DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-17 are pending.
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 § 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 2-8, 12, 15 and 17 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 2 recites “protruding shape” and “recessed shape” (twice each). It is unclear what is considered a “protruding shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a protrusion. It is unclear what is considered a “recessed shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a recess.
Claim 5 recites “in this order” however it is unclear what “this order” refers to. The examiner is interpreting this to refer to first contacting the protruding portion and then contacting the presser foot.
Claim 5 recites “the engagement between the fitting portion and the fitted portion is released” however now such engagement is recited to have occurred in the first place. It is thus unclear how it can be released.
Claim 6 recites that there is an eaves portion at the end of the insertion opening. An opening is a lack of something, and thus it is unclear what is meant by this phrase because it is unclear how the opening has an “end” and what would be considered an end of an opening. Due to this confusion, the examiner is interpreting “opening” as not requiring a through-hole, but rather, a depression, groove, blind-hole would qualify as an opening.
Claim 8 recites the fitting portion has a protruding shape, however this is already recited in claim 2. It is unclear if this is a different protruding shape than that recited in claim 2.
Claim 8 recites “a recessed shape” (twice) however this is already recited in claim 2. It is unclear if this is a different recessed shape than that recited in claim 2. Claim 8 also has the same issues as claim 2 with respect to protruding and recessed shape.
Claim 12 recites “protruding shape” and “recessed shape” (twice each). It is unclear what is considered a “protruding shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a protrusion. It is unclear what is considered a “recessed shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a recess.
Claim 15 recites “protruding shape” and “recessed shape” (twice each). It is unclear what is considered a “protruding shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a protrusion. It is unclear what is considered a “recessed shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a recess.
Claim 17 recites “protruding shape” and “recessed shape” (twice each). It is unclear what is considered a “protruding shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a protrusion. It is unclear what is considered a “recessed shape”. The examiner is interpreting this as a recess.
The dependent claims inherit(s) the deficiency by nature of dependency.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 1-3, 6, 9-12, and 14-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takei (US 20230064230).
Regarding claim 1, Takei describes a movement detector (detection device 10) attachable to a presser bar of a sewing machine, the movement detector comprising:
a sensor (light detection portion 2 and irradiation portion 3) configured to emit light toward a sewing workpiece and to detect the light reflected from the sewing workpiece to detect a movement amount of the sewing workpiece (see para. 0061); and
a housing (body portion 1) accommodating the sensor, the housing including a wall surface (see annotated Fig. 14) spaced from the sensor in a detachment direction, the detachment direction being perpendicular to an emission direction in which the sensor emits the light, the wall surface being formed with an insertion opening (receiving portion 14) for inserting a presser foot (receives foot 20).
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Regarding claim 2, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 1, further comprising:
a lock plate (connection portion 12) accommodated in the housing and configured to lock the presser foot, the lock plate including a fitting portion having a protruding shape (fixing pin 8) or a recessed shape, the fitting portion being configured to (what follows is a recitation of intended use) fit with a fitted portion (hook portion 24) of the presser foot in a state where the presser foot is inserted in the housing, the fitted portion having a recessed shape (is recessed) or a protruding shape.
Regarding claim 3, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 2, wherein the lock plate (12) extends in an emission surface direction (direction parallel to detachment direction) perpendicular to the emission direction.
Regarding claim 6, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes an eaves portion, the eaves portion being provided at an end of the insertion opening in a reflection direction, the reflection direction being a direction opposite the emission direction, the eaves portion protruding in the detachment direction (see annotated Fig. 8).
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Regarding claim 9, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 1, further comprising:
a guide portion arranged on an insertion path of the presser foot that is inserted in an attachment direction through the insertion opening, the attachment direction being a direction opposite the detachment direction, the guide portion being a groove or a protrusion (protrusion that forms the opening for inserting a presser foot),
wherein the guide portion is configured to, when the presser foot is inserted into the housing, fit to a guided portion of the presser foot, the guided portion being a protrusion or a groove (see Fig. 8).
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Regarding claim 10 Takei describes a movement detector (detection device 10) attachable to a presser bar of a sewing machine, the movement detector comprising:
a sensor (light detection portion 2 and irradiation portion 3) configured to emit light toward a sewing workpiece and to detect the light reflected from the sewing workpiece to detect a movement amount of the sewing workpiece (see para. 0061);
a housing (body portion 1) accommodating the sensor, the housing including a wall surface (see annotated Fig. 14) spaced from the sensor in a detachment direction, the detachment direction being perpendicular to an emission direction in which the sensor emits the light, the wall surface being formed with an insertion opening (receiving portion 14); and
a presser foot (presser foot 20) including:
an insertion plate inserted into the housing through the insertion opening, the insertion plate being locked in the housing (see annotated Fig. 8);
a presser plate located at a position toward the emission direction and the detachment direction from the insertion plate (see annotated Fig. 8), the presser plate extending in a slide direction, the slide direction being a direction including both the detachment direction and an attachment direction, the attachment direction being a direction opposite the detachment direction (see annotated Fig. 8); and
a connection plate connecting the insertion plate and the presser plate, the connection plate extending in the emission direction from the insertion plate (see annotated Fig. 8), the connection plate being formed with a connection plate opening extending in the emission direction from the insertion plate (see annotated Fig. 8, opening extends in both slide direction and emission direction).
