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/Specification notes
In the specification and in the claims, the word pulley is misspelled as “pully” many times. See paragraphs [0044], [0045] and [0048] and claims 2-5.
The claimed “gate attachment extension” is not mentioned nor numbered in the specification and drawings. Figure 12 appears to show an oval like structure that may be the “gate attachment extension”. This could be easily fixed without adding new matter.
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)(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.
Claims 1, 7-10, 13, and 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chiappetta et al. (WO 2023/049193, from IDS).
In regards to claim 1,
A system for timing rodeo events comprising:
a gate sensor, (page 14, lines 24-30, “The start of the event may instead be automatically triggered, as by simultaneously issuing an external alert (a light, an audible sound, etc.) to the racer that the event has started along with recording a time stamp associated with the alert. The start may also be triggered by the detection of an action, such as the crossing of a timing mat, or by an action that makes, breaks, or interrupts an electric, optical (electronic eye), or magnetic connection, for example. The opening of a gate, in a roping or riding event, for example, may occur with a sensor attached to the gate to detect when the gate is opened.”
a saddle sensor (figure 4), and
a network; (page 13, lines 20-23, communication network.)
the gate sensor, saddle sensor, and network are in wireless communication; (page 13, lines 20-25, A communications circuit is also provided at 116. The communications circuit 116 may use any suitable wireless communications mode, such as, for example and without limitation, BluetoothTM, WiFi, the ISM band, RF communication, cellular, and/or any of the various IEEE 802 wireless communications modes)
the gate sensor and saddle sensor are configured to create time stamps;
the gate sensor creates a time stamp for the start of the event upon an event start triggering event; (page 14, lines 22-31) and
the saddle sensor creates a time stamp for the end of the event upon an event end triggering event. (page 15, lines 8-14)
In regards to claim 7,
wherein the saddle sensor comprises (figures 3 & 4) an enclosure (slot 102), a printed circuit board (control circuit 110), a strap (connection between the saddle pummel and sensor connector), a magnetic sensor/a magnet (page 12, line 7), and a cord (rope 210).
In regards to claim 8,
wherein the magnetic sensor comprises a cavity (slot 102) wherein the magnet fits.
In regards to claim 9,
the magnet is connected to the cord; and the cord is connected to a rope of a rodeo contestant. (figure 4)
In regards to claims 10, 13, and 15-17
the rope pulls on the cord when the rope is pulled taut; the cord pulls the magnet out of the cavity when the cord is pulled by the rope; and the printed circuit board creates a time stamp identifying the time the magnetic connection between the magnet and the cavity was lost. (page 15, lines 8-14, “The event end time can be determined as well, such as by the making or
Breaking of an electric, magnetic, optical or other connection. For example, removal of
the removable connection component from the sensing connection component, as
described above, may be used. The electronic event timing system can record the end time using a time stamp also based on the internal clock of the event timing system. The actual time of the event can then be determined by the electronic event timing system comparing the recorded time stamps for the start and end of the event, such as by subtraction.”)
a base computing device (timing system 130)
In regards to claim 17,
the gate sensor transmitting the elapsed time to a display device. (page 13, lines 24-25).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-6, 11-12 and 14 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The claims recite specific system and sensor structure that is not shown or taught by the cited prior art.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL A CUFF whose telephone number is (571)272-6778. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Xuan Thai can be reached at 571 272-7147. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL A CUFF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
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