DETAILED ACTION
The Information Disclosure Statements filed on November 25, 2024, and March 11 2026, have both been reviewed and considered by the Examiner.
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 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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)91) as being anticipated by Couch (US 2,491,034).
Couch discloses a wheel cradle, and method of operating the cradle, comprised of a receiver member, generally shown in figures 1 and 2 and having a first wheel engager 11 disposed between a first plate and a second plate, the plates are shown in figure 3 from above. A connector member, in the form of cross bars 19 having a second wheel engager disposed between a third plate and a fourth plate. The first wheel engager is interpreted to be on the left of figures 1 and 2 and the second engager is interpreted to be on the right of figures 1 and 2 and mirroring the first engager. The first and second engagers are rotatable to engage and lift the wheel of the vehicle to be carried. Figure 2 shows main support wheels 5 engage the rail 6 and support wheels 16’ also engaging the rail. Figure 1 shows the support wheels 16’ to be spaced upward from the rail and it is interpreted that this space is caused by the rotation of the engagers to raise the wheel 7.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert J McCarry Jr. whose telephone number is (571)272-6683. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, S. Joseph Morano can be reached at 571-272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Robert J McCarry Jr/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
RJMSeptember 22, 2026
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