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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the wall mount of claim 7, 8, 14, 15, and 17 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. See also below claim objection.
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.
Claim Objections
Claims 7, 8, 14, 15, and 17 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 7, 8, 14, 15, and 17 all recite a wall mount. As noted above the wall mount is not shown in the figures. The wall mount is also not described in the specification and as such it is difficult to determine what is required by the claim. The closest description appears to be the description in paragraph [0091] of the outer rail being mounted to the structure (or wall) via a variety of means including screws, bolts, angle irons, tubes or the like. For purposes of examination the wall mount will be interpreted broadly as anything mounting the track system to the wall or structure.
Appropriate correction is required.
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)(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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US PG Pub 2023/0250692 to Seshasai (hereinafter Seshasai).
Regarding claim 1, the retractable screen system is shown in Seshasai in figures 1-6 with
a screen (200) comprising a height and a width (figure 1), said width defined by opposite lateral ends;
a plurality of guide members (keder, further taught paragraphs [0026] and [0065]) spaced vertically along the opposite lateral ends of the screen (200);
a track system (100) at both of the lateral ends (figure 1) of the screen (200), each track system (100) comprising:
an outer rail (with walls 138,142,143,144,147,148);
a screen connector (110) including an inner channel (111) movably positioned within a portion (140) of outer rail; and
one or more tension springs (102,104) positioned adjacent the screen connector (110) in the outer rail;
wherein the plurality of guide members (keder) movable through (further taught paragraph [0068]) the inner channel (111); and
wherein the screen connector (110) movable in a direction transverse (direction of spring movement along depth PD) to the movement of the guide members.
Regarding claim 2, the one or more tension springs (102,104) urge the screen connector (110) away from a center of the screen (200) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 3, the outer rail (with walls 138,142,143,144,147,148) comprises an outer connection portion (with walls 138,142) for connecting to a mounting member (162), and an inner track (with portion 140), wherein the screen connector (110) and one or more tension springs (102,104) positioned in the inner track (with portion 140) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 4, the one or more tension springs (102,104) are connected to the screen connector (110, see figure 4) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 5, the screen (200) comprises fabric (further taught paragraph [0026]) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 6, the plurality of guide members (keder) are connected to the screen (200) via welding (further taught paragraph [0026]) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 7, as best understood, the track system (100) includes a wall mount (162) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 8, the track system (100) connects to the wall mount (162) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 9, the plurality of guide members comprise keders (further taught paragraphs [0026] and [0065]) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 10, the screen system includes a rolling motor (further taught paragraphs [0021] and [0061]) operatively connected to the screen (200) to raise and lower the screen in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 11, the track system is shown in Seshasai in figures 1-6 with
an outer rail (with walls 138,142,143,144,147,148);
a screen connector (110) including an inner channel (111) movably positioned within a portion (140) of outer rail; and
one or more tension springs (102,104) positioned adjacent the screen connector (110) in the outer rail;
wherein the plurality of guide members (keder, further taught paragraphs [0026] and [0065]) movable through the inner channel.
Regarding claim 12, the outer rail (with walls 138,142,143,144,147,148) comprises an outer connection portion (with walls 138,142) for connecting to a mounting member (162), and an inner track (with portion 140), wherein the screen connector (110) and one or more tension springs (102,104) positioned in the inner track in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 13, the one or more tension springs (102,104) are connected to the screen connector (110, see figure 4) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 14, as best understood, the track system (100) includes a wall mount (162) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 15, the outer rail (figure 6) connects to the wall mount (162) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 16, the plurality of guide members comprise keders (further taught paragraphs [0026] and [0065]) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 17, as best understood, the floating rail system is shown in Seshasai in figure 1-6 with
an outer rail (with walls 138,142,143,144,147,148) comprising a first portion (with walls 138,142) for attaching to a wall mount (162) and a second section (with 140) comprising a channel (140);
a floating screen connector (110) positioned in the channel (140) of the outer rail, the floating screen connector (110) comprising an inner channel (111) and a tension spring (102,104);
wherein the tension spring (102,104) urges the inner channel (111) in the channel (140)of the outer rail and allows the inner channel (111) to move in the channel (140).
Regarding claim 18, the channel (140) of the outer rail (with walls 138,142,143,144,147,148) comprises a C-shape (figure 5) with an open end (between walls 147 and 148) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 19, the inner channel (111) comprises a guide channel (111 is a guide channel) for receiving a guide member (keder, further taught paragraphs [0026] and [0065]) of a screen (200) in Seshasai.
Regarding claim 20, the guide channel (111) is substantially circular in shape (figure 5) in Seshasai.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE A KELLY whose telephone number is (571)270-3660. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Coupe can be reached at 571-270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CATHERINE A KELLY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
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