DETAILED ACTION
This is the First Office Action in response to the above identified patent
application filed on November 27, 2024.
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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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 5-7 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 5, the limitation “the tool moves” is not fully understood because it lacks antecedent basis. More specifically, the claims fail to define the tool being configured to move.
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 and 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Walker (USP 11,648,634).
Walker teaches an apparatus comprising: a tool (200) having a first fit portion (206,208); a grip device (100) that includes a plurality of finger parts (106) having a second fit portion (110) and an actuator (301) that drives the plurality of finger parts; and a movement device (301) that moves the grip device, wherein at least one of the first fit portion and the second fit portion has a taper shape (such as 114,116), and the first fit portion and the second fit portion fit each other when the actuator (301) drives the plurality of finger parts such that the plurality of finger parts grip the tool.
Claim 4: Walker teaches the first fit portion has a recess shape, and the second fit portion has a protrusion shape.
Claim(s) 1 and 3-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Piotrowski (USP 3,964,616).
Piotrowski teaches an apparatus comprising: a tool (16) having a first fit portion (45); a grip device that includes a plurality of finger parts (35) having a second fit portion (111) and an actuator (36,37,38) that drives the plurality of finger parts; and a movement device (14) that moves the grip device, wherein at least one of the first fit portion and the second fit portion has a taper shape (V-shaped groove shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 9), and the first fit portion and the second fit portion fit each other when the actuator drives the plurality of finger parts such that the plurality of finger parts grip the tool.
Claim 3: Piotrowski illustrates (Figs. 1-2) a placement device (13) on which the tool is placed, wherein the tool has a third fit portion (39), the placement device has a fourth fit portion (24), at least one of the third fit portion and the fourth fit portion has a taper shape (Fig. 2 shows 39 is tapered), and the third fit portion and the fourth fit portion fit each other when the movement device moves the grip device such that the tool is placed on the placement device.
Claim 4: Piotrowski illustrates the first fit portion has a recess shape, and the second fit portion has a protrusion shape.
Claim 5: As best understood, Piotrowski teaches the tool has a blade (Fig. 1) for cutting a cut target (work piece), and the blade extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the tool moves (relative to the work piece) for cutting the cut target.
Claim 6: Piotrowski illustrates (Fig. 1) the tool has an assistance surface (an outer surface of the tool shaft) that is connected (integral or non-integral) to one end of the blade, and the assistance surface extends (in an axial direction) in a plane that intersects with the direction in which the blade extends (blade extends in both a radial and axial direction).
Claim 7: Piotrowski illustrates (Fig. 1) the tool includes a guide portion (outer surface) that comes into contact with the cut target (work piece) and guides (via relative movement of the tool) the cut target to the blade.
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) 2 and 8-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Piotrowski (USP 3,964,616), as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Sun et al. (CN 204677135).
Piotrowski teaches a tool placement device (13) for holding the tool (16). Piotrowski does not teach the placement device having an elastic connection portion that elastically connects a base portion to a contact part. Sun teaches a placement device (8) for holding a tool, the placement device having an elastic connection portion (6) that elastically connects a base portion (7.8) to a tool contacting part (3), wherein the placement device holds the tool in a safe and reliable manner. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of claimed device to configure the tool placement device of Piotrowski with an elastic connection portion that elastically connects a base portion to a contact part, as taught by Sun, motivation being to hold the tool in a safe and reliable manner.
Claim 8: Piotrowski illustrates (Figs. 1-2) a placement device (13) on which the tool is placed, wherein the tool has a third fit portion (39), the placement device has a fourth fit portion (24), at least one of the third fit portion and the fourth fit portion has a taper shape (Fig. 2 shows 39 is tapered), and the third fit portion and the fourth fit portion fit each other when the movement device moves the grip device such that the tool is placed on the placement device.
Claim 9: Piotrowski illustrates the first fit portion has a recess shape, and the second fit portion has a protrusion shape.
Claim 10: As best understood, Piotrowski teaches the tool has a blade (Fig. 1) for cutting a cut target (work piece), and the blade extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the tool moves (relative to the work piece) for cutting the cut target.
Claim 11: Piotrowski illustrates (Fig. 1) the tool has an assistance surface (an outer surface of the tool shaft) that is connected (integral or non-integral) to one end of the blade, and the assistance surface extends (in an axial direction) in a plane that intersects with the direction in which the blade extends (blade extends in both a radial and axial direction).
Claim 12: Piotrowski illustrates (Fig. 1) the tool includes a guide portion (outer surface) that comes into contact with the cut target (work piece) and guides (via relative movement of the tool) the cut target to the blade.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Note the tool device disclosed by the prior art listed on form PTO 892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM C JOYCE whose telephone number is (571)272-7107. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based 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, Minnah Seoh can be reached at 571-270-7778. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/WILLIAM C JOYCE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618
Prosecution Insights