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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I (claims 1-18) in the reply filed on 05/29/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the Office Action did not set forth a serious search burden amongst each Group. This is not found persuasive because the Office did point out to two different classification areas one for each group. Further, the Office highlighted toward the end of page 2 that “the method claims could be practiced by different apparatus and would require different search and considerations”.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Graef et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 11,174,051).
Regarding claims 1 & 17: Graef discloses a strapping device, comprising:
a base (Fig. 1; via 116);
a mount coupled with the base (Figs. 2-6; via the shown mount/frame attached to base 116);
a tensioner assembly pivotally coupled with the mount (via tensioner 120 and its drive assembly 124), the tensioner assembly including a feed wheel, the feed wheel and the base collectively defining an opening to receive a strap (Figs. 2-6; via the feeding/gripper wheel; “The tensioner 120 can include at least one tension gripper wheel”);
a lever coupled with the tensioner assembly to pivot the tensioner assembly relative to the base, the lever including an axle, see for example (Figs. 8-9; via lever arms 312, 316, and 320);
a crank assembly including a crank, the crank coupled with an actuator to rotate the crank about a crank axis (Figs. 8-9; via rotation of elements around “tensioner axis 328”);
a linkage including a first linkage end and a second linkage end, the first linkage end pivotally coupled with the crank at a position offset from the crank axis, the second linkage end including a first opening having a sidewall, see for example (Figs. 12-13; via first and second ends 512/516),
a resilient member defining a second opening, the resilient member coupled with the second linkage end and positioned at least partially within the first opening of the second linkage end, the axle of the lever coupled with the resilient member and positioned at least partially within the second opening, (Figs. 12-13; via 288 coupled with 512); and
the axle to move relative to the sidewall of the first opening with the feed wheel positioned against a strap, see for example (Figs. 2-6; via the gripper wheel of tensioner 120 positioned against the strap axis 212).
Regarding claim 2: comprising:
the lever to move between:
a first position with the lever to lift the feed wheel of the tensioner assembly away from the base to create a space to receive a strap (Fig. 13; via the shown position of 512/516); and
a second position with the lever to cause the feed wheel to apply a downward force against the strap (Fig. 12; via the shown another position of 512/516).
Regarding claim 3: further comprising:
the lever to move between:
a first position with the lever to lift the feed wheel of the tensioner assembly away from the base to create a space to receive a strap; and
a second position with the lever to cause the feed wheel to apply a compressive force to the strap;
the axle of the lever positioned a first distance from the sidewall of the first opening with the lever in the first position; and
the axle of the lever positioned a second distance from the sidewall of first opening with the lever in the second position, see for example (Figs. 12-13; via positions of 512/516 pivoting axle 518).
Regarding claim 4: comprising:
the lever to move between:
a first position with the lever to lift the feed wheel of the tensioner assembly away from the base to create a space to receive a strap; and a second position with the lever to cause the feed wheel to apply a compressive force to the strap; the axle of the lever positioned a first distance from the sidewall of the first opening with the lever in the first position; the axle of the lever positioned a second distance from the sidewall of first opening with the lever in the second position; and the resilient member to apply a force on the axle with the lever in the second position, the force on the axle to cause the feed wheel to apply the compressive force to the strap, see for example (Figs. 8-9 & 12-13; show the moving mechanisms of the lever around its axle 518 and/or 328).
Regarding claim 5: comprising: the lever to move between:
a first position with the lever to lift the feed wheel of the tensioner assembly away from the base to create a space to receive a strap; and
a second position with the lever to cause the feed wheel to apply a compressive force to the strap;
the axle of the lever positioned a first distance from the sidewall of the first opening with the lever in the first position;
the axle of the lever positioned a second distance from the sidewall of first opening with the lever in the second position; and
the second opening of the resilient member to have a first form factor with the lever in the first position and a second form factor with the lever in the second position, see for example (Figs. 12-13; via the shown two positions of 512/516).
Regarding claim 6: comprising: a crimping mechanism coupled with the mount, the crimping mechanism to couple a first portion of a strap with a second portion of a strap (via 100 “strapping tool”, inherently will have mechanism for coupling two ends of the strap together).
