`
`
`
`EXHIBIT 2003
`
`EXHIBIT 2003
`
`

`

`Feb 25 05 10:28:!
`
`Camoriano B: Hssoc
`
`DE 428 1187
`RECEUWED
`csmsm. sax semen
`
`FEB 2 5 2005
`
`IN THE US. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Application number:
`Filing date:
`First Named Inventor:
`Art Unit:
`Examiner Name:
`Attorney Docket Number:
`Total No. of pages in this submission:
`
`101’] 84,008
`June 26, 2002
`Richard Anderson ct 111.
`3634
`Blair M. Johnson
`HUN2 l IDIV
`
`-
`Certificate of Transmittal By Facsimile
`I hereby certify that this paper is being sent by facsimile transmission to FAX No. 7—03-
`872—9306 on Februgfl g .2005
`.Name
`Carolyn Laugherty
`SignatureM Date
`Februggyafi
`, 2005.
`Amendment Transmittal
`
`Mail Stop AF
`Commissioner for Patents
`P. O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Enclosed is the following:
`
`Amendmentr’Reply (after final)
`
`
`12-8-2004
`-d for
`Total clalms -—_X-$50 or $25 3_
`Independent
`$200 or
`Claims
`$100 '
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Theresa Fritz Camoriano _
`Reg. No. 30,038
`Camoriano & Associates
`
`8225 Shelbyville Road
`Louisville KY 40222
`
`502-423-9850 phone
`502-426-116? fax
`
`PAGE no ‘ RCVD AT 21292005 10:41:04 JIM [Eastern Wald Tim] ' SVRMSPTO—EFXRF‘I-‘O ‘ DNIB:872§306 ' 1330:5132 528 11G? ‘ DURATION lmul-SS):DJ-48
`
`

`

`Feb 25 05 10:29:.
`
`Camuriano s. Fissoc
`
`502 426 118'?
`
`SN 10ns4,oos Amendment
`Page 1 of8
`
`RECEWED
`esteem: FAX CENTEFJ
`FEB 2 5 2005
`
`[N THE U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`US. Patent Application SN. 10l184,008
`
`Title:
`
`Modular transport system for coverings for architectural openings
`
`Inventofis): Anderson et al.
`
`Filed:
`
`June 26, 2002
`
`Art Unit:
`
`3634
`
`Examiner:
`
`Blair M. Johnson
`
`Certificate of Transmittal By Facsimile
`i hereby certify that this paper is being sent by facsimiie transmission to FAX No. 703-372-9306
`
`onMasts NameWham
`
`SignatureM— DateW
`
`AMENDMENT
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`Mail Stop AF
`.
`PD. Box 1450
`Alexandria VA 22313-1450
`
`Sir:
`
`This amendment is being filed in response to the Office Action mailed December 8, 2004.
`
`Please amend the claims to the following:
`
`FREE If? ' RCVD AT ZRMDOS 10:41:11! AM [Ensifl'l'l Standard Time] " 8VR:UBPTD-EFXRF-1ffl ' DNI8:8729308 " CSID:502 425 116? ' DUMYION (mm-sshfla-ss
`
`

