DETAILED ACTION
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 3 is objected to because of the following informalities: REPLACE “hydraulic cylinder 44” WITH -- hydraulic cylinder --. 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)(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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Pub No.: 20180306236 (“LIU”).
Regarding Claims 1-5, LIU discloses CLAIM 1- a slide rail assembly (1), comprising:
a fixed slide rail (21) having a length between a first end and a second end, wherein said fixed slide rail (21) has a rear wall and side walls that define an open channel that extends said length;
a hook plate (28) mounted to said rear wall of said fixed slide rail (21) within said open channel, wherein said hook plate (28) has a locking groove (282) formed therein;
a base (22) affixed to said fixed slide rail (21) within said open channel at said first end;
a buffer frame (23) disposed in said open channel between said base (22) and said second end, wherein said buffer frame (23) can move in said open channel through a range of movment between a first position in abutment with said base (22) and a second position over said hook plate (28) ;
a toggle plate (24) mounted at a pivot connection to said buffer frame (23) , wherein said toggle plate (24) can rotate about said pivot connection between a free position and a locked position;
a locking pin (241) that extends from said toggle plate (24) , wherein said locking pin (241) engages said locking groove (282) on said hook plate (28) when said buffer frame (23) moves into said second position from said first position, and wherein when in said first position, said locking pin of the toggle plate is a first distance from said locking groove on said hook plate, said first distance being equal to said range of movement of said buffer frame, wherein said locking pin (241) is free to move in said locking groove (282) when said toggle plate (24) is in said free position and becomes locked in said locking groove (282) when said toggle plate (24) is in said locked position;
a movable slide rail (27) that selectively moves within said open channel of said fixed slide rail (21) , wherein said movable slide rail (27) engages said toggle plate (24) and moves said toggle plate (24) between said free position and said locked position as said movable slide rail (27) moves toward said first end of said fixed slide rail (21) and away from said first end of said fixed slide rail (21) , respectively ; CLAIM 2-further including a damping element (26) that slows movement of said buffer frame (23) toward said base (22) in said open channel; CLAIM 3-wherein said damping element (26) is a hydraulic cylinder that extends through an extension range between said base (22) and said buffer frame (23) ; wherein said range of movement of said buffer frame is equal to said extension range of said hydraulic cylinder; CLAIM 4- wherein further including retraction elements (25) that bias said buffer frame (23) toward said base (22) within said open channel; CLAIM 5- wherein further wherein said retraction elements (25) are springs.
Regarding Claims 6-10, discloses CLAIM 6 A slide rail assembly, comprising:
a fixed slide rail (21) having an open channel that extends along a length;
a hook plate (28) mounted to said fixed slide rail (21) within said open channel, wherein a locking groove (282) is formed in said hook plate (28) ;
a base (22) affixed to said fixed slide rail (21) ;
a buffer frame (23) disposed in said open channel, wherein said buffer frame (23) can move in said open channel through a range of movement between a first position in abutment with said base (22) and a second position over said hook plate (28);
a damping element (26) connected between said base (22) and said buffer frame (23) that governs movement speed of said buffer frame (23) relative to said base (22) in said open channel;
a toggle plate (24) mounted on said buffer frame (23) , wherein said toggle plate (24) can move between a free position and a locked position;
a locking pin (241) that extends from said toggle plate (24) , wherein when said buffer frame (23) is in said first position, said locking pin (241) is a first distance from said locking groove on said hook plate (28), said first distance being equal to said range of movement of said buffer frame (23), and when said buffer frame (23) is in said second position said locking pin (241) engages said locking groove (282) on said hook plate (28), and wherein said locking pin (241) is free to move in said locking groove (282) when said toggle plate (24) is in said free position and becomes locked in said locking groove (282) when said toggle plate (24) is in said locked position;
a movable slide rail (27) that selectively moves within said open channel of said fixed slide rail (21) , wherein said movable slide rail (27) engages said toggle plate (24) and moves said toggle plate (24) between said free position and said locked position as said movable slide rail (27) moves relative to said fixed slide rail (21); CLAIM 7-wherein said damping element (26) only slows movement of said buffer frame (23) toward said base (22) in said open channel; CLAIM 8-wherein said damping element (26) is a hydraulic cylinder that extends between said base (22) and said buffer frame (23); CLAIM 9-further including retraction elements (25) that bias said buffer frame (23) toward said base (22) within said open channel; CLAIM 10-wherein said retraction elements (25) are springs.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-10 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIMBERLEY S WRIGHT whose telephone number is (571)270-3328. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 11:30-5:30.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-base (22) (116, 130)d collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Daniel Troy can be reached on 5712703742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KIMBERLEY S WRIGHT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
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