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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 1/7/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1, 2, 5-9, 19, 20 & 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Durney (USPN 3,699,589) in view of Rumpf (USPN 4,083,512).
Regarding Claim 1, Durney discloses a weight distribution system (Figures 1-7) for a protective suit (12), comprising: a harness (Figures 3-7) including a harness interface (HI, see annotated Figure 2 below); a suit interface (SI, see annotated Figure 2 below) configured to be coupled to the protective suit (12); a strap adjuster (28/32) configured to adjust a length of a strap between the harness interface and the suit interface in response to a user input (Col. 3, lines 36-48); and an input device (device, see annotated Figure 2 below) configured to receive the user input. Durney does not specifically disclose the strap adjuster having a self-locking mechanism that resists tension in the strap and is controllably releasable under load in response to a rotational user input. However, Rumpf discloses a strap adjuster (Figures 1-3) having a self-locking mechanism that resists tension in the strap and is controllably releasable under load in response to a rotational user input (Col. 4, line 36-Col 6, line 41). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to use the strap adjuster as taught by Rumpf, in order to provide adjustable pressure, safety and locking force to the system of Durney.
Regarding Claim 2, Durney discloses the input device is located on an exterior surface of the protective suit (Figures 1 & 2).
Regarding Claim 5, Durney discloses a second suit interface (SS, see annotated Figure 2 below) and a second harness interface (SH, see annotated Figure 2 below), wherein the strap adjuster is configured to adjust a second length of the strap between the second suit interface and the second harness interface while adjusting the first length of the strap between the first harness interface and the first suit interface in response to the user input (Col. 3, lines 36-48).
Regarding Claim 6, Durney discloses wherein the strap adjuster includes a pulley (130) configured to grip the strap (via 102/98/100) between the first length and the second length (Col. 3, lines 36-48 & Col. 4, line 60-Col. 6, line 14), and wherein the input device is either configured to transfer rotational force to the pulley (Col. 3, lines 36-48 & Col. 4, line 60-Col. 6, line 14), or configured to operate a motor to exert rotational force on the pulley.
Regarding Claim 7, Durney discloses the strap adjuster is configured to shorten the first length while lengthening the second length (Col. 3, lines 36-48 & Col. 4, line 60-Col. 6, line 14), and lengthen the first length while shortening the second length (Col. 3, lines 36-48 & Col. 4, line 60-Col. 6, line 14).
Regarding Claim 9, Durney discloses a first strap end of the strap is coupled to the first harness interface and a second strap end of the strap is coupled to the second harness interface (Figures 1-3).
Regarding Claim 19, Durney discloses a weight distribution system (Figures 1-7) for a protective suit (12), comprising :a strap to couple a harness (Figures 3-7) to an interior of the protective suit (Figures 1-3) ;an input configured to receive user input from outside of the protective suit while the protective suit is closed (Col. 3, lines 36-48); and a strap adjuster