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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. CA 3221460, filed on 11/27/2023.
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: the use of the phrase “theta”. The specification mentions the use of the variable “theta” multiple times in paragraph 0029. In the drawings, this same element is referred to with the symbol for theta, θ. While it is understood in the art that the symbol version correlates to the text version, it may cause confusion with interpretation of the specifications and drawings. It is suggested to change the specifications “theta” to “θ” to match the drawings to help with interpretation but this change is not required.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
The limitation “elongate stacked bank” in line 11 may be misinterpreted to imply the stacked bank be elongated as part of the limitation. It is suggested to be changed to “elongated stacked bank” or similar.
The limitation “conductor is, or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle are supported” in line 27 seems to be missing a comma after “are” as seen later in the claim. This change is suggested.
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 1-18 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 recites the limitation "the voltage of the phase" in line 16. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The phase of the conductor nor the voltage of such as phase has been established before this limitation. Thus, the claim is rendered indefinite.
Claims 2-18, which are dependent on claim 1, inherit this limitation and interpretation and are thus likewise indefinite.
Claim 6, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 1 above, further recites the limitation "the linear array of insulators" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 3 establishes a linear array of insulators, but claim 6 is only dependent on claims 1 and 5 and thus is rendered indefinite.
Claim 7, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 6 above, recites the limitation “the support structure” in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 6, on which claim 7 is dependent, establishes a support frame but not a support structure.
Furthermore, claim 7 recites the limitation “the linear array of insulators” in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 3 establishes a linear array of insulators, but claim 7 is only dependent on claims 1, 5, and 6 and thus is rendered indefinite.
Furthermore, claim 7 recites the limitation “a moment loading of the center of mass about the coupler coupling the linear array of insulators to the upper end of the vertical plate” in lines 5-6. The limitations present in this section do not seem to logically flow from the other language present in the claim. The intention and interpretation of this limitation is unclear and thus rendered indefinite. For the purposes of examination, this limitation will be treated as if it is not present in the claim. If this limitation is important to the claim, appropriate correction and clarity is required.
Claim 9, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 1 above, recites the limitations “the base bank” in line 1 and “the distal bank” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. The base bank and the distal bank were introduced in claim 8, but claim 9 is not dependent on claim 8. Thus, the claim is indefinite.
Claim 10, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 1 above, recites the limitations “the base bank” in line 1 and “and distal bank” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. The base bank and the distal bank were introduced in claim 8, but claim 10 is not dependent on claim 8. Thus, the claim is indefinite.
Claim 11, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 1 above, recites the limitation “the linear array of rigid electrical insulators” in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The linear array of rigid electrical insulators was introduced in claim 3, but claim 11 is not dependent on claim 3. Thus, the claim is indefinite.
Claim 12, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 1 above, recites the limitations “the base bank” in line 1 and “and distal bank” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. The base bank and the distal bank were introduced in claim 8, but claim 12 is not dependent on claim 8. Thus, the claim is indefinite.
Claim 14, in addition to the indefinite issue identified for claim 1 above, recites the limitations “the linear array of insulators” in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. The linear array of insulators was introduced in claim 3, but claim 14 is dependent on claim 11 which in turn is not dependent on claim 3. Thus, the claim is indefinite.
Provided below is a recommended chart of dependency for each claim that would correct the issues above regarding the lack of antecedent basis. While this dependency chart is recommended, this specific arrangement is not required and can be modified as long as all the 112(b) issues identified above are addressed
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 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.
Claims 2-18 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter.