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Regarding claim 11, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 10, wherein a direction opposite the emission direction is defined as a reflection direction (see annotated Fig. 8);
wherein a direction perpendicular to the emission direction and the slide direction is defined as a width direction; wherein the connection plate includes a connection portion connected to the presser plate (see annotated Fig. 8);
and wherein a size in the width direction of a first end of the connection portion is smaller than a size in the width direction of a second end of the connection portion, the first end of the connection portion being an end in the emission direction, the second end of the connection portion being an end in the reflection direction (see annotated Fig. 8).
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Regarding claim 12, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 10, further comprising a lock plate (connection portion 12) accommodated in the housing and configured to lock the insertion plate,
wherein the lock plate includes a fitting portion having a protruding shape (fixing pin 8) or a recessed shape;
wherein the presser foot includes a fitted portion (pin hole 23) provided at the insertion plate, the fitted portion having a recessed shape (a hole) or a protruding shape; and
wherein the fitting portion (8) is configured to fit with the fitted portion (23) in a state where the insertion plate is inserted in the housing.
Regarding claim 14, Takei describes a movement detector (detection device 10) attachable to (fully capable of attaching to a presser bar of a sewing machine) a presser bar of a sewing machine, the sewing machine including a bed, the movement detector comprising:
a sensor (light detection portion 2 and irradiation portion 3) configured to emit light downward toward a sewing workpiece and to detect the light reflected from the sewing workpiece to detect a movement amount of the sewing workpiece (see para. 0061), the sewing workpiece (where the sewing workpiece is arranged with respect to the unclaimed bed and presser bar is considered an intended use, the workpiece is fully capable of being located in any orientation) being arranged on the bed and below the presser bar, the presser bar (fully capable of being in an upper-lower direction) extending in an upper-lower direction; and
a housing (body portion 1) accommodating the sensor, the housing including a wall surface spaced from the sensor in a forward direction perpendicular to the upper-lower direction, the wall surface being formed with an insertion opening (receiving portion 14) for inserting a presser foot.
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Regarding claim 15, Takei describes the movement detector according to claim 14, further comprising:
a lock plate (connection portion 12) accommodated in the housing and configured to lock the presser foot, the lock plate including a fitting portion having a protruding shape (fixing pin 8) or a recessed shape, the fitting portion being configured to fit with a fitted portion (pin hole 23) of the presser foot in a state where the presser foot is inserted in the housing, the fitted portion having a recessed shape (a hole) or a protruding shape.
Regarding claim 16, Takei describes a sewing system (see Fig. 1) comprising:
a sewing machine (sewing machine 50) configured to perform sewing on a sewing workpiece; and
a movement detector (detection device 10) configured to detect a movement amount of the sewing workpiece,
the sewing machine comprising:
a needle bar (bar connected to needle 53) extending in an upper-lower direction, the needle bar being configured that a sewing needle (53) is attachable to a lower end of the needle bar;
a bed located below the needle bar (see annotated Fig. 1); and
a presser bar (presser bar 51) extending in the upper-lower direction, the needle bar and the presser bar being arranged in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the upper-lower direction,
the movement detector comprising:
a sensor (light detection portion 2 and irradiation portion 3) configured to emit light downward toward a sewing workpiece and to detect the light reflected from the sewing workpiece to detect a movement amount of the sewing workpiece (see para. 0061); and
a housing (body portion 1) accommodating the sensor, the housing including a wall surface spaced from the sensor in a forward direction, the forward direction being a direction from the presser bar toward the needle bar in the front-rear direction, the wall surface being formed with an insertion opening (receiving portion 14) for inserting a presser foot.
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Regarding claim 17, Takei describes the sewing system according to claim 16, wherein the movement detector further comprises:
a lock plate (connection portion 12) accommodated in the housing and configured to lock the presser foot, the lock plate including a fitting portion having a protruding shape (fixing pin 8) or a recessed shape, the fitting portion being configured to fit with a fitted portion (pin hole 23) of the presser foot in a state where the presser foot is inserted in the housing, the fitted portion having a recessed shape (a hole) or a protruding shape.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 13 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 4, 5, 7, and 8 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Multiple references are cited that include sensors that capture light as well as mechanisms for attaching presser feet to various components.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK J LYNCH whose telephone number is (571)272-1145. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Th, Alt F: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET.
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, Clint Ostrup can be reached on 571-272-5559. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK J. LYNCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732