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 Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“a first engagement mechanism that locks...” in claim 1, and all dependent claims thereof;
“a second engagement mechanism that locks...” in claim 1, and all dependent claims thereof.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Soresina et al. (US 2024/0099698; hereinafter Soresina).
Regarding claim 1, Soreisana discloses an ultrasound imaging system with improved lock device. Soreisana shows an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (see 1 in fig. 1; par. [0059]) comprising: a monitor that displays an ultrasound image (see 2 in fig. 1; par. [0013], [0059]); an arm base that is provided on an apparatus main body (see fig. 1); an articulated arm (see 41 in fig. 2A) that has one end supported by the arm base (see fig. 1)and the other end supporting the monitor (see fig. 2A); and a lock mechanism that locks movement of the monitor and movement of the articulated arm (see abstract; par. [0037], [0062]), wherein the articulated arm includes: a monitor base that supports the monitor in a tiltable manner (see structure/base behind monitor 2 in fig. 1 and 2a), a first link that has one end pivotally supported by the arm base (see fig. 2b), and a second link that has one end pivotally supported by the other end of the first link (see fig. 2b) and the other end pivotally supporting the monitor base (see fig. 2b), and that supports the monitor base to be movable up and down (see fig. 2b and 4), and the lock mechanism includes: a lock lever that is mounted on the first link (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a) and that is rotationally movable between an advanced position and a retracted position (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3 and 4), a first engagement mechanism that locks the pivoting of the first link by engaging the lock lever with the arm base in a case in which the lock lever is in the advanced position (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a), and a second engagement mechanism that locks the tilting of the monitor (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a), the pivoting and up-down movement of the monitor together with the monitor base (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a), and the pivoting of the second link by engaging the lock lever with the monitor in a case in which the lock lever is in the advanced position (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a).
Regarding claim 2, Soreisana shows wherein the second engagement mechanism includes a lever receiving portion that is provided at a lower edge portion of the monitor to receive one end of the lock lever in the advanced position (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a), and the pivoting of the monitor and the pivoting of the second link are locked by the lock lever restricting movement of the lever receiving portion in a lock lever transverse direction (see par. [0013], [0037], [0061], [0063]; fig. 2a, 3, 4 and 10a).
Regarding claim 3, Soreisana shows wherein the second engagement mechanism includes a monitor engagement pin that is provided on one of the lock lever and the lever receiving portion (see fig. 4-5, 7 and 12), and a monitor engagement recess portion that is provided on the other of the lock lever and the lever receiving portion and that receives the monitor engagement pin in a case in which the lock lever is in the advanced position (see fig. 5, 7 and 12), the up-down movement of the monitor is locked by engagement between the monitor engagement pin and the monitor engagement recess portion see fig. 5, 7 and 12), and the tilting of the monitor is locked by the engagement between the monitor engagement pin and the monitor engagement recess portion and by restriction of movement of the lever receiving portion in a lock lever longitudinal direction via the lock lever (see fig. 5, 7 and 12).
Regarding claim 4, Soreisana shows wherein a tapered portion that is tapered in a direction in which the lock lever enters the lever receiving portion is provided on a side of the lever receiving portion that receives the lock lever (see fig. 5, 7 and 12).
Regarding claim 5, Soreisana shows wherein the monitor engagement pin and the monitor engagement recess portion are disposed to be engageable with each other in a case in which the monitor is facing downward (see fig. 5, 7 and 12).
Regarding claim 6, Soreisana shows wherein the first engagement mechanism includes an arm base engagement pin that is provided on one of the lock lever and the arm base (see fig. 2a, 5, 7, 9 and 12), and an arm base engagement recess portion that is provided on the other of the lock lever and the arm base and that receives the arm base engagement pin in a case in which the lock lever is in the advanced position (see fig. 2a, 5, 7, 9 and 12), and the pivoting of the first link is locked by engagement between the arm base engagement pin and the arm base engagement recess portion (see fig. 2a, 5, 7, 9 and 12).
Regarding claim 7, Soreisana shows wherein, in a case in which the lock lever is in the retracted position, the lock lever is retracted into the first link (see fig. 2a, 5, 7, 9 and 12), and, in a case in which the lock lever is in the advanced position (see fig. 2a, 5, 7, 9 and 12), the one end of the lock lever protrudes from the first link and is received in the lever receiving portion (see fig. 2a, 5, 7, 9 and 12).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAHDEEP MOHAMMED whose telephone number is (571)270-3134. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anne M Kozak can be reached at (571)270-0552. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAHDEEP MOHAMMED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3797
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