Prior art teaches many of the limitations recited in claim 1 as best understood based on the 35 U.S.C. 112(b) issue identified above. O’Connell et al. (US 20210305790), hereinafter O’Connell, teaches
A horizontal conductor lifter (Paragraph 0082, rotating head conductor wire lifter accessory 60 allows at least one sub-conductor, for example a pair of sub-conductors 8, to be held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal positions)
for supporting, lifting, and moving a conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle (Paragraph 0011, A rotating head conductor lifter accessory, which is configured to hold and manipulate two or more sub-conductors of a conductor bundle)
supported in an overhead position above ground on a tower or other structure (See at least figures 1-3),
wherein the horizontal conductor lifter is mountable, when in use, to a distal end of a crane or truck boom via a boom adapter mounted on the end of the boom (Figure Figures 1-3, see crane or truck boom 24 and single point lifter 80; Paragraph 0087, FIGS. 1-6 show a pair of sub-conductors 8 held horizontally on the rotating head 60 and mounted on the end of a single point lifter 80, mounted by means of a boom adapter onto the end of a crane or truck boom),
the horizontal conductor lifter comprising:
a main beam pivotally coupled to the boom adapter (Figure 30, insulator adapter base 32a; Paragraph 0080, single point lifter base 32 includes an insulator adapter base 32a, which provides a support for the insulator stack 30. The insulator adapter base 32a is pivotally attached to a jib adapter 32b at a pivotal coupling 32c);
a rotation actuator (Figure 30, linear actuator 33; Paragraph 0080, the angle of the insulator stack 30 may be angled relative to the vertical by extending or retracting the cylinder rod 33b of the linear actuator 33).
mounted to cooperate between the main beam and the boom adapter (Figure 30, see insulator adapter base 32a, jib adapter 32b, pivotal coupling 32c and 32d, and linear actuator 33; Paragraph 0080, The insulator adapter base 32a is pivotally attached to a jib adapter 32b at a pivotal coupling 32c. A linear actuator 33, which for example may be a hydraulic cylinder, includes a cylinder 33a pivotally mounted at 32e to the jib adapter 32b, and a cylinder rod 33b pivotally mounted to the insulator adapter base 32a at a pivotal coupling 32d, spaced apart from the pivotal coupling 32c between the insulator adapter base 32a and jib adapter 32b)
for selective pivotal movement of the main beam relative to the boom adapter during use of the horizontal conductor lifter when the horizontal conductor lifter is mounted to the boom adapter on the distal end of the crane or truck boom (Paragraph 0080, the angle of the insulator stack 30 may be angled relative to the vertical by extending or retracting the cylinder rod 33b of the linear actuator 33);
an elongate stacked bank of insulators (Figure 30, insulator stack 30; Paragraph 0080, the single point lifter base 32 includes an insulator adapter base 32a, which provides a support for the insulator stack 30)
collectively having oppositely disposed first and second ends (Figure 30, insulator stack 30),
wherein the first end is mounted to the main beam (Figure 30, insulator stack 30 and insulator adapter base 32a; Paragraph 0080, the single point lifter base 32 includes an insulator adapter base 32a, which provides a support for the insulator stack 30)
and the second end is mounted to a wire holder adapter (Figure 30, insulator stack 30 and wire holder 10a; Paragraph 0079, allowing for the three sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10a to rotate about the axis of rotation C in direction D while mounted on insulation stack 30)
so that the stacked bank of insulators is level when the main beam is vertical (Paragraph 0087, The rotating head conductor wire holder 60 maintains the conductor bundle in its original orientation (in other words, the sub-conductors are either horizontally spaced apart or vertically spaced apart relative to one another), when rotating the single point lifter 80 from horizontal to vertical or vice-versa),
and wherein the stacked bank of insulators has a length sufficient to space the wire holder adapter away from the main beam by a clearance distance corresponding to the voltage of the phase carried by the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle (Paragraph 0081, As an example of insulators that may be utilized in constructing the insulator stack 30, without intending to be limiting, each insulator 50 of the plurality of insulators may comprise an 80 inch (176 cm) polymer insulator rated for a line voltage of substantially 230 kV, thus giving the single point conductor lifter a rating of approximately 500 kV. However, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other insulators with different specifications (voltage rating and length), and other pluralities of insulators selected for the first and second tiers 30a, 30b of the stack 30, arranged in different configurations other than the 2×3, 2×2, 3×1 and 2×1 configurations, described above, may also be useful in the manufacture an insulator stack 30 capable of providing the combined tensile and torsion strength (vertical and bisect) required for supporting and manipulating a plurality of sub-conductors of a sub-conductor bundle);
