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 § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Odlum (2,256,624) in view of Chuan (2005/0145078).
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Odlum meets all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a tool wrench join 11 comprising:
a body 14 Fig. 1, receiving 26 23 extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and extends through a sidewall of the body Fig. 1; and
a connecting unit including 12, a second connecting member 13, a first elastic element 18, wherein the first connecting member 12 extends along a first rotational axis about pivot pin 17, the second connecting member 13 extends along a second rotational axis pivot pin 21, Fig. 2 and is pivotal relative to the first connecting member between a first position and a second position, wherein when the second connecting member is in the first position, the first rotational axis is coincident with the second rotational axis Fig. 2, wherein when the second connecting member is in the second position, the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis intersect each other and have an angle therebetween oblique position, and wherein the first elastic element 18 is disposed between the first and the second connecting members Fig. 1, except for a quick release mechanism as recited.
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Chuan teaches a tool quick-release mechanism 20, 30 comprising:
a body including a guiding hole not numbered receiving 30 extending along a longitudinal axis Fig. 2, a control hole 24 intercommunicating with the guiding hole, and a coupling hole 23 intercommunicating with the guiding hole, and wherein each of the control hole 24 and the coupling hole 23 extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and extends through a sidewall of the body Fig.2; and
a connecting unit including a guiding member 30 movably received in the guiding hole Fig. 3 shown above, a control member 64 movably received in the control hole 22, a coupling member 40 movably received in the coupling hole 23, and a biasing member 50, 70 disposed between the guiding hole and the guiding member Fig. 3;
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wherein the control member 64 is operatively connected via 61 to the guiding member 30, Fig. 3, wherein when the control member 64 moves relative to the control hole 24, the guiding member 30 resists a biasing force of the biasing member 50,70 and moves relative to the guiding hole Figs. 2 and 3, and the coupling member 40 selectively protrudes beyond the coupling hole in response to movement of the guiding member relative to the guiding hole, wherein the control member 64 is movable relative to the control hole 24 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Figs. 2 and 3 and, thus, switchable between a coupling position Fig. 2 and a release position Fig. 3, wherein when the control member 64 is in the coupling position Fig. 2, the guiding member 30 does not protrude beyond the guiding hole, and wherein when the control member 30 is in the release position Fig. 3, the guiding member protrudes beyond the guiding hole Fig. 3.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of Odlum with the quick release mechanism as taught by Chang to positively and securely retain a socket with a quick release mechanism.
Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, Odlum modified by Chun) meets the limitations, i.e., tool quick-release mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the control member 64 is in the coupling position Fig. 2, the coupling member 40 protrudes beyond the coupling hole 23, and wherein when the control member 30 is in the release position Fig. 3, the coupling member 40 does not protrude beyond the coupling hole 23.
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool quick-release mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guiding hole includes a smaller diameter section @22, a larger diameter section @50, Fig. 2 intercommunicating with the smaller diameter section Figs. 2 and 3, and a first shoulder 21 formed between the smaller diameter section and the larger diameter section, wherein the guiding member 30 includes a smaller diameter portion shank of 30, a larger diameter portion 31 connected to the smaller diameter portion, and a second shoulder formed between the smaller diameter portion and the larger diameter portion Fig. 2, and wherein the biasing member 50, 70 includes two opposite ends abutting against the first shoulder and the second shoulder, respectively Fig. 2.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool quick-release mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biasing member 50, 70 is a coil spring mounted around the larger diameter portion of the guiding member Fig. 3, similar to instant application Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 5, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool quick-release mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the smaller diameter section @30 of the guiding hole extends through a top wall of the body Fig. 2.
Regarding claim 6, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool quick-release mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guiding member includes a recessed portion 32 defined in an outer periphery of the smaller diameter portion and abutting against the coupling member 40, wherein the recessed portion includes a shallower section Fig. 2 and a deeper section 32 having a depth different from that of the shallower section Fig. 3, wherein when the control member 30 is in the coupling position, Fig. 2 the coupling member 40 abuts against the shallower section and protrudes beyond the coupling hole Fig. 2, and wherein when the control member 30 is in the release position Fig. 3, the coupling member abuts against the deeper section and does not protrude beyond the coupling hole Fig. 3.
Claims 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over PA as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Wang (6,792,836).
PA (prior art, Odlum modified by Chun) as applied to claim 3 above, meets all of the limitations of claim 7, except for the larger diameter portion 31 of the guiding member includes a first threaded portion extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the control member includes an operating portion and a second threaded portion opposite to the operating portion, wherein the second threaded portion is in threading connection with the first threaded portion, such that the control member is operable to actuate the guiding member to move relative to the guiding hole.
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Wang further teaches a guide member 20 and a control member 30 for moving the coupling ball 40 into and out of engaged position, wherein the control member 30 includes a threaded portion 31 screwed in with a corresponding threaded portion formed in the guide member 20. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to further modify the invention of PA with the threaded portions as taught by Wang to securely couple the parts.
Regarding claim 8, PA (prior art, Odlum modified by Chun and Wang) meets the limitations, i.e., the tool quick-release mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operating portion 30 is located outside of the control hole Figs. 2, 3.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 1 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection, the quick release mechanism with control members and an elastic member therebetween, does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Chang and Gains et al. are cited to show related inventions.
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/Hadi Shakeri/
September 25, 2025 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723