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 .
Response to Amendment
The Amendment filed on 5/18/2026 has been entered. Claim 2 was canceled. Claims 1, 3-18 remain pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Applicant’s Remarks filed on 5/18/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 2, now incorporated in independent claims 1, 15 and 17, under 35 U.S.C. 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The Examiner acknowledges the previous rationale for the anticipation of the claimed limitation “a locking device configured to block a movement … wherein said movement is a rotational movement” was erroneous. However, the previous cited reference Xie (Chine Patent Document CN 112943527 A) clearly anticipates this feature as it indicates bolt limit blocks limiting 5 degrees of freedom in machine translation paragraph [0030]. The 5 degree of freedom includes at least two rotational directions, e.g., three translation directions and two rotational directions or two translation directions and three rotational directions. Therefore, the 35 U.S.C. 102 rejection is maintained. However, this Office Action is made NON-FINAL because it required new rationale for the rejection.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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, 8, 15-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Xie (Chinese Patent Document CN 112943527 A).
As per claim 1, Xie discloses a wind turbine rotor blade comprising: a base plate (1; figures 1,5) having an access opening (as shown; figure 5) and defining a base plane (the plane of base plate 1 shown; figure 5); a cover (2; figure 6) for closing said access opening (as shown; figure 6); a holding arrangement (31) configured to permit a movement of said cover relative to said base plate in a predetermined direction parallel to said base plane of said base plate (limiting blocks 31 shown to be in shape of circumferentially spaced tabs in sectors, i.e., capable of allowing cover plate 2 rotate in a direction parallel to the plane of baffle plate 1; figures 2, 5, 6) so as to cause said cover to be held in a form-fitting manner on said base plate (compresses tightly to cover plate 2; paragraph [0025]); and, a locking device (32) configured to block a movement of said cover in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, wherein said movement is a rotational movement (bolted stopper restricting 5 degrees of freedom, i.e., restricting movement in at least two rotational directions; paragraph [0030]).
As per claim 8, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1, and further discloses wherein said base plate comprises a ring including a fiber composite material and delimiting said access opening (baffle 1 is made of glass fiber reinforced plastic composite material; paragraph [0023]).
As per claim 15, Xie discloses a wind turbine rotor blade comprising: a base plate (1; figures 1,5) having an access opening (as shown; figure 5) and defining a base plane (the plane of base plate 1 shown; figure 5); a cover (2; figure 6) for closing said access opening (as shown; figure 6); a holding arrangement (31) configured to permit a movement of said cover relative to said base plate in a predetermined direction parallel to said base plane of said base plate (limiting blocks 31 shown to be in shape of circumferentially spaced tabs in sectors, i.e., capable of allowing cover plate 2 rotate in a direction parallel to the plane of baffle plate 1; figures 2, 5, 6) so as to cause said cover to be held in a form-fitting manner on said base plate (compresses tightly to cover plate 2; paragraph [0025]); and, a locking device configured to block a movement of said cover in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, wherein said movement is a rotational movement (bolted stopper restricting 5 degrees of freedom, i.e., restricting movement in at least two rotational directions; paragraph [0030]); said base plate having a main body and a ring delimiting said access opening (inner diameter core material (ring delimiting said opening) and outer diameter core material (main body); paragraph [0027]) and being made of a fiber composite material; and, said main body having a sandwich configuration including two cover layers and a core layer disposed between said two cover layers and made of fiber composite material (baffle 1 made of fiberglass composite material having a sandwich structure having core material 5 symmetrically wrapped by multiple layers 4; paragraphs [0023], [0024]).
As per claim 16, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 15, and further discloses wherein said two cover layers extend beyond said main body with said ring therebetween (open pore layers 41, which covers core material 5 (i.e., both inner and outer core materials), has a greater diameter than the diameter of core material 5, i.e., extending beyond core material 5; figure 4).
As per claim 17, Xie discloses a wind turbine rotor blade comprising: a base plate (1; figures 1,5) having an access opening (as shown; figure 5) and defining a base plane (the plane of base plate 1 shown; figure 5); a cover (2; figure 6) for closing said access opening (as shown; figure 6); a holding arrangement (31) configured to permit a movement of said cover relative to said base plate in a predetermined direction parallel to said base plane of said base plate (limiting blocks 31 shown to be in shape of circumferentially spaced tabs in sectors, i.e., capable of allowing cover plate 2 rotate in a direction parallel to the plane of baffle plate 1; figures 2, 5, 6) so as to cause said cover to be held in a form-fitting manner on said base plate (compresses tightly to cover plate 2; paragraph [0025]); a locking device configured to block a movement of said cover in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, wherein said movement is a rotational movement (bolted stopper restricting 5 degrees of freedom, i.e., restricting movement in at least two rotational directions; paragraph [0030]); said base plate having a main body and a ring delimiting said access opening (inner diameter core material (ring delimiting said opening) and outer diameter core material (main body); paragraph [0027]) and being made of laminate material to increase the strength of said base plate in the region of said access opening (open pore layers 41, which covers core material 5 (i.e., both inner and outer core materials), has a greater diameter than the diameter of core material 5, i.e., extending beyond core material 5; figure 4); and, said main body having a sandwich configuration including two cover layers and a core layer disposed between said two cover layers and made of fiber composite material (baffle 1 made of fiberglass composite material having a sandwich structure having core material 5 symmetrically wrapped by multiple layers 4; paragraphs [0023], [0024]).