`

`\
`
`Feb 25 05 10:29::
`
`Camoriann s. Hssoc
`
`502 428 1187
`
`p.13
`
`SN 10f134,008 Amendment
`Page 2 of 8
`
`1-1 12 (cancelled)
`
`113.(previously presented) A transport mechanism for a covering for architectural
`
`openings, comprising:
`
`a brake, including an input shaft; an output shaft; a brake shoe; and a brake drum,
`wherein said input shaft and said output shaft rotate together, and, when said input and output
`shafts rotate in one direction, they drive said brake drum, while, when they rotate in an opposite
`
`direction, said shafts freewheel relative to said brake drum; and a brake housing enclosing said
`
`brake, wherein said brake drum has internal teeth tapering in a first direction; and further
`
`comprising a mating toothed drive member driven by said input shaft.
`
`1 l4.(original) A transport mechanism as recited in claim 1 13, and further comprising an
`
`intermediate cogged drive member driven by said input shaft and engaging said mating toothed
`
`member, wherein, when said input shafi is rotated in one direction, it causes said intermediate
`
`oogged drive member to press said mating toothed member against the internal teeth of said
`
`brake drum, and, when said input shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, it rotates said
`
`intermediate cogged drive member in the opposite direction, relieving pressure from said mating
`
`toothed member, and permitting said input shaft to rotate freely relative to said brake drum.
`
`115.(original) A transport mechanism as recited in claim l 14, and further comprising an
`
`adjustment screw, which, when rotated in one direction, increases the friction between the brake
`
`drum and the brake shoe, and, when rotated in an opposite direction, decreases the friction
`
`between the brake drum and the brake shoe.
`
`1 16,(original) A tranSport mechanism as recited in claim 115, and further comprising a
`
`worm gear, driven by said input shaft and a gear train driven by said worm gear, wherein said
`
`gear train drives said adjustment screw.
`
`RAGE 3J9 ' RCVD AT MEWS 10:41:04 m {Eastern Standard TIME] ' BVR:U8PTO—EFXfiF-1ID ' 01453729306 " 3913:5132 426 1 1B? ' DURATION (mm¢s):0348
`
`

`

`Feb 25 05 10:30::
`
`Camoriano a.
`
`fleece:
`
`502 428 115'?
`
`SN 10“ 84,008 Amendment
`Page 3 of 8
`
`1 17-125 (cancelled)
`
`l26.(currentiy amended)
`comprising:
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening,
`'
`a covering movable between an extended position for covering the opening and a
`
`retracted position for uncovering the opening;
`a Spring motor including a coil spring and a power sppol; wherein said coil spring
`
`wraps onto and off of said power sppol;
`
`a rotating output operatively connected to the power sppol of the spring motor;
`
`a lift cord Operatively connected to the rotating output and to the covering;
`
`said rotating output being rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions
`
`to move the covering between its extended and retracted positions; and
`
`a one-way friction brake operatively connected to said rotating output1 said one-
`
`way friction brake providing 1braking force opposing that stops the rotation of the rotating
`output in one ofthe directions while permitting the rotating output to rotate freely in the other of
`
`said directions.
`
`127.(currently amended)
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening wrecked—in
`
`oiaim—l—Zé, comprising:
`
`a covering movabie between an extended position for covering the opening and a
`
`retracted position for uncovering the opening;
`
`a §pring motor;
`
`a rotating output operativclx connected to the Spring motor;
`
`a lift cord op_e_rativelx connected to the rotating output and to the covering;
`
`said rotatipg output being rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwige direCtions
`
`to move the covering between its extended and retracted positions; and
`
`PAGE 43 ' RGVD A'I' 21253005 10:41:“ AM [Eastern Standard Tlme} ' SVRzlJBPTD-EFXRF-flfl ' DNIB:B?IBGDB ' 631030! #2! 1 1 51" ' DURATION (manna-u
`
`

`

`Feb 25 05 10:30a
`
`Carnal-term a. Hssoc
`
`502 428 1187
`
`SN 10f184,008 Amendment
`Page 4 of 8
`
`a one-way friction brake operativelg connected to said rotating output, said one-
`way friction brake providing logging force opposing the rotation ofthe rotating output in one of
`the directions while permitting the rotating output to rotate freely in the other of said dimtions;
`wherein said one-way brake applies a braking force opposing rotation of the
`
`rotating output for movement of the covering to the extended position while permitting free
`
`rotation for movement of the covering to the retracted position.
`
`128.(previousiy presented) A system for covering an architectural opening as recited in
`claim 126, and further comprising a transmission operatively connected to the Spring motor and
`
`to the rotating output.
`
`129. (previously presented) A system for covering an architectural opening,
`
`comprising:
`
`a covering movable between an extended position for covering the opening and a
`
`retracted position for uncovering the opening;
`
`a spring motor;
`
`a rotating output operatively connected to the spring motor and to the covering
`
`and rotatable in clockwise and countercloclovise directions to move the covering between its
`
`extended and retracted positions; and
`
`a one—way brake operatively connected to said rotating output, said one—way brake
`
`providing braking force opposing the rotation of the rotating output in one of the directions while
`
`permitting the rotating output to rotate freely in the other of said directions, wherein said one-
`
`way brake includes:
`
`a rotating brake drum, which is operatively connected to said rotating output in
`
`one direction and which freewhecls relative to said rotating output in the other direction; and
`
`a brake shoe in friction contact with said rotating brake drum.
`
`PAGE SID ' RCVD AT 212532005 10:41:04 AM [Eastern mead Tlme] ' EVEUSPTO-EFIRP-‘HO ' 05553729395 " 1:90:50? 426 1 18? ' WHOM tm-sslma-ds
`
`