Regarding claim 7: comprising: a crimping mechanism coupled with the mount, the crimping mechanism to couple a first portion of a strap with a second portion of a strap (via 100 “strapping tool”, inherently will have mechanism for coupling two portions of the strap together).
Regarding claim 8: comprising: the actuator including a servo motor operatively coupled with the crank, the servo motor to cause the crank to rotate about the crank axis in response to a signal (via “The actuator 272 can include a servomotor”).
Regarding claim 9: comprising: a crimping mechanism coupled with the mount, the crimping mechanism to couple a first portion of a strap with a second portion of the strap;
the first linkage end to rotate relative to the crank about a first linkage axis;
the crank to rotate in a first direction between: a first radial position with the first linkage axis positioned vertically above the crank axis and the axle of the lever positioned a first distance from the sidewall of the first opening; a second radial position with the first linkage axis positioned vertically below the crank axis and the axle of the lever positioned a second distance from the sidewall of the second opening; and a third radial position with (i) the first linkage axis positioned vertically below the crank axis, (ii) the axle of the lever positioned a third distance from the sidewall of the second opening, and (iii) the crimping mechanism engaged with the strap, see for example (Figs. 8-9 & 12-13; the shown different positions and movements of the levers in respect to the their rotational axis 518 and/or 328).
Regarding claims 10 & 11 & 15: comprising: a motor coupled with the base;
a gear train (via gears 364, 368, 380), including:
a pulley operatively coupled with the motor (via “The actuator 272 can include a servomotor. The servomotor can include a DC motor”, which inherently and known a pulley will be linked),
a first gear coupled with the pulley, the first gear to counter rotates relative to the pulley; a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear to counter rotate relative to the first gear, see for example (Figs. 4-5; via the shown mechanical coupling of gears 364/368 and/or Fig. 12; via “ratchet member 520 can rotate in a first direction (e.g., counter-clockwise…while in contact with the second ratchet end 516 as the second ratchet end 516 can slide along each second tooth edge 532”);
the lever including a tension holding gear selectively coupled with the second gear (via third gear 380);
the tension holding gear including a one-way bearing to permit rotation in a first direction and prohibit rotation in a second direction (inherently a use of one-way bearing is capable of being used).
regarding claim 12: comprising: the feed wheel coupled with the second gear to rotate with the second gear; the second gear to rotate the second direction to rotate the feed wheel in the second direction, the rotation of the feed wheel to apply a tensioning force to a strap positioned between the feed wheel and the base, the rotation of the second gear to rotate the tension holding gear in the first direction; the one-way bearing of the tension holding gear to prevent rotation of the second gear to hold the tensioning force; (via “the second ratchet end 516 prevents rotation of the ratchet member 520… such that a back force from the strap 204 on the tensioner 120 is prevented from driving the tensioner 120”).
Regarding claims 13 & 18: comprising: the lever including a tension holding gear selectively coupled with the second gear, the tension holding gear including a one-way bearing to permit rotation in a first direction and prohibit rotation in a second direction, the lever to move between: a first position with the tension holding gear disengaged from the second gear and the feed wheel of the tensioner assembly positioned away from the base to create a space to receive a strap; and a second position with the tension holding gear engaged with the second gear and the feed wheel of the tensioner assembly positioned against the strap, see for example (Figs. 12-13; via the shown mechanical mechanism of positioning the gears and lever in different positions).
Regarding claim 14: comprising: the axle of the lever positioned a first distance from the sidewall of the first opening with the lever in the first position; and the axle of the lever positioned a second distance from the sidewall of first opening with the lever in the second position, see for example (Figs. 7-9, 12, and 13; via the different positions of the mechanism pivoting around axles 518 and/or 328).
Regarding claim 16: comprising: the first gear defining an axis; and the tensioner assembly to pivot about the axis relative to the mount; and a reaction force between the second gear and the tension holding gear is directed at least partially through the axis, see for example (Figs. 5-4 and/or 12-13; via the pivoting points 328/ 518).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMEH TAWFIK whose telephone number is (571)272-4470. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shelle Self can be reached at 571-272-4524. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SAMEH TAWFIK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731
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