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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 11-20 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.
Regarding claim 11, the claim states “a cart trolley…” in line 1, however claims 12-20 state “a trolley cart” in the preamble. Applicant should change claim 11 to “cart trolley” or change claims 12-20 to “cart trolley” for consistency.
Claims 12-20 depend on claim 11 and are therefore also indefinite.
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)(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) 1,2,4-6,8,11,12,14-16 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Bangalore (US 2022/0080793).
Regarding claim 1, Bangalore discloses a towing hitch system configured to connect a cart trolley (102) with a material cart (108), the towing hitch system comprising:
a trolley hitch (514,518, see figure 5A and 6) connected to the cart trolley (102), the trolley hitch having a first connection interface (surface of the hook type trolley hitch);
a cart hitch (602, see figure 6) connected to the material cart, the cart hitch having a second connection interface (surface of the cavity of the cart hitch, see figure 6), the second connection interface having a cavity (see figure 6) configured to receive a portion of the first connection interface; wherein the combination of the first connection interface and the second connection interface is configured to form a semi-rigid connection therebetween (see figure 6), the semi-rigid connection configured to prevent front-to-back movement (due to the first and second connection interfaces in combination with member 520A-B, see figure 6) and side-to-side movement of the material cart relative to the cart trolley (see figure 6), the semi-rigid connection further configured to limit vertical rotation of the material cart relative to the cart trolley (as the bottom of the cart hitch 602 is on the trolley hitch 514,518).
Regarding claim 2, wherein the cart hitch (602) includes a spacing member (thickness of the cart hitch) positioned between the first connection interface (which is the surface of the hook type trolley hitch) and a trolley hitch base (312).
Regarding claim 4, wherein the first connection interface (which is the surface of the hook type trolley hitch) has a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the trolley hitch (as the surface of the hook type trolley hitch bends to form an L-shape).
Regarding claim 5, wherein the second connection interface is formed by opposing end plates (see figures 1 and 6 as the material cart 108 has side walls) , opposing
side members (both faces of member 602) and a top member (floor of the material cart).
Regarding claim 6, wherein the opposing end plates, opposing side members and the top member cooperate to form an opening (see figure 6 as the side walls floor and side of the member 602 make a cavity).
Regarding claim 8, wherein the second connection interface (surface of the cavity of the cart hitch 602, see figure 6) has a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the cart hitch (see figure 6).
Regarding claim 11, Bangalore discloses a cart trolley (102) in combination with and connected to a material cart (108), the combination of the trolley cart and material cart comprising:
a trolley hitch (514,518, see figure 5A and 6) connected to the cart trolley (102), the trolley hitch having a first connection interface (surface of the hook type trolley hitch);
a cart hitch (602, see figure 6) connected to the material cart, the cart hitch having a second connection interface (surface of the cavity of the cart hitch, see figure 6), the second connection interface having a cavity (see figure 6) configured to receive a portion of the first connection interface; wherein the combination of the first connection interface and the second connection interface is configured to form a semi-rigid connection therebetween (see figure 6), the semi-rigid connection configured to prevent front-to-back movement (due to the first and second connection interfaces in combination with member 520A-B, see figure 6) and side-to-side movement of the material cart relative to the cart trolley (see figure 6), the semi-rigid connection further configured to limit vertical rotation of the material cart relative to the cart trolley (as the bottom of the cart hitch 602 is on the trolley hitch 514,518).
Regarding claim 12, wherein the cart hitch (602) includes a spacing member (thickness of the cart hitch) positioned between the first connection interface (which is the surface of the hook type trolley hitch) and a trolley hitch base (312).
Regarding claim 14, wherein the first connection interface (which is the surface of the hook type trolley hitch) has a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the trolley hitch (as the surface of the hook type trolley hitch bends to form an L-shape).
Regarding claim 15, wherein the second connection interface is formed by opposing end plates (see figures 1 and 6 as the material cart 108 has side walls) , opposing side members (both faces of member 602) and a top member (floor of the material cart).
Regarding claim 16, wherein the opposing end plates, opposing side members and the top member cooperate to form an opening (see figure 6 as the side walls floor and side of the member 602 make a cavity).
Regarding claim 18, wherein the second connection interface (surface of the cavity of the cart hitch 602, see figure 6) has a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the cart hitch (see figure 6).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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) 3 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bangalore in view of Best (US 10532895). Bangalore does not have a first connection interface has a form of a horizontally oriented cylinder; however, Best discloses a cart coupling with a vertical connection interface (419, see figures 4 and 5) connecting 2 carts. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Bangalore by having the hook type trolley hitch (see figure 6 in Bangalore) end in a horizontal pin/cylinder type of cross-section, in order to provide a thicker bumper for the end of the hook type trolley hitch, wherein having said bumper would allow a longer life for the trolley hitch due to wear and tear from friction when the trolley is connected to the cart.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7,9 and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 17,19 and 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.
Regarding claims 7 and 17, the art of record does not include “the cavity being located between the opposing end plates, the opposing side members, and the top member”, examiner called the opposing side members (see figure 6 as the side walls floor and side of the member 602 make a cavity) in claim 6, wherein examiner could not called one of the opposing side members part of the cavity, as it faces the trolley.
Regarding claim 9,10,19 and 20, the art of record did not include “wherein the semi-rigid connection forms a common pivot point of the first and second connection interfaces, the common pivot point being positioned along an axis formed between omni-directional casters of the cart trolley, wherein a leftward/rightward turn of the cart trolley results in little movement of an inward rear caster of the material cart and much more movement of an outward rear wheel of the material cart”.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Marlon A Arce whose telephone number is (571)272-1341. The examiner can normally be reached 8AM - 4:30PM.
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/MARLON A ARCE/Examiner, Art Unit 3611 /VALENTIN NEACSU, Ph.D./Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3611
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