`

`Feb 25 05 10:30:21
`
`Camariano 8. Flssoc
`
`502 426 1187
`
`FMS
`
`SN 10:' 184,008 Amendment
`Page 5 of 8
`
`\
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening as recited
`l30.(previously presented)
`in claim l29, including means for adjusting the amount of friction force between said brake shoe
`
`and said brake drum.
`
`13] (previously presented) A system for covering an architectural opening as recited in
`claim 130, wherein said means for adjusting includes an adjustment screw and a spring.
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening as recited in
`132.(previousiy presented)
`claim 130, wherein said means for adjusting is automatic, wherein said screw is operatively
`
`connected to said rotating output and adjusts the amount of spring force applied to said brake
`
`shoe as said rotating output rotates.
`
`133 .(previously presented)
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening as recited in
`
`claim 129, and further comprising a rotating input which rotates with said rotating output in both
`
`the clockwise and counterclockwise directions; a cogged drive and a toothed drive operatively
`
`connected to said rotating input, wherein rotation of said rotating input in one of said directions
`
`causes said cogged drive to drive said toothed drive, which, in turn, drives said brake drum, and
`
`wherein rotation of said rotating input in the other direction drives said cogged drive in the
`
`opposite direction, allowing free—wheeling of said brake drum relative to said eogged drive and
`
`relative to said rotating input.
`
`134.(currentiy amended)
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening as—reeited—ht-eieim
`
`4-26, comprising:
`
`a covering movable between an extended p__osition for covering the opening and a
`
`retracted position for uncovering the opening;
`
`a spring motor;
`
`a mtating output operativeiy connected to the spg'ng motor;
`
`PAGE cm ' RCVD RT 21252005 10:41:!" AM [Em SWIflB‘rd TlrI'IEI ' SVRMSP'I’O—EFXRF-flfl ' 914183729300 " CSIDfiDZ 428 1 16? ' DURAYIDN (mm-ssflflfl-d-S
`
`

`

`Feb 25 US 10:31::
`
`Camar‘iano a. Hssac
`
`502 425 1167
`
`p.'?
`
`SN 10f184,008 Amendment
`Page 6 of 8
`
`a lift cord opem'vely connected to the rotating output and to the covering;
`
`said rotating output being rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise dimtions
`
`to move the covering between its extended and retracted positions; and
`
`a one-way friction brake omratively connected to said rotating output, said one-
`
`way friction brake providing braking force opposing the rotation of the rotating output in one of
`the directions while permitting the rotating output to rotate freely in the other of said directions;
`
`wherein said friction brake includes means for adjusting the amount of friction.
`
`l35.(previously presented)
`
`A system for covering an architectural opening as recited in
`
`claim 134, wherein said means for adjusting the amount of friction includes means for varying
`
`the amount of friction as said covering is extended and retracted, so that the amount of friction
`
`depends upon the position of the covering.
`
`PAGE NB ' RCVD AT III-”2005 10:41:01 All [Eastern grandad Tlmo] " SVRNSPTO—EFXRF-HD ' DNIS:8?293M " cell-1:502 425 11 ET " DURATION (mm-8819348
`
`

