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.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Hosch (US 2007/0017786).
In regard to claim 10, Hosch shows a nosebar 62/66 for a conveyor belt 12. The nosebar includes a horizontal top surface 96 forming an end of a carryway (see figures 2 and 3). The nosebar includes a bulbous end nose 92 extending from the horizontal top surface 96. An angled front surface 100/S extends down and rearwards from the bulbous end nose (see the annotated figure below).
PNG
media_image1.png
304
158
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by DE 20 2016 004 793.
In regard to claim 10, the German document shows a nosebar 2/3a/3b/4/ for a conveyor belt. The nosebar includes a horizontal top surface T forming an end of a carryway (see the annotated figure below). The nosebar includes a bulbous end nose 3b/4 extending from the horizontal top surface T. An angled front surface 3A extends down and rearwards from the bulbous end nose.
PNG
media_image2.png
396
522
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Claims 1, 5-7, and 10-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Garbagnati et al. (US 2022/0017307).
In regard to claims 1 and 5, the Garbagnati document shows a nosebar N for a conveyor belt 10. Ther nosebar includes a horizontal top surface TS forming an end of a carryway (see the annotated figure below). The nosebar includes a curved transition surface CS extending from the horizontal top surface TS through an arc that is between about 95° and about 175° to an inflection point P below the horizontal top surface. It is recognized that the total arc of the curved surface appears to be about 180°. However, because arc of the concave surface extends through an arc that is between 95° and 175°, and through an arc of about 170°, as it arcs to 180°, it is believed that Garbagnati shows the structure required by a broad interpretation of the claim language. If the claim stated that the curved transition surface extended “from the horizontal top surface to an inflection point that is on an arc from the horizontal top surface between 95° and not more than 175°” Garbagnati would not show the structure required by the claim. A concave recess R extends from the inflection point extending downwards and away from the curved transition surface.
PNG
media_image3.png
370
870
media_image3.png
Greyscale
In regard to claims 6-77, it should be noted that, as illustrated, the concave recess appears to have a radius of curvature that is equal to the radius of curvature of the curved transition surface CS and extend through an arc that is about 55°.
In regard to claim 10, the Japanese document shows a nosebar N for a conveyor belt 10. The nosebar includes a horizontal top surface TS forming an end of a carryway. The nosebar includes a bulbous end nose CS extending from the horizontal top surface TS. An angled front surface FS extends down and rearwards from the bulbous end nose (see the annotated figure below).
In regard to claim 11, the bulbous end nose is formed by the curved transition surface CS that extends down from the horizontal top surface through an arc that is between about 95° and about 175° to an inflection point P below the horizontal top surface TS and a concave recess R extending from the inflection point extending downwards and away from the curved transition surface.
In regard to claim 12, as noted above, the concave recess R curves through an arc that is about 55°.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-4, 8-9, and 13-15 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARK A DEUBLE whose telephone number is (571)272-6912. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday flex schedule.
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, Gene Crawford can be reached at 571-272-6911. 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.
/MARK A DEUBLE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651
