DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 24-33, 34, and 43 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claims 24, 34, and 43, the applicant’s original disclosure provides no support for the claimed “source of power”. While it is noted that the applicant’s disclosure relates to a vacuum end effector, this negative pressure area is not considered to be a “source of power” but merely an area of negative pressure provided to the end effector.
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 24-32, 34, and 43 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.
Along with the 112(a) above, it is further noted that the metes and bounds of the applicant’s claim are not clear. It’s not understood from the applicant’s original disclosure what is considered to be the claimed “source of power”. As noted above, the negative pressure area/conduit is not considered to be a source of power, and even if one were to consider the means for creating the negative pressure a “source of power”, this is not disclosed to be provided in the claimed space. While breadth is not indefiniteness, the boundaries for the protected subject matter are not clear.
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) 24-27, 33-36, 42-45 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Feng (US Pat No 8,714,903) .
Regarding claim 24, as best understood, Feng discloses a dynamic end-effector system for connecting an end effector to an articulated arm comprising-
a first coupling portion (20) having an arm attachment area for rigidly connecting the first coupling portion to the articulated arm;
an end-effector (70); and
a second coupling portion (85) rotatably connecting the end effector to the first coupling portion, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion being provided by a rotational bearing system (87) such that the end-effector is able to spin about an axis of rotation freely through 360 degrees, the first coupling portion including a first open interior (215) and the second coupling portion including a second open interior (e.g. noted by axis line in fig. 3) that aligns with the first open interior such that a source of power is provided to the end-effector through the first open interior and the second open interior.
Regarding claim 25, 35 and 44, Feng discloses the dynamic end effector system further includes a conduit (noted by axis line in fig. 3) that extends through the first open interior and the second open interior.
Regarding claim 26, Feng discloses the axis of rotation passes through the first open interior and the second open interior (noted by axis line in fig. 3).
Regarding claim 27 and 36, Feng discloses the second coupling portion is freely rotatable with respect to the first coupling portion such that there is no gravity biased rotational position of the second coupling portion with respect to the first coupling portion when the end-effector is not grasping an object (e.g. symmetrical and not driven).
Regarding claim 33, Feng discloses a dynamic end effector system for connecting an end effector to an articulated arm comprising:
a first coupling portion (20) having an arm attachment area for rigidly connecting the first coupling portion to the articulated arm;
an end-effector (70); and
a second coupling portion (85) rotatably connecting the end effector to the first coupling portion, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion being provided by a rotational bearing system (87) such that the end-effector is able to spin about an axis of rotation freely through 360 degrees, the first coupling portion including a first open interior (215) and the second coupling portion including a second open interior (e.g. noted by axis line in fig. 3) that aligns with the first open interior, the axis of rotation passing through the first open interior and the second open interior.
Regarding claims 34 and 43, as best understood, Feng discloses the dynamic end effector system further includes a source of power (e.g. negative pressure) is provided to the end-effector through the first open interior and the second open interior.
Regarding claim 42, Feng discloses a dynamic end effector system for connecting an end effector to an articulated arm comprising:
a first coupling portion (20) having an arm attachment area for rigidly connecting the first coupling portion to the articulated arm;
an end-effector (70); and
a second coupling portion (85) rotatably connecting the end effector to the first coupling portion, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion being provided by a rotational bearing system (87) such that the end-effector is able to spin about an axis of rotation freely through 360 degrees, the first coupling portion including a first open interior and the second coupling portion including a second open interior that aligns with the first open interior, the second coupling portion being freely rotatable with respect to the first coupling portion such that there is no gravity biased rotational position of the second coupling portion with respect to the first coupling portion when the end-effector is not grasping an object (e.g. symmetrical and not driven).
Regarding claim 45, Feng discloses the axis of rotation passes through the first open interior and the second open interior (see axis line of fig. 3).
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) 28-32, 37-41 and 45-49 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Feng.
Regarding the explicit bearing details, it is noted that Feng merely discloses an inner and outer race without disclosure as to the type of bearing used. However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to have modified with any of the claimed bearing types since finding an ideal type of bearing is merely a result of routine experimentation and focus of design choice for the anticipated use case of the end effector. Each of the bearings has advantages and disadvantages (e.g. cost, size, durability, friction) wherein one making a system would merely weigh each to see which design is best fit. It is noted that the applicant cites these advantages/disadvantages, however these are believed to be known relative to the bearing type and are not critical to the applicant’s invention as disclosed.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Note: the applicant’s claim after amendment may be subject to rejection under double patenting.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Patrick Cicchino whose telephone number is (571)270-1954. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM.
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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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/Patrick Cicchino/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
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