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 Objections
Claims 13 and 18 are objected to because of the following informalities:
(claim 13, line 2) “ignition for the vehicle” should be changed to “an ignition for the vehicle”.
(claim 18, line 1) “a first portion of the accessory” should be changed to “the first portion of the accessory” since this limitation was already recited in claim 17.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-5, 7, 9-14 and 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Barker et al. (US 9,869,067).
As concerns claim 1, Barker shows a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory (32) from a vehicle (pickup truck; 30) comprising: a hydraulic unit (hydraulic pump) comprising a plurality of actuators (70, 40); a motor (inherent to snow plows for driving the hydraulic pump) for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller (164) for controlling a first subset of the actuators (70) of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller (cab controls) for controlling a second subset of the actuators (70, 40) of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller (Fig. 2A-2E & 4-4D; col 7, ln 34 – col 8, ln 15).
As concerns claim 2, Barker shows wherein the first controller is a toggle switch (164) switchable between mounting and dismounting positions.
As concerns claim 3, Barker shows wherein the accessory is a vehicle mounted plow (32).
As concerns claim 4, Barker shows wherein the second controller (cab controls) is mounted inside a vehicle cabin, such that at least some features of the accessory are controllable from within the vehicle cabin.
As concerns claim 5, Barker shows wherein the second subset includes at least one actuator (40) associated with directional control not included in the first subset, such that the accessory can be angled or tilted directionally from the second controller but not the first controller.
As concerns claim 7, Barker shows wherein the first controller (164) is fixed to or incorporated into the accessory (Fig. 2A-2D) and the second controller (cab controls) is removably linked to the accessory by way of a first wire harness (inherent to snow plows for a remote control to be connected to an accessory port in the vehicle).
As concerns claim 9, Barker shows wherein the first controller functions to mount or dismount the accessory when the second controller is disconnected from the accessory (col 7, ln 34-40).
As concerns claim 10, Barker shows wherein the first and second controllers are each independently powered, such that the first controller provides power to the motor in the absence of the second controller (col 7, ln 34 – col 8, ln 15).
As concerns claim 11, Barker shows wherein the first controller is powered from a battery associated with the vehicle on which the accessory is to be mounted (col 7, ln 34 – col 8, ln 15).
As concerns claim 12, Barker shows wherein the second controller is powered from an accessory connection in a cabin of the vehicle (col 7, ln 34 – col 8, ln 15).
As concerns claim 13, Barker shows wherein the accessory connection is associated with an ignition for the vehicle (col 7, ln 34 – col 8, ln 15).
As concerns claim 14, Barker shows wherein the second controller is powered from the battery associated with the vehicle in parallel with the first controller such that each of the first and second controller can independently provide power to the motor of the hydraulic unit (col 7, ln 34 – col 8, ln 15).
As concerns claim 16, Barker shows wherein each actuator is a solenoid (inherent to snow plows for the hydraulic pump to generate high-pressure fluid needed to move the plow and hydraulic solenoid valves to direct the fluid to the correct cylinders for lift, lower and angle functions).
As concerns claim 17, Barker shows an attachment structure (30) secured to a frame of the vehicle (pickup truck) to which the accessory mounts and a mount assembly (20, 24, 80) for mating with the attachment structure, and wherein the mount assembly is positioned relative to the attachment structure prior to actuation (Fig. 2A-2E & 4-4D), and wherein the first controller (164) pivots a first portion (22, 28) of the accessory relative to the mount assembly (Fig. 2A-2E & 4-4D).
As concerns claim 18, Barker shows wherein the pivoting of the first portion of the accessory relative to the mount assembly is implemented by the extension or collapsing of a cylinder (70) of the hydraulic unit (Fig. 2A-2E & 4-4D).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6, 8 and 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art of record does not appear to anticipate and/or render obvious:
a) a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory from a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic unit comprising a plurality of actuators; a motor for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller for controlling a first subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller for controlling a second subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller, wherein the second controller is mounted inside a vehicle cabin, such that at least some features of the accessory are controllable from within the vehicle cabin, wherein the second subset includes at least one actuator associated with directional control not included in the first subset, such that the accessory can be angled or tilted directionally from the second controller but not the first controller, and wherein the first subset includes at least one actuator associated with dismounting not included in the second subset, such that the accessory cannot be dismounted from the second controller without access to the first controller.
Barker et al. (US 9,869,067) shows a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory from a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic unit comprising a plurality of actuators; a motor for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller for controlling a first subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller for controlling a second subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller, wherein the second controller is mounted inside a vehicle cabin, such that at least some features of the accessory are controllable from within the vehicle cabin, wherein the second subset includes at least one actuator associated with directional control not included in the first subset, such that the accessory can be angled or tilted directionally from the second controller but not the first controller, and wherein the first controller disables the cab controls of the snow plow assembly and operates a suitable electric motor, hydraulic pump, and the like to extend and retract a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic unit. However, Barker does not show wherein the first subset includes at least one actuator associated with dismounting not included in the second subset, such that the accessory cannot be dismounted from the second controller without access to the first controller.
b) a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory from a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic unit comprising a plurality of actuators; a motor for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller for controlling a first subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller for controlling a second subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller, wherein the first controller is fixed to or incorporated into the accessory and the second controller is removably linked to the accessory by way of a first wire harness, and wherein the first controller is provided with power from a secondary wire harness independent of the first wire harness.
Barker et al. (US 9,869,067) shows a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory from a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic unit comprising a plurality of actuators; a motor for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller for controlling a first subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller for controlling a second subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller, wherein the first controller is fixed to or incorporated into the accessory and the second controller is removably linked to the accessory by way of a first wire harness, and wherein the first controller disables the cab controls of the snow plow assembly and operates a suitable electric motor, hydraulic pump, and the like to extend and retract a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic unit. However, Barker does not show wherein the first controller is provided with power from a secondary wire harness independent of the first wire harness.
c) a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory from a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic unit comprising a plurality of actuators; a motor for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller for controlling a first subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller for controlling a second subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller, and wherein the first controller toggles between a first configuration in which the first controller provides power to a first combination of actuators associated with mounting the accessory, including an actuator associated with the motor and a second configuration in which the first controller provides power to the first combination of actuators and at least one additional actuator.
Barker et al. (US 9,869,067) shows a system for mounting or dismounting an accessory from a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic unit comprising a plurality of actuators; a motor for driving the hydraulic unit; a first controller for controlling a first subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the accessory; and a second controller for controlling a second subset of the actuators of the hydraulic unit during use of the accessory, wherein the first controller is powered independently of the second controller and is operable to power the motor and control actuators from the first subset to mount or dismount the accessory from the vehicle without input from the second controller, and wherein the first controller disables the cab controls of the snow plow assembly and operates a suitable electric motor, hydraulic pump, and the like to extend and retract a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic unit. However, Barker does not show wherein the first controller toggles between a first configuration in which the first controller provides power to a first combination of actuators associated with mounting the accessory, including an actuator associated with the motor and a second configuration in which the first controller provides power to the first combination of actuators and at least one additional actuator.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Harris (US 2008/0073090) shows an automated snow plow having a first controller for controlling a hydraulic unit during mounting or dismounting of the plow and a second controller for controlling the hydraulic unit during use of the plow.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW R BUCK whose telephone number is (571)270-3653. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6:30-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicole Coy can be reached at (571)272-5405. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MATTHEW R BUCK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3672
