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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
The request filed on June 29, 2026 for a Request for Continuing Examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 is acceptable and an RCE has been established. Any previous finality is hereby withdrawn and a new action on the merits follows. Any newly-submitted claims have been added. An action on the RCE follows.
Drawings
The drawing correction filed June 2, 2026 has been approved.
Claim Objections
The claims are objected to because recitations such as “trajectory” on line 9 of claim 1 bring the clarity of the claims into question because “trajectory” implies a direction, however, the applicant appears to be referring to a path of movement of the door rather than a direction. Accordingly, it is suggested the applicant change “trajectory” on line 9 of claim 1 to --path-- to avoid confusion. Also see “trajectory” on line 10 of claim 1 and lines 9 and 10 of claim 11.
The claims are objected to because recitations such as “a linear motion” on line 11 of claim 1 bring the clarity of the claims into question because it is unclear how a path can comprise a motion. Note that a path is merely a direction and a distance that an element travels rather than a motion. For example, a road is a path while a car driving on the road has the motion. Also see “swing motion” on line 12 of claim 1, “the linear motion” on line 7 of claim 10, “the swing motion” on line 8 of claim 10, “a linear motion” on line 11 of claim 11, “a swing motion” on line 12 of claim 11, “the linear motion” on line 6 of claim 20, “the swing motion” on line 7 of claim 20.
The claims are objected to because “close to” on line 20 of claim 1 bring the clarity of the claims into question because it is unclear how close an element has to be to another element in order for the elements to be close to one another. It is suggested the applicant change “close” to --adjacent-- to avoid confusion. Also see “close to” on line 21 of claim 1 and lines 20 and 21 of claim 11.
The claims are objected to because “a length direction” on line 3 of claim 4 bring the clarity of the claims into question because it is unclear what element of the invention has the length to which the applicant is referring. It is suggested the applicant insert
--thereof-- following “direction on line 3 of claim 4 to avoid confusion.
Appropriate correction is required.
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, 2, 4-12 and 14-20 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.
Recitations such as “during opening” on line 13 of claim 1 render the claims indefinite because it is unclear what element of the invention has the opening to which the applicant is referring.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 4-12 and 14-20 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 an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record, absent applicant’s own disclosure, fails to teach the entire combination of elements set forth in the claimed invention. Specifically, the prior art of record fails to teach the first driven arm comprising a first sliding part slidably connected to the guide rail and a second sliding part arranged at a first end of the first driven arm close to the second driven arm, and a position limiting groove is provided at a first end of the second driven arm close to the first driven arm, the second sliding part being rotatably and slidably received in the position limiting groove of the second driven arm to cause the first driven arm to slide and rotate relative to the second driven arm. See claims 1 and 11, lines 18-23.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 2, 2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the indication of allowable subject matter and the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS NOT MADE FINAL.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY J STRIMBU whose telephone number is (571)272-6836. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00-4:30 Monday-Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Daniel Cahn can be reached at 571-270-5616. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GREGORY J STRIMBU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3634
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