at least one wire holder (Figure 30, wire holder 10a; Figure 13, wire lifter accessory 60 and wire cages 65; Paragraph 0079, allowing for the three sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10a to rotate about the axis of rotation C in direction D while mounted on insulation stack 30; It is implied that the wire holder 10a can be replaced with the wire lifter accessory 60; Paragraph 0082, the rotating head conductor wire lifter accessory 60 allows at least one sub-conductor, for example a pair of sub-conductors 8, to be held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal positions)
mounted to the wire holder adapter (Figure 13, wire lifter accessory 60 and wire cages 65; Paragraph 0082, the rotating head conductor wire lifter accessory 60 allows at least one sub-conductor, for example a pair of sub-conductors 8, to be held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal positions)
and configured to support the conductor or the sub-conductors of the conductor bundle therein during use of the horizontal conductor lifter, wherein, in use, the wire holders are maintained in an operative vertical orientation on the wire holder adapter (Paragraph 0082, the rotating head conductor wire lifter accessory 60 allows at least one sub-conductor, for example a pair of sub-conductors 8, to be held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal positions);
wherein, in use, when the conductor is, or the sub-conductors of the conductor bundle are, supported in the at least one wire holder (Paragraph 0082, the rotating head conductor wire lifter accessory 60 allows at least one sub-conductor, for example a pair of sub-conductors 8, to be held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal positions)
and the crane or truck boom is being articulated so as to include up or down movement while moving the conductor or sub-conductors in the conductor bundle to a temporarily supported position away from the tower or other structure (Paragraph 0082, the rotating head conductor wire lifter accessory 60 allows at least one sub-conductor, for example a pair of sub-conductors 8, to be held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal positions),
the bending moment exerted by the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle on the wire holder adapter is resisted by the load transfer element and the stacked bank of insulators to thereby resist the bending moment on the wire holder adapter which would cause rotation of the wire holder adapter to thereby maintain the operative vertical orientation of the at least one wire holder during use (Paragraph 0081, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other insulators with different specifications (voltage rating and length), and other pluralities of insulators selected for the first and second tiers 30a, 30b of the stack 30, arranged in different configurations other than the 2×3, 2×2, 3×1 and 2×1 configurations, described above, may also be useful in the manufacture an insulator stack 30 capable of providing the combined tensile and torsion strength (vertical and bisect) required for supporting and manipulating a plurality of sub-conductors of a sub-conductor bundle),
and wherein selective actuation of the rotation actuator, during the articulation of the crane or truck boom, maintains the stacked bank of insulators level thereby maintaining the at least one wire holder in the operative vertical orientation during use (See figures 58-61).
However, O’Connell fails to fully teach of a load transfer element having opposite upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the load transfer element is coupled to an upper end of the main beam and the lower end of the load transfer element is coupled to the wire holder adapter so as to support, in tension, the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle when the conductor is, or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle are supported on the wire holder adapter, and so as to transfer the weight into a compressive load on the stacked bank of insulators and to remove a bending moment on the stacked bank of insulators.
Devine et al. (US 20120175575), hereinafter Devine 2012, and Devine et al. (US 2003015693), hereinafter Devine 2003, both teach some of the limitations not taught by O’Connell and are within the same art (conductor line manipulators).
Devine 2012 teaches
a load transfer element having opposite upper and lower ends (Figure 2, actuator 32; Paragraph 0041, Actuator 32 extends between boom adaptor 24 and upper frame 28),
wherein the upper end of the load transfer element is coupled to an upper end of the main beam (Figure 2, actuator 32 and upper frame 28; Paragraph 0041, Actuator 32 extends between boom adaptor 24 and upper frame 28)
However, Devine 2012 fails to teach that such an actuator’s lower end is coupled to a wire holder directly, where such an actuator is in tension nor does it teach wherein the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle when the conductor is, or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle are supported on the wire holder adapter, and so as to transfer the weight into a compressive load on the stacked bank of insulators and to remove a bending moment on the stacked bank of insulators. While it can be implied in figure 2 that actuator will help to reduce any bending moment from the conductor lines when present on insulators, this bending moment is not the same bending moment described in the application. Furthermore, this reduction in bending moment would cause the actuator to be in compression, not tension.
