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 .
Oath/Declaration
The examiner notes there does NOT appear to be any OATH/DECLARTION filed within this application. Form can be found here: PTO/AIA /101 - Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR 1.76) .
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0050749 (Pilskalns).
Regarding Claim 11, Pilskalns teaches: Claim 11 - a charging hub for a base station configured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during docking, wherein the charging hub (8/71) is repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position and comprises: a charger subassembly (8/71) configured for electrical connection to the UAV (2); and a locking mechanism (24) engageable with the UAV (2), wherein the locking mechanism (24) is configured such that extension and retraction of the charging hub (8/71) automatically repositions the locking mechanism (24 – at least paragraphs [0056] and [0057] describing the functioning of the system, wherein when the UAV (2) lands, the locking mechanism (24) locks the UAV in place and the charging subassembly (71) is then extending to charge the UAV (2), and vice versa once charging of the UAV (2) is complete), (Figures 1-11).
Claim(s) 11 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/0031028 (Ehasoo et al.).
Regarding Claims 11 and 12, Ehasoo et al. teaches: Claim 11 - a charging hub for a base station configured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during docking, wherein the charging hub is repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position and comprises: a charger subassembly (electrical contacts on elements (67)) configured for electrical connection to the UAV (10); and a locking mechanism (67) engageable with the UAV (10), wherein the locking mechanism (67) is configured such that extension and retraction of the charging hub (electrical contacts on elements (67)) automatically repositions the locking mechanism (67), (Figures 26-39); Claim 12 - wherein the locking mechanism (67) is pivotable through a range of motion substantially within a range of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60 degrees, (Figures 26-39).
Claim(s) 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 116552862 (Du et al.).
Regarding Claims 11-13, Du et al. teaches: Claim 11 - a charging hub for a base station configured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during docking, wherein the charging hub is repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position and comprises: a charger subassembly (AA) configured for electrical connection to the UAV; and a locking mechanism (BB) engageable with the UAV, wherein the locking mechanism (BB) is configured such that extension and retraction of the charging hub (AA) automatically repositions the locking mechanism (BB – when spring loaded charging hub (AA) is pressed downwards it automatically causes locking mechanism (BB) to clamp leg of the UAV), (Figures 1-5 and Annotated Figure 4 Below); Claim 12 - wherein the locking mechanism (BB) is pivotable through a range of motion substantially within a range of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60 degrees, (Figures 1-5 and Annotated Figure 4 Below); Claim 13 - wherein the locking mechanism (BB) includes limiters (CC) and DD) configured to confine the locking mechanism (BB) to the range of motion, (Figures 1-5 and Annotated Figure 4 Below).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14-17 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 11-17 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Josh Rodden whose telephone number is (303) 297-4258. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F, 8-5 MST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joshua Michener can be reached on (571) 272-1467. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSHUA E RODDEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642