`

`Feb 25 05 1U2313
`
`Camnriana 3. H5506
`
`502 426 1167
`
`p.19
`
`SN 10!184,008 Amendment
`Page 7 of 8
`
`Remarks:
`
`Applicant appreciates the Examiner's allowance of claims 1 13—1 16 and 129-133‘and his
`indication that claims 127, 134, and 135 contain allowable subject matter. Claims 127 and 134
`have been put into independent form in this amendment, which should put claims 12?, 134, and
`135 in condition for allowance.
`
`Claim 126 has been amended to define the spring motor as including a coil spring and a
`power 5900!, wherein the coil spring maps onto and off of the power spool. It also has been
`amended to require the one-way friction brake to stop the rotation of the rotating output in one of
`the directions and to permit the rotating output to rotate freely in the other of said directions.
`
`The Office Action cited the Nardulli and Mase references. Nardulli teaches a
`conventional roller shade type of mechanism which, instead of rolling the entire blind onto the
`roller (or rotating output), rolls lift cords onto the roller. Mase teaches a deeelerator which slows
`the speed of the blind as it is retracting so it retracts in a controlled manner even when it is
`released from a. fully extended position. Mase uses a one-way spring clutch 30, a set of planetary-
`gears 31, and a set of weights with brake shoes 32 all interconnected to achieve this function.
`When a person pulls on the blind to extend it, the rotator 7 opens up the spring 6 of the spring
`clutch, so the ring gear 13, planet gears 12, and sun gear 16 freely rotate together with the roller
`1. When the roller 1 relates in the other direction, the spring 6 tightens onto the stator 4, so the
`pins 11 cannot rotate, thus keeping the axes of the planetary gears 12 fixed. In this case, the sun
`gear 16 rotates relative to the roller 1. If the roller rotates fast enough, the sun gear will rotate
`fast enough to throw the arcuate weights 22 and their brake shoes 23 outwardly due to centrifugal
`force, overcoming the force of the spring 24 to apply a braking force on the rotating output 1 in
`order to slow it down so it rotatesra’t a controlled speed.
`In this case, the braking force is applied
`only in one direction and serves only to slow the roller, not to stop it. Thus, it does not stop the
`rotation of the rotating output as now recited in claim [26. Also, these references use a different
`type of spring motor from what is now being recited in claim 126.
`
`It should be noted that U.S. Patent 6,05 6,036 “Todd” does use the type of spring motor
`recited in this claim. However, it also uses a brakefclurch mechanism that appears to be very
`similar to that taught in Mass, again slowing the return of the covering to a controlled speed, but
`not stopping it. Using a one-way friction brake to stop the covering as Opposed to using a
`positive stop is new, and it provides the added benefit that the friction braking force can be
`overcome simply by adding an outside force operating against the braking force. This is not
`taught or suggested by centrifugal brakes, which are intended only to slow the movement, not to
`stop it.
`
`Additional references, including U.S. Patents 6,173,825 “Lin", 5,3 75,643 “Rude”,
`4,372,432 “Waine”, and 4,433,765 “Rude” have also been considered by Applicant's attorney.
`\
`
`7
`
`FREE 319 ' RCVD AT 212M005 10:41:04 AM [Eastern standard Time) ' BVRtlJSPTO-EFXRF-flfl ' DN!8:B?29306 ' GSIDHOZ 420 1 15? ‘ DURATION (menus-#8
`
`

`

`. Feb 25 05 10:31::
`
`Camoriano a. (issue
`
`502 426 1167
`
`SN 1011844308 Amendment
`Page 8 of 8
`
`These references teach the use of spring- clutches, which apply a friction braking force in both
`forward and backward directions and are released by an outer control element which contacts the
`end of the spring to open it up and disengage the clutch. These clutches are not one-way brakes
`which allow fiee rotation in one direction and stop rotation in the other direction as recited in
`claim 126. Instead, they apply a stepping force in both directions, which must either be
`Overcome by an outside force or must be released in order to move the covering.
`
`Since the art does not teach or suggest the combination now being recited in claim 126,
`Applicant respectfiilly requests allowance both of claim 126 and of claim 128, which depends
`from it.
`
`If the Examiner has any fiirther problems with this application, Applicant's attorney
`would appreciate a phone call to help expedite their resolution.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Tiesa Fritz Carnoriano
`
`Reg. No. 30,038
`Camoriano and Associates
`
`8225 Shelbyville Road
`Louisville, KY 40222
`(502) 423-9850
`
`PAGE 919 ' RCVD AT MMDDS 10:" :04 M [Eastern Mama The] ' SVRMBPTO-EFXRF-‘lm " DNIENTZBJGO ' cameo: 426 1 1B? ' DURATION (mm—55}:3348
`
`