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 .
Application Status
Claims 1-20 are pending and have been examined in this application.
This communication is the first action on the merits.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
As of the date of this action, an information disclosure statement (IDS) has been filed on 06/11/2025 and reviewed by the Examiner.
Claim Objections
Claims 4, 5, 8, 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 4 “extending from the crate insertion opening to crate discharge opening” appears to be missing a word and should be –extending from the crate insertion opening to the crate discharge opening”.
Claim 5 line 5 “heigh” appears to be a typo and should be –height--.
Claim 8 recites “which cover plate slopes downwards”. The term “which” in this clause appears to be a typo and should be –the cover plate slopes downwards--.
Claim 16 recites “the at least one ventilating opening is at a top of the housing is provided with a net or grate” which appears to be missing a word and should be –the at least one ventilating opening is at a top of the housing, and is provided with a net or grate--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 6 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims throughout refer to two opposing ends of the housing as “the end of the housing” and “the second end of the housing” which becomes indefinite and unclear in the dependent claims. As an example, claim 6 refers to “at the end of the housing”, however it is unclear based on the terminology of the claims on which it depends if this “end” is a first end which is referred to in claim 1 as being the end which has the insertion opening, or if this is the second end of claim 3 which has the second crate insertion opening.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 11-20 are allowed.
Claims 6-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
A call was made to the attorney on 03/18/2026 however no response was received.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
KR 20240063423 A to Kim teaches a cage assembly where the housing includes a plurality of crates forming a bottom of the housing and closing the bottom of the housing, the crates movable from a first end to a second end.
KR 20240019553 A to Hong teaches a plurality of tray or crate devices which are set inside a housing, these tray and crates forming the base of the housing and closing the base of the housing, the trays/crates having openings in their bases which are capable of allowing ventilation through the bottom of the crates and through the top of the housing.
WO 2024009364 A1 to Miura teaches a conveyor track with an insect holding device (not a crate) which forms the base of a conveyor and is conveyed from an input end to an output end of the conveyor, the device constructed to have openings in its base such that ventilation is capable of being provided through the base.
CN 116406648 A to Wu teaches a plurality of crates along a lengthwise direction of a frame, the crates forming a bottom of the frame.
KR 20220169076 A to Hong teaches a plurality of crates arranged vertically, the crates having openings which allow for ventilation.
KR 20210156940 A to Lee teaches a plurality of crates placed in a lengthwise direction along a conveyor, movable from an input end to an output end.
US 20210000090 A1 to Jansen teaches a plurality of insect trays placed on a rack, the rack having openings in two ends.
US 10448623 B1 to Selby teaches a rack with a plurality of crates arranged lengthwise, the plurality of crates placed on flanges that provide rails for the crates to slide on, the crates capable of sliding from one end (an input end) to the opposite end (an output end) due to the rails.
US 20180064079 A1 to Hasa teaches a plurality of containers for rearing insects placed on rails within a rack.
WO 2015023178 A1 and NL 2011300 C2 to Aarts, US 20220117162 A1 to Pike teaches a housing in which a plurality of crates/trays form a bottom surface of the housing and together close a bottom of the surface, the trays being capable of moving in and out of their positions, the housing having ventilation openings at the top of the housing, a viewing window.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KATELYN T TRUONG whose telephone number is (571)272-0023. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday: 8-6.
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, KIMBERLY BERONA can be reached at (571) 272-6909. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KATELYN T TRUONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3647