DETAILED ACTION
Application Status
Claims 1-16 are pending and have been examined in this application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) filed on 09/11/2024 has been reviewed and considered.
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
Figures 1-56d should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g). Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. 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.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 1, item d., subitems iii. And iv., it appears that the applicant intended to claim “a folded-state-latch unit”.
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 1-16 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 claims:
“A scooter apparatus (703) comprising:
b. a steering assembly comprising…”.
Since the lettered list begins with letter “b”, there is confusion as to whether the list is incomplete and as to whether additional limitations were intended to be presented.
In claim 2, the recitation, “each interfacing-arm-case” creates confusion as to whether there is one interfacing-arm-case or a plurality of interfacing-arm-cases.
In claim 4, the term, “the respective inlet groove” lacks proper antecedent basis.
In claim 5, the term, “the turning curve” lacks proper antecedent basis.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, the closest prior art of record is AT-515074-A1. AT-515074-A1 discloses:
A scooter apparatus (703) comprising:
b. a steering assembly comprising:
i. a pivotable steering post (13, Fig, 2) having a pivotal axis (15);
ii. a handle-bar (27) securely attached to said steering post;
iii. a pair of front wheels (2/2);
c. a deck assembly comprising:
i. a standing board (6, Fig. 1) configured for supporting a rider; and
ii. a rear wheel assembly comprising at least one rear wheel (3); and
d. a manual folding-interface assembly interconnecting said deck assembly with said steering assembly, wherein said manual folding-interface assembly comprises:
i. an interfacing-arm (9) pivotally connected to both said steering assembly and said deck assembly;
v. a front locking/unlocking and folding mechanism
vi. a rear locking/unlocking and folding mechanism
AT-515074-A1 is silent in teaching: aid arm-case comprises a front-inner-wall and a rear-inner-wall, wherein a front-rail-unit is affixed thereon said front-inner-wall at a preconfigured position, and wherein a rear-rail-unit is affixed thereon said rear-inner-wall at a preconfigured position; wherein a front locking/unlocking and folding mechanism is slidingly mounted onto front-rail-unit and a rear locking/unlocking and folding mechanism is slidingly mounted onto rear-rail-unit; wherein when said folding handle is pulled out of a locked state, each of said locking/unlocking bolts are in an unlocked state and thereby each said locking/unlocking and folding mechanisms are in an unlocked state; and said interfacing-arm-case can be freely pivoted, between said folded state and said deployed state/position, about the respective static-joints.
Suggestions to modify AT-515074-A1 to arrive at the claimed invention were not reasonably found in the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure and discloses folding scooters and other folding vehicle frames in general.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Matthew D Lee whose telephone number is (571)272-6087. The examiner can normally be reached Mon. - Fri. (7:30 - 5:00 EST).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John Olszewski can be reached at (571) 272-2706. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MATTHEW D LEE/ Examiner, Art Unit 3617
/JOHN OLSZEWSKI/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3617
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