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 .
Detailed Action
Drawings Objection
The drawings are objected to because in Fig.8, reference numeral “60” does not designate a “locking mechanism” as shown in Figs.2, 3, 12 and 14.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Objection to the Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
(1) On page 8, lines 13-14, “protrusion 51 is inserted in the third guide groove 312 from one side of the fixed guard 31” should read --protrusion 51 is inserted in the third guide groove 312 from one side of the connecting plate 311--. Note Fig.4.
(2) On page 8, lines 15-16, “pin 53 is inserted in the third guide groove 312 … from the opposite side of the fixed guard 31” should read --pin 53 is inserted in the third guide groove 312 ... from the opposite side of the connecting plate 311--. Note Fig.4.
(3) On page 8, line 16, “linking portion 52” should read --linking hole 52--. Note page 8, line 12.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
1. 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.
2. Claims 7, 8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
(1) In claim 7, lines 3-4, the phrase “the covering element is penetrated through the third guide groove” is misleading. As shown in Fig.4 and described on page 8, lines 12-14 of the specification, it is the protrusion 51 of the covering member 50 that is penetrated through the third guide groove 312. It is suggested the phrase be changed to --a portion of the covering element is penetrated through the third guide groove--.
(2) In claim 8, line 1, “the inner surface” has no clear antecedent basis and should read –an inner surface--.
(3) In claim 10, lines 2-3, “a protrusion abutted against an inner surface of the movable guard and through the fixed guard” does not agree with Fig.4. As shown in the figure, the protrusion 51 is abutted against an inner surface of the movable guard 32 and is not through the fixed guard 31 but through a guide groove 312 of a connecting plate 311. It is suggested “through the fixed guard” be deleted.
Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
1. Claims 1-6 and 9 are allowed.
2. Claims 7, 8 and 9 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.
3. Independent claim 1 contains allowable subject matter. The most relevant prior art of record is U.S. Patent No. 8,266,994 to Cox which discloses a sawing machine (10) comprising, among other things, a fixed guard (32), a movable guard (36), a guide element (60) having one end thereof connected with the movable guard (36) and provided with a guide groove (for receiving a post 48, see Fig.1), and a covering element (52) for covering an arbor (44). In the ‘994 document, the covering element (52) is attached to the fixed guard (32) by two screws (56,58, see Fig.1). A user removes one (58) of the screws, then loosens slightly the other screw (56), and rotates the covering element (52) about the other screw (56) in a counter-clockwise direction to enable the movable guard (36) to be rotated away from the arbor (44, see Fig.3), thereby enabling the arbor (44) to be accessed and the blade to be replaced if desired (see column 3, lines 51-56). However, in the claimed invention, a covering element (50, see Fig.4 of this instant application) is disposed to the saw blade guard (31,32) and driven to move when the movable guard (32) is moved along the first guide groove (411, see Fig.10) of the guide mechanism (40) and pivoted relative to the fixed guard (31). The disclosed covering element (50) is movably installed on the fixed guard (31) and designed to precisely cover the arbor (223) for preventing the arbor (223) from being disassembled (see page 8, lines 17-19 of the specification) which is the same as the ‘994 document. However, when the movable guard (32) is moved along the first guide groove (411), the movable guard (32) drives the covering element (50) to be pivoted, at which point the arbor (223) is exposed (e.g., accessible, see page 8, lines 19-21 of the specification). This is different from that of the ‘994 document.
Prior Art Citations
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent No. 5,724,875 shows a sawing machine comprising a fixed guard (40), a movable guard (42), and an elastic member (70) connected to the fixed guard (40) and the movable guard (42), a covering element (66) disposed to the fixed guard (40) and selectively releasable and pivotable relative to the fixed guard (40) to expose an arbor (54) and to allow removal, replacement or maintenance of a blade (18) of the sawing machine.
U.S. Patent No. 6,971,297 shows a sawing apparatus equipped with an arbor cover (66) pivotally mounted to a fix guard (40) of the sawing apparatus and selectively releasable to an “open position” to expose an arbor shaft fastener (64) for allowing removal, replacement or maintenance of a saw blade (18), and then the arbor cover (66) is in a “closed” position, the arbor cover (66) covers an arbor shaft (44) and prevents the arbor shaft fastener (64) from vibrating loose and falling free of the arbor shaft (44, see column 7, lines 1-15).
U. S. Patent No. 11,192,195 is cited to show a sawing machine comprising a movable guard (185), a guide mechanism (310) disposed on the movable guard (185) and having an end thereof connected with the movable guard (185) and provided with a guide groove (330).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0005752 shows a sawing machine (30) comprising a machine body having a worktable (13), a machining module (28), and an arm (7) pivotally connected to the worktable (13) and the machining module (28).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0361111 shows a sawing machine (10, see Fig.1) comprising a machine body having a worktable (18), a machining module (38), and an arm (48) pivotally connected to the worktable (18) and the machining module (38).
EP 2 969 434 B1 shows a sawing machine comprising a saw blade guard having a fixed guard (140), a movable guard (144), and an elastic member (184), wherein the movable guard (144) is pivotally moved relative to the fixed guard (140) through the elastic member (184) which is a torsion spring (see paragraph [0025], line 1).
Point of Contact
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HWEI-SIU PAYER whose telephone number is (571)272-4511. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday from 7:0 AM to 3:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Boyer Ashley can be reached at telephone number 571-227-4502. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HWEI-SIU C PAYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724
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