the fasteners which fasten them into the post housings).
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Claims 1, 15, 17, 21, and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yan (US 20230037666).
Regarding Claim 1,
1. (Original) A foldable cart frame (see annotated fig. 1 below for all limitations of claim 1), comprising a first frame and a second frame arranged in a length direction (note these elements are 3 dimensional and have length dimensions in a length direction as claimed - further note that multiple directions can be interpreted with the broadest reasonable interpretation as the length direction), wherein the foldable cart frame further comprises:
a middle frame (see inserted fig. 1 below) arranged between the first frame and the second frame,
wherein the first frame and the middle frame are connected by a first folding component (see inserted fig. 1 below) to [intended use] enable the first frame to be folded and unfolded with respect to the middle frame, and a first storage cavity is formed between the first frame and the middle frame when unfolded (as depicted in fig. 1); and
wherein the second frame and the middle frame are connected by a second folding component (see inserted fig. 1 below) to [intended use] enable the second frame to be folded and unfolded with respect to the middle frame, and a second storage cavity is formed between the second frame and the middle frame when unfolded (as depicted in fig. 1).
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Regarding Claims 15 and 17, see fig. 1 it is a cart and the cart is or is part of a device as required by these claims.
Regarding Claim 21,
21. (Original) The outdoor camping device according to claim 17, wherein the camping cart has a weather shelter detachably incorporated on a top thereof (see fig. 1, note the spec discusses placing a sunshade on the sunshade device), the weather shelter comprising: a canopy (as discussed in the spec and inherent based on the purpose of this being a sunshade device) covering the top of the camping cart; and a skeleton system (shown in fig. 1) configured to securely support the canopy, wherein the skeleton system comprises: a plurality of support columns (the four columns 8 represents in fig. 1) arranged in a vertical direction (see fig. 1); a truss component (see annotated fig. 1 inserted below) configured to form connections between the plurality of support columns and to separate the plurality of support columns from each other (as seen in fig. 1); and a pole component attached to the truss component to support the canopy in a deployed state, wherein the truss component comprises: connecting seats (see annotated fig. 1 below) attached to a top of the support columns; and a connecting rod (see annotated fig. 1 below - note however that many of the elements can be interpreted as the connecting rod, as another example, the connecting seats are made up of two rods, one of which connects the seat to a pole - and the claim doesn’t require the rod directly connect a first seat to a second seat, in fact it is broad such that the rod can be adapted to connect two of the connecting seats to one of the other poles to meet the limitation as claimed) adapted to [intended use] connect (a first element can be connected to a second element by way of elements in between) two of the connecting seats, and wherein the pole component comprises a plurality of poles (see annotated fig. 1 below - note that the pole components can be part of the truss component as so broadly claimed) attached (a first element can be attached to a second element by way of elements in between) to the connecting seats (see fig. 1).
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Regarding Claim 24,
24. (Original) The outdoor camping device according to claim 21, wherein the camping cart is provided with a plurality of end corner members (such as 101 for example, see fig. 2) at end corners thereof (as seen via fig.’s 1 and 2), which have expansion interfaces (via 105/106 and/or 102/131, etc.; see fig. 2) for [intended use] insertion of the support columns (as understood via fig.’s 1 and 2).
Conclusion
Contact Information:
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL P CAHN whose telephone number is (571)270-5616. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 10-8.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NAMRATA BOVEJA can be reached on (571) 272-8105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DANIEL P CAHN/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3634
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