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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “a loading zone”, “a conveyor”, “a conveyor belt” of claim 1, and 11 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 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.
Claim 3, and 13 recites the limitation "first, second and third”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "third arcuate support”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "first, second, and third supports”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by James (US 20160340127).
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Regarding claim-1. James discloses an impact cradle (18, Fig.1-3, specifically Fig.6) for use in a loading zone (Abstract; [0035]) of a conveyor (10, Fig.1-4) having a conveyor belt (14, Fig.1-2) ([0027-0028]), the impact cradle comprising:
a transversely extending base (Fig.6-8);
a first arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7);
a second arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7); and
at least a first impact pad (56, Fig.6-8) removably engaging said first and second arcuate supports (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-2 and 12. James discloses wherein said first arcuate support is parallel to said second arcuate support (Left and Right Side 54/64 are parallel to each other see Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-3. James discloses wherein said impact cradle has a width W (Annotated Fig.7) extending between a first side thereof and a second side thereof (Annotated Fig.7), wherein first, second and third supports cooperatively support said impact cradle along an entirety of said width W (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-4. James discloses further comprising: a third arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7), said first impact pad (56) at least partially supported on said third arcuate support, wherein said first and second arcuate supports (Annotated Fig.7) are each disposed at a height above said third arcuate support at each transverse position along a width of the impact cradle (first and second are disposed above third support, Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-5. James discloses wherein said impact cradle has a width W extending between a first side thereof and a second side thereof, wherein first, second and third arcuate supports cooperatively support said impact cradle along an entirety of said width W (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-6 and 16. James discloses wherein said impact pad (56) comprises a first undercut, said first undercut configured to receive at least a portion of said first arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-7 and 17. James discloses wherein said impact pad (56) comprises a second undercut, said second undercut configured to receive at least a portion of said second arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-8. James discloses wherein said first impact pad (56) is one of a plurality of impact pads (plurality of 56), said plurality of impact pads being disposed along a width of the cradle (Fig.6-8).
Regarding claim-9 and 19. James discloses wherein each of said plurality of impact pads (56) includes first and second undercuts (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-10 and 20. James discloses wherein each of said plurality of impact pads (56) is removable from the cradle by sliding along said first and second arcuate supports ([0033], Fig.6-8).
Regarding claim-11. James discloses an impact cradle (18, Fig.1-3, specifically Fig.6) for use in a loading zone of a conveyor (10) having a conveyor belt (14), the impact cradle comprising:
at least a first impact pad (56);
a frame (52, Fig.6-8) configured to releasably support said impact pad, said frame comprising:
a first arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7); a second arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7); and third arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7) disposed below said first and second arcuate supports (first and second are disposed above third support, Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-13. James discloses wherein said frame (52) has a width W extending between a first side thereof and a second side thereof, wherein first, second and third supports cooperatively support said impact cradle along an entirety of said width W (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-14. James discloses further comprising: a third arcuate support (Annotated Fig.7), said first impact pad at least partially supported on said third arcuate support, wherein said first and second arcuate supports are each disposed at a height above said third arcuate support at each transverse position along a width W of said frame (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-15. James discloses wherein said frame has a width W extending between a first side thereof and a second side thereof, wherein first, second and third supports cooperatively support said frame along an entirety of said width W (Annotated Fig.7).
Regarding claim-18. James discloses wherein said first impact pad (56) is one of a plurality of impact pads, said plurality of impact pads (plurality of 56) being disposed along a width of said frame (Fig.6-8).
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Donald (US 5038924).
Regarding claim-1. Donald discloses an impact cradle (abstract, Fig.1) for use in a loading zone of a conveyor having a conveyor belt (abstract), the impact cradle comprising:
a transversely extending base (Fig.1-2); a first arcuate support (12B, Fig.4); a second arcuate support (12A, Fig.4); and at least a first impact pad (30, Fig.1, 4) removably engaging said first and second arcuate supports.
Regarding claim-2 and 12. Donald discloses wherein said first arcuate support is parallel to said second arcuate support (12A and 12B are parallel to each other See Fig.3-4).
Regarding claim-3 and 13. Donald discloses wherein said impact cradle has a width W extending between a first side thereof and a second side thereof, wherein first, second and third supports cooperatively support said impact cradle along an entirety of said width W (See Fig.3-4).
Regarding claim-4 and 14. Donald discloses further comprising: a third arcuate support (14 of frame 12), said first impact pad at least partially supported on said third arcuate support, wherein said first (12B) and second arcuate supports (12A) are each disposed at a height above said third arcuate support at each transverse position along a width of the impact cradle (12A-B support Bar 20 are disposed above 14, See Fig.4).
Regarding claim-5 and 15. Donald discloses wherein said impact cradle has a width W extending between a first side thereof and a second side thereof, wherein first (12B), second (12A) and third arcuate supports (14) cooperatively support said impact cradle along an entirety of said width W (Fig.1-4).
Regarding claim-6 and 16. Donald discloses wherein said impact pad (30) comprises a first undercut (32), said first undercut configured to receive at least a portion of said first arcuate support (12B) (See Fig.4).
Regarding claim-7 and 17. Donald discloses wherein said impact pad (30) comprises a second undercut (32), said second undercut configured to receive at least a portion of said second arcuate support (12A) (See Fig.4).
Regarding claim-8 and 18. Donald discloses wherein said first impact pad is one of a plurality of impact pads, said plurality of impact pads being disposed along a width of the cradle (See Fig.1-2 for plurality of 30).
Regarding claim-9 and 19. Donald discloses wherein each of said plurality of impact pads includes first and second undercuts (Fig.1-4).
Regarding claim-10 and 20. Donald discloses wherein each of said plurality of impact pads (30) is removable from the cradle by sliding (removable via slots i.e., sliding) along said first and second arcuate supports (Fig.1-4).
Regarding claim-11. Donald discloses an impact cradle for use in a loading zone of a conveyor having a conveyor belt (abstract, Fig.1), the impact cradle comprising: at least a first impact pad (30); a frame (12, Fig.1) configured to releasably support said impact pad, said frame comprising: a first arcuate support (12B); a second arcuate support (12A); and third arcuate support (14) disposed below said first and second arcuate supports (12A-B support Bar 20 are disposed above 14, See Fig.4).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure See PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD AWAIS whose telephone number is (571)272-4955. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7-4 pm (EST).
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.
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/MA/Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/GENE O CRAWFORD/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651