Devine 2003 teaches
a load transfer element having opposite upper and lower ends (Figure 1, cylinder 34; Paragraph 0027, By actuation of cylinder 34, second arm 24 may be incrementally pivoted relative to first arm 20),
wherein the upper end of the load transfer element is coupled to an upper end of the main beam (Figure 1, see cylinder 34 and first arm 20; Paragraph 0027, By actuation of cylinder 34, second arm 24 may be incrementally pivoted relative to first arm 20)
and the lower end of the load transfer element is coupled so as to support, in tension, the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle (Figure 1, see cylinder 34 and second arm 24; Paragraph 0027, Paragraph 0027, By actuation of cylinder 34, second arm 24 may be incrementally pivoted relative to first arm 20).
However, Devine 2003 fails to teach wherein a cylinder is coupled directly to a wire holder adapter and wherein the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle when the conductor is, or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle are supported on the wire holder adapter, and so as to transfer the weight into a compressive load on the stacked bank of insulators and to remove a bending moment on the stacked bank of insulators. As it can be seen in figure 1, while the cylinder supports the second arm in tension, it does not directly couple to any wire holders. Furthermore, because the coupling is pivotally connected to the second arm, the support of the second arm, and in turn any conductors connected to the insulators, changes as the second arm rotates. This means there will be moments during actuation in which the bending moment of the second arm due to the conductor weight will be present, even with the actuator present.
No other prior art found in the same area as the application teaches the specific limitation of the lower end of the load transfer element is coupled to the wire holder adapter and wherein the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle when the conductor is, or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle are supported on the wire holder adapter, and so as to transfer the weight into a compressive load on the stacked bank of insulators and to remove a bending moment on the stacked bank of insulators. Thus, this limitation is considered to distinguish over the prior art.
Of note, Lindsey (US 20180342861) teaches
of a load transfer element having opposite upper and lower ends (Figure 1, suspension insulators 4; Paragraph 0036, each of the first suspension insulators 4 is connectable to the post 110),
wherein the upper end of the load transfer element is coupled to an upper end of the main beam (Figure 1, suspension insulators 4 and post 110; Paragraph 0036, each of the first suspension insulators 4 is connectable to the post 110)
and the lower end of the load transfer element is coupled to the wire holder adapter (Figure 1, suspension insulator 4 and yoke plate 6; Paragraph 0038, a second suspension insulator 10 connected via the yoke plate 6 to the first post insulator 11 and the first suspension insulator 4 supporting the first phase conductor 60)
so as to support, in tension, the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle when the conductor is, or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle are supported on the wire holder adapter, and so as to transfer the weight into a compressive load on the stacked bank of insulators and to remove a bending moment on the stacked bank of insulators (Figure 1, see first suspension insulator 4, post 110, post insulator 11, and yoke plate 6; Paragraph 0038, a second suspension insulator 10 connected via the yoke plate 6 to the first post insulator 11 and the first suspension insulator 4 supporting the first phase conductor 60; It can be seen in the figure that the suspension insulator would remove a bending moment about post insulator 11 due to a conductor being held in yoke 6).
However, Lindsey, O’Connell, Devine 2012, and Devine 2003 are not within the same field of endeavor directed to the same technology. O’Connell, Devine 2012, and Devine 2003 are focused on crane or truck mounted manipulators for conductor manipulation while Lindsey is focused on a tower system to support conductors. While similar, a suspension insulator taught by Lindsey would not be directly adaptable to a crane lifting system without a significant change in structure. Thus, it would not be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to adapt the teachings of Lindsey to O’Connell as the reasoning behind the teachings of Lindsey do not provide significant motivation to adapt them to O’Connell and they are not closely enough related that one would obviously adapt them in the system of O’Connell.
Claims 2-18, as best understood based on the 35 U.S.C. 112(b) issue identified above, since they are dependent on claim 1 and further limit the system, they likewise are considered to have allowable subject matter.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure [See PTO-892 Notice of References Cited] because the prior art references contain subject matter that related to one or more the of the Applicant’s claim limitations.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jacob S Scott can be reached at (571) 270-3415. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J.T.K./ Examiner, Art Unit 3655
/JACOB S. SCOTT/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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