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 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.
Claims are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by King (U.S. 4,993,912).
Regarding claims 1-7, King discloses a mobile robot adapted to traverse at least one vertical obstacle (stair) comprising: a frame structure (10) having a front section, a middle section, and a rear section (see fig. 1); at least two back wheels (12) positioned in the rear section of the frame structure (10), at least two middle wheels (20, 24) positioned in the middle section of the frame structure, at least two front wheels (22, 26) positioned in the front section of the frame structure (10); and a first and a second front rocking arms (62, 64) arranged on opposing sides of the frame structure (10) each pivotably coupled to the frame structure (10), wherein the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) each interconnects one middle wheel (20, 24) and one front wheel (22, 26), forming a first wheel pair (20, 22) and a second wheel pair (24, 26), wherein each of the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) is pivotable around respective axial centers (78, 80) of rotation of the first and second wheel pairs (20, 22 and 24, 26), wherein the first and the second front rocker arms (62, 64) are pivotable independently of each other, wherein each of the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) is pivotable around a lever bearing (96, 97) located between the respective axial centers of rotation of the first and second wheel pairs; a locking mechanism (74, 76) for restricting a rotation of each of the first and second front rocker arms (62, 64), wherein each of the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) is adapted to rotate around the lever bearing (96, 97) by at most 20 degrees clock or counter-clock wise; one or more motors (66, 68) driving one or more of the front wheels (22, 26), middle wheels (20, 24) and back wheels (12, 14), wherein the one or more motors (66, 68, 98, 100) are adapted to facilitate traversing of the at least one vertical obstacle upon a detection of pivot of the first and second front rocker arms (62, 64).
Regarding claims 8-14, King discloses a method comprising: providing a mobile robot comprising a frame structure (10) and a wheel assembly including at least two back wheels (12, 14), at least two middle wheels (20, 24), and at least two front wheels (22, 26); connecting a first middle wheel (20) and a first front wheel (22) by a first front rocking arm (62), forming a first wheel pair (20, 22); connecting a second middle wheel (24) and a second front wheel (26) by a second front rocking arm (64), forming a second wheel pair (24, 26); arranging the first and the second front rocking arms (62, 64) on opposing sides of the frame structure (10) and pivotably coupling each of the first and the second front rocking arms (62, 64) to the frame structure (10), and when traversing a vertical obstacle (stair) pivoting the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) around respective axial centers (78, 80) of rotation of the first and second wheel pairs, wherein pivoting the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) comprises independently pivoting the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64); positioning a first and second lever bearings (96, 97) between the respective axial centers (78, 80) of rotation of the first and second wheel pairs on opposing sides, restricting a rotation of each of the first and second front rocking arms by a locking mechanism (74, 76), wherein pivoting the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64) comprises pivoting each of the first and second front rocking arms by at most 20 degrees clock or counter-clock wise; driving one or more of the front, middle and back wheels (22-26, 20-24, 12-14) by one or more motors; controlling the one or more motors (66, 68, 98, 100) to facilitate traversing of a vertical obstacle upon a detection of pivot of the first and second front rocking arms (62, 64).
Conclusion
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/TOAN C TO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3614 June 16, 2026
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