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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 5/11/2026 has been entered.
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.
Claims 34 & 40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Trudel (US 2020/0245711).
Regarding Claim 34, Trudel discloses a footwear closure system (Figures 1- & 13-18) comprising: a footwear (Figures 10 & 13-18) including: a cuff (cuff, see annotated Figure 10 below); a shell attached to a bottom end of the cuff (shell, see annotated Figure 10 below); and a strap (strap, see annotated Figure 10 below) that is coupled with the footwear and positioned between the cuff and the shell (Figure 10), the strap having a proximal end that is fixedly coupled with the footwear near a sole of the footwear and a distal end that extends over a tongue portion of the footwear (distal, see annotated Figure 10 below), the strap having a single guide coupled with the distal end (Figures 10 & 13-18) at least one reel based closure device (702) coupled with the footwear; wherein the at least one reel based closure device is configured to effect closure or tightening of an upper portion, a lower portion, and the strap of the footwear (Para. 59-60 & 70-79) and wherein at least a portion of the strap is positioned under an exterior of the footwear (Figure 10); wherein each reel based closure device of the at least one closure device is positioned on the cuff (Figure 10) and wherein the single guide is the only guide coupled with the strap (Figure 10).
Regarding Claim 40, Trudel discloses the footwear is a snowboard boot (Figures 10 & 13-18).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-12, 14-26, 32-33, allowed over the prior art of record.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KATHARINE KANE whose telephone number is (571)272-3398. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9am-6pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, KHOA HUYNH can be reached at 571-272-4888. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KATHARINE G KANE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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