As per claim 18, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 17, and further discloses wherein said two cover layers extend beyond said main body with said ring therebetween (open pore layers 41, which covers core material 5 (i.e., both inner and outer core materials), has a greater diameter than the diameter of core material 5, i.e., extending beyond core material 5; figure 4).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 13 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xie.
As per claims 13, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1. Xie further teaches wherein said cover comprises a handle (21; figure 2). However, Xie does not explicitly teach there are two handles. Therefore, the only difference between the claimed invention and the prior art is the number of handles. The court held that mere duplication of parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced (MPEP 2144.04). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date, to modify Xie’s handle to incorporate two handles especially since mere duplication of parts has no patentable significance.
As per claim 14, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 13. Xie further teaches wherein said locking device is arranged adjacent to said two handles (locking device 32 is adjacent to handle 21; figure 2). Xie does not explicitly teach two locking devices adjacent to said handles. Therefore, the only difference between the claimed invention and the prior art is the number of locking devices. The court held that mere duplication of parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced (MPEP 2144.04). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date, to modify Xie’s handle to incorporate two locking devices especially since mere duplication of parts has no patentable significance.
Claim(s) 3, 5, 7, 9-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xie in view of Wang (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2022/0034344).
As per claims 3, 5 and 7, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1. Xie does not explicitly teach the features of claims 3, 5 and 7. However, Xie does teach the cover plate can be disassembled (paragraph [0030]).
Wang (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2022/0034344) is a related art in that it teaches various methods of quick connections between two objects for repeatable and quick connection and disconnection from each other (paragraph [0002]). Therefore Wang is relevant to Xie requiring disassembly. Wang teaches a holding arrangement comprising a plurality of guide slots each extending in said predetermined direction and a plurality of pins that coact with said guide slots so as to engage therein (keyhole shaped slots engaged with plurality of pins to attach two objects; figures 20-23), wherein said guide slots are keyhole-shaped elongate holes (figures 21-23) and wherein said pins are collar screws (figure 47).
As taught by Wang, this allows two objects to be repeatedly and quickly connected to or disconnected from each other (paragraph [0099]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date, to modify Xie’s base plate or the cover to incorporate Wang’s keyhole slots the other of the base plate or the cover to incorporate Wang’s collar screws inserted to the keyhole slots for locking, since it allows two objects to be repeatedly and quickly connected to or disconnected from each other (paragraph [0099]) in a secure manner (paragraph [0224]).
As per claims 9-12, Xie discloses the wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1. Xie does not teach the limitations of claims 9-12.
Wang (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2022/0034344) is a related art in that it teaches various methods of quick connections between two objects for repeatable and quick connection and disconnection from each other (paragraphs [0002], [0099]).
Wang teaches a locking device comprising a snap-in mechanism configured to engage after the movement of a first component relative to a second component has been completed (spring biased retaining section 12a that snaps into holding area 22; figures 27, 35), wherein said snap-in mechanism comprises at least one locking pin which assumes a locked position via spring force (retaining section 12a forming a locking pin loaded with spring 15a; paragraph [0207]; figures 26-27) and wherein said snap-in mechanism comprises a display showing an engaged position of said snap-in mechanism (operating section 124a extending beyond floating fixing component 1 provides a visual indication (i.e., a display or marking) of the spring movement; figure 35).
As taught by Wang, this allows two objects to be repeatedly and quickly connected to or disconnected from each other (paragraph [0099]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date, to modify Xie’s connection between the base plate and the cover to incorporate Xie’s spring loaded pin connection to a keyhole with a member extending beyond the component that provides visual indication of locking and unlocking, since it allows two objects to be repeatedly and quickly connected to or disconnected from each other (paragraph [0099]) in a secure manner (paragraph [0224]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 and 6 are 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claim 4 contains allowable subject matter wherein said guide slots and said pins are arranged asymmetrically with respect to one another so as to cause said cover to be arrangeable only in a single orientation on said base plate so as to cause said pins to engage in said guide slots. No relevant prior art of record sufficiently teaches this feature in such a way that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the prior arts to create the claimed invention.
Claim 6 contains allowable subject matter a plurality of threaded sleeves inserted in said base plate and threadably engaging corresponding ones of said pins. No relevant prior art of record sufficiently teaches this feature in such a way that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the prior arts to create the claimed invention.
Conclusion
This Office Action is made NON-FINAL.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SANG K KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-1324. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm EST.
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/SANG K KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745
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