DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-8 and 10-14 are pending. Claims 1, 11, and 14 are amended.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 February 27, 2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
This office action is responsive to the amendment filed on February 27, 2026. As directed by the amendment: claims 1, 11, and 14 have been amended. Thus, claims 1-8 and 10-14 are presently pending in this application.
Applicant’s amendment to the claims has not overcome the 35 USC §103 rejections.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed February 27, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that the references do not include a “bend line” as claimed. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The components of the modified glove are bent around the fingertip area of the glove and thus include a “bend line” inasmuch as claimed or described. The bend lines are “aligned” with one another in that they overlap. Furthermore, the specific modification below includes that the bend lines overlap one another in a stacked configuration.
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 1-8 and 10-14 are 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.
Claims 1, 11, and 14 recite that the panel includes a bend line and the fingertip reinforcement includes a fingertip reinforcement line. It is unclear if the reinforcement lines are physical lines, or merely axes about which the material is bent. The examiner is interpreting these lines as axes about which the material is bent.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 1- 8, 10-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kindler (US 20010049839) in view of Loewenstine (US 556581) and Sullivan et al. (US 4858245).
Regarding claim 1, Kindler describes a glove (see Fig. 1 and 2) for protecting a hand of a user, comprising: a main glove body (body formed by dorsal portion 32 and palm portion 12) configured to receive metacarpals of the hand; a glove finger (16, 18, 20, 22, 34, 36, 38, 44) coupled to the main glove body and extending longitudinally away from the glove main body (see Figs. 1 and 2), wherein the glove finger is configured to receive a finger of the hand (each configured to receive a finger), and wherein the glove finger includes a panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22, palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22) defining a rolled tip arrangement at an end of the glove finger, wherein the panel extends continuously across a fingertip of the glove finger (bottom layer wraps from bottom to top surface, see para. 0023) and the panel includes a panel bend line (where the panel bends over the finger, for example, at the tip).
The glove of Kindler does not explicitly describe a fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand, wherein the fingertip reinforcement extends over at least a portion of the fingertip and does not extend into the main glove body, and a fingertip bend line of the fingertip reinforcement is aligned with the panel bend line,
wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being continuous across the fingertip bend line, the top portion having a first area and the bottom portion having a second area, the top portion and the bottom portion having a constant thickness, the fingertip reinforcement is sized based on the size of the finger of the hand.
In related art for gloves, Loewenstine describes a fingertip reinforcement (pieces a) bonded to an interior surface (sewed, p. 1, ll. 75-80) of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand (see Fig. 5), wherein the fingertip reinforcement extends over at least a portion of the fingertip and does not extend into the main glove body (see Fig. 5) and a fingertip bend line of the fingertip reinforcement is aligned with the panel bend line (see annotated Fig. 5 below), wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being continuous across the fingertip bend line, the top portion having a first area and the bottom portion having a second area (see annotated Fig. 6 below), the top portion and the bottom portion having a constant thickness (is formed of a blank, see Figs. 4 and 5 depicting cross-section), the fingertip reinforcement is sized based on the size of the finger of the hand (see Fig. 1 depicting different sized reinforcements depending on location, at least the pinky is smaller, furthermore each reinforcement is “based on” the size of a finger inasmuch as claimed, they may be larger or smaller or the same size, but are “based on” a finger size in that they accommodate a finger).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the glove of Kindler to include the reinforcement of Loewenstine in order to protect the glove from wear and to provide a snug and comfortably-fitting glove (Loewenstine, p. 1, ll. 12-15 and 20-25).
The glove of Kindler as modified does not explicitly describe that the second area is greater than the first area such that a volume of the top portion is less than a volume of the bottom portion.
In related art for gloves, Sullivan describes a reinforcement portion that includes wherein a first area of the top portion (3) is less than a second area of the bottom portion (5) such that a volume of the top portion (3) is less than a volume of the bottom portion (5) (the volume of the top portion is less than that of the bottom portion).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the reinforcement of Loewenstine to include the different volumes as claimed in order to provide for greater protection to the glove as including a larger portion on the bottom causes the reinforcement patch to close upon itself along the sides at the top of the finger (Sullivan, col. 2, ll. 66-68 – col. 3, l. 2).
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Regarding claim 2, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the glove finger is one of an index glove finger configured to receive an index finger of the hand, a middle glove finger configured to receive a middle finger of the hand, a ring glove finger configured to receive a ring finger of the hand, or a pinky glove finger configured to receive a pinky finger of the hand (includes each of these fingers).
Regarding claim 3 as applied to claim 2, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the glove finger is the index glove finger (is the index finger), further comprising the middle glove finger, the ring glove finger, and the pinky glove finger (includes each of these fingers), and wherein the index glove finger, the middle glove finger, the ring glove finger, and the pinky glove finger are arranged in a Gunn pattern (middle and ring finger connected at seam 13, 14, 16, and 22 are integrally formed, para. 0016).
Regarding claim 4 as applied to claim 3, thew glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the panel is a first panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22), further comprising a second panel (dorsal portion 32, with 34, 36, 38, 44, 46) extending continuously from an end of the middle glove finger to an end of the ring glove finger (see Fig. 2), and wherein the first panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22) extends continuously from the end of the index glove finger to an end of the pinky glove finger (see Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 5, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the glove finger is a first glove finger and the fingertip reinforcement is a first fingertip reinforcement (as modified has reinforcement in each finger), the glove further comprising: a second glove finger, a third glove finger, and a fourth glove finger;
a second fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the second glove finger; a third fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the third glove finger; and a fourth fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the fourth glove finger (has reinforcement in each finger).
Regarding claim 6, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the panel includes a first panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22), and a second panel (dorsal portion 32, with 34, 36, 38, 44, 46) coupled to the first panel by a seam (seams 40, 42, 49), wherein the seam extends laterally across the glove finger (see Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 7 as applied to claim 6, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the second panel is a top panel (is a top panel) that extends across a top surface of the glove finger above the finger (see Fig. 2), and wherein the seam is positioned along the top surface of the glove finger (see Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 8 as applied to claim 7, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the first panel is a bottom panel (is a bottom panel) that extends continuously across a bottom surface of the main glove body, a bottom surface of the glove finger below the finger, and a top surface of the glove finger above the finger (wrapped around and sewn to the dorsal portion fingers, para. 0023, see Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 10, the glove of Kindler as modified includes wherein the top portion is positioned to extend above the finger of the hand and the bottom portion positioned to extend below the finger of the hand (see Fig. 5 of Loewenstine, top and bottom portion extend above and below the finger).
Regarding claim 11, Kindler describes a method of manufacturing a glove (see Fig. 1) for protecting a hand of a user, comprising: providing a first panel (dorsal portion 32, with 34, 36, 38, 44, 46) at least partially defining a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand (see Fig. 2); coupling (sewn, para. 0026) a second panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22) to the first panel, the second panel at least partially defining a glove finger configured to receive a finger of the hand (see Fig. 2), the finger having a fingertip (tips 15, 17, 19), wherein the second panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22) extends continuously from a bottom surface of the glove finger to a top surface of the glove finger adjacent the fingertip of the finger (wraps around from bottom to top surface, see para. 0023) and the panel includes a panel bend line (where the panel bends over the finger, for example, at the tip).
The glove of Kindler does not explicitly describe bonding a fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is positioned to extend between the fingertip and the second panel, wherein the fingertip reinforcement extends over at least a portion of the fingertip and does not extend into the main glove body and a fingertip bend line of the fingertip reinforcement is aligned with the panel bend line, wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being continuous across the fingertip bend line, the top portion having a first area and the bottom portion having a second area, the top portion and the bottom portion having a constant thickness, the fingertip reinforcement is sized based on the size of the finger of the hand.
In related art for gloves, Loewenstine describes a fingertip reinforcement (pieces a) bonded to an interior surface (sewed, p. 1, ll. 75-80) of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand (see Fig. 5), wherein the fingertip reinforcement extends over at least a portion of the fingertip and does not extend into the main glove body (see Fig. 5) a fingertip bend line of the fingertip reinforcement is aligned with the panel bend line (see annotated Fig. 5 below), wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being continuous across the fingertip bend line, the top portion having a first area and the bottom portion having a second area (see annotated Fig. 6 below), the top portion and the bottom portion having a constant thickness (is formed of a blank, see Figs. 4 and 5 depicting cross-section), the fingertip reinforcement is sized based on the size of the finger of the hand (see Fig. 1 depicting different sized reinforcements depending on location, at least the pinky is smaller, furthermore each reinforcement is “based on” the size of a finger inasmuch as claimed, they may be larger or smaller or the same size, but are “based on” a finger size in that they accommodate a finger).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the method of Kindler to include the reinforcement of Loewenstine in order to protect the glove from wear and to provide a snug and comfortably-fitting glove (Loewenstine, p. 1, ll. 12-15 and 20-25).
The glove of Kindler as modified does not explicitly describe that the second area is greater than the first area such that a volume of the top portion is less than a volume of the bottom portion.
In related art for gloves, Sullivan describes a reinforcement portion that includes wherein a first area of the top portion (3) is less than a second area of the bottom portion (5) such that a volume of the top portion (3) is less than a volume of the bottom portion (5) (the volume of the top portion is less than that of the bottom portion).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the reinforcement of Loewenstine to include the different volumes as claimed in order to provide for greater protection to the glove as including a larger portion on the bottom causes the reinforcement patch to close upon itself along the sides at the top of the finger (Sullivan, col. 2, ll. 66-68 – col. 3, l. 2).
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Regarding claim 12, the method of Kindler as modified includes wherein the first panel is coupled to the second panel at a seam (seam 40, 42, 49, para. 0023), wherein the first panel is one of (a) a top panel (is a top panel) defining a top surface of the main glove body or (b) a bottom panel defining a bottom surface of the main glove body, and wherein the second panel is an other of (a) the top panel or (b) the bottom panel (is the bottom panel).
Regarding claim 13, the method of Kindler describes wherein the first panel is a top panel (is a top panel) at least partially defining a top surface of the main glove body and a top surface of the glove finger (see Fig, 2), wherein the second panel is a bottom panel (is a bottom panel) at least partially defining a bottom surface of the main glove body and a bottom surface of the glove finger (See Fig. 1), and wherein the first panel is coupled to the second panel at a seam extending across the top surface of the glove finger (seam 40, 42, 49, para. 0023).
Regarding claim 14, Kindler describes a method of manufacturing a glove (see Fig. 1) for protecting a hand of a user, comprising: providing a first panel (dorsal portion 32, with 34, 36, 38, 44, 46) at least partially defining a main glove body configured to receive a metacarpal of the hand (see Fig. 2);
coupling (sewn, para. 0026) a second panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22) to the first panel, the second panel at least partially defining a glove finger configured to receive a finger of the hand (see Fig. 2), the finger having a fingertip (tips 15, 17, 19), wherein the second panel (palm 12, thumb 14, index 16, little finger 22) extends continuously from a bottom surface of the glove finger to a top surface of the glove finger adjacent the fingertip of the finger (wraps around from bottom to top surface, see para. 0023); and
wherein said first and second panels overlap adjacent to the fingertip (overlap) the panel includes a panel bend line (where the panel bends over the finger, for example, at the tip).
The glove of Kindler does not explicitly describe bonding a fingertip reinforcement bonded to an interior surface of the panel such that the fingertip reinforcement is positioned to extend between the fingertip and the second panel, wherein the fingertip reinforcement extends over at least a portion of the fingertip and does not extend into the main glove body a fingertip bend line of the fingertip reinforcement is aligned with the panel bend line, wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being continuous across the fingertip bend line, the top portion having a first area and the bottom portion having a second area, the top portion and the bottom portion having a constant thickness, the fingertip reinforcement is sized based on the size of the finger of the hand.
In related art for gloves, Loewenstine describes a fingertip reinforcement (pieces a) bonded to an interior surface (sewed, p. 1, ll. 75-80) of the panel and positioned to extend between the panel and a fingertip of the finger of the hand (see Fig. 5), wherein the fingertip reinforcement extends over at least a portion of the fingertip and does not extend into the main glove body (see Fig. 5) a fingertip bend line of the fingertip reinforcement is aligned with the panel bend line (see annotated Fig. 5 below), wherein the fingertip reinforcement includes a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being continuous across the fingertip bend line, the top portion having a first area and the bottom portion having a second area (see annotated Fig. 6 below), the top portion and the bottom portion having a constant thickness (is formed of a blank, see Figs. 4 and 5 depicting cross-section), the fingertip reinforcement is sized based on the size of the finger of the hand (see Fig. 1 depicting different sized reinforcements depending on location, at least the pinky is smaller, furthermore each reinforcement is “based on” the size of a finger inasmuch as claimed, they may be larger or smaller or the same size, but are “based on” a finger size in that they accommodate a finger).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the method of Kindler to include the reinforcement of Loewenstine in order to protect the glove from wear and to provide a snug and comfortably-fitting glove (Loewenstine, p. 1, ll. 12-15 and 20-25).
The glove of Kindler as modified does not explicitly describe that the second area is greater than the first area such that a volume of the top portion is less than a volume of the bottom portion.
In related art for gloves, Sullivan describes a reinforcement portion that includes wherein a first area of the top portion (3) is less than a second area of the bottom portion (5) such that a volume of the top portion (3) is less than a volume of the bottom portion (5) (the volume of the top portion is less than that of the bottom portion).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the reinforcement of Loewenstine to include the different volumes as claimed in order to provide for greater protection to the glove as including a larger portion on the bottom causes the reinforcement patch to close upon itself along the sides at the top of the finger (Sullivan, col. 2, ll. 66-68 – col. 3, l. 2).
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Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK J LYNCH whose telephone number is (571)272-1145. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Th, Alt F: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET.
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, Clint Ostrup can be reached on 571-272-5559. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK J. LYNCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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