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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Page 2, line 25, references a specific claim number; and
Failure to include proper section headings.
Appropriate correction is required.
The following guidelines illustrate the preferred layout for the specification of a utility application. These guidelines are suggested for the applicant’s use.
Arrangement of the Specification
As provided in 37 CFR 1.77(b), the specification of a utility application should include the following sections in order. Each of the lettered items should appear in upper case, without underlining or bold type, as a section heading. If no text follows the section heading, the phrase “Not Applicable” should follow the section heading:
(a) TITLE OF THE INVENTION.
(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.
(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT.
(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT.
(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A READ-ONLY OPTICAL DISC, AS A TEXT FILE OR AN XML FILE VIA THE PATENT ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.
(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR.
(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.
(1) Field of the Invention.
(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.
(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S).
(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.
(k) CLAIM OR CLAIMS (commencing on a separate sheet).
(l) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE (commencing on a separate sheet).
(m) SEQUENCE LISTING. (See MPEP § 2422.03 and 37 CFR 1.821 - 1.825). A “Sequence Listing” is required on paper if the application discloses a nucleotide or amino acid sequence as defined in 37 CFR 1.821(a) and if the required “Sequence Listing” is not submitted as an electronic document either on read-only optical disc or as a text file via the patent electronic system.
Claim Objections
Claims 9, 15, and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 9, line 2, after “two” insert --said--;
Claim 15, line 2, after “two” insert --said--; and
Claim 19, line 2, after “two” insert --said--.
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 8, 9, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 23 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.
In claim 8, line 2, “the two third axes of rotation” lacks antecedent basis. It is noted only one third axis of rotation has been previously established.
In claim 9, line 3, “the transport direction” lacks antecedent basis. The following change would receive favorable consideration: change “the transport direction” to --a transport direction of the transport trolley--. See the accurate language of claim 18, line 4.
In claim 16, line 2, “the guide element” lacks antecedent basis. Further, claim 16 is incomplete for failing to recite sufficient structural cooperation between the guide element and the transport system. It appears claim 16 should be amended to depend from claim 13.
In claim 17, line 3, “the transport direction” lacks antecedent basis. The following change would receive favorable consideration: change “the transport direction” to --a transport direction of the transport trolley--. See the accurate language claim 18, line 4.
In claim 20, line 2, “the two third casters” lacks antecedent basis. It appears claim 20 should be amended to depend from claim 19.
Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as it depends from a rejected claim.
It is unclear if “the swivel caster unit” recited in claim 23, line 2, is referencing the swivel caster unit of claim 12 which is arranged at the base body or referencing the swivel caster unit of claim 12 which is arranged at the carrier section.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7, 10-15, 18, 19, and 22 are allowed.
Claims 8, 9, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 23 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, Gurevich et al. (US#10723232) represents the closest prior art of record and discloses a transport system 10 (Fig. 1) for transporting objects, said transport system comprising: at least one transport rail 24a that comprises at least a first running surface (outer vertical surface of rail portion 26a), at least a second running surface (inner vertical surface of rail portion 26a) and at least a third running surface (lower horizontal surface of rail portion 26b), wherein the first running surface and the second running surface are arranged disposed opposite one another, wherein the third running surface extends perpendicular to and between the first and the second running surface and a surface normal of the third running surface defines an axial direction (see Fig. 2); and
at least one transport trolley comprising: a base body 19 that is coupled or can be coupled to an object carrier 18 (cart) for receiving at least one object to be transported; at least one caster unit comprising at least a first caster (first 36a) rotatably supported about a first axis of rotation, at least a second caster (second 36a) rotatably supported about a second axis of rotation and at least a third caster (second 36c) rotatably supported about a third axis of rotation, wherein the first and the second caster are arranged at the base body such that the first and the second axis of rotation are stationary relative to the base body and such that said first and second caster cooperate with the first running surface (see Fig. 2), wherein the third caster is arranged at the base body such that said third caster cooperates with the second running surface (see Fig. 2).
Gurevich fails to disclose at least one swivel caster unit comprising at least one swivel caster and at least one pivot section, wherein the pivot section is rotatably supported at the base body about a pivot axis, wherein the swivel caster is rotatably supported at the pivot section about a swivel caster axis and cooperates with the third running surface, wherein the swivel caster axis and the pivot axis do not cross.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892.
It is noted Figie et al. (US#11381181) discloses a similar discloses a transport system (Fig. 1A) comprising: at least one transport rail with first (vertical), second (opposing vertical), and third (connecting horizontal) running surfaces; and a trolley base body (Fig. 1B) having first (vertical pivot axis), second (vertical pivot axis), and third casters (horizontal pivot axis).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM L MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-7068. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 - 6:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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WILLIAM L. MILLER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/WILLIAM L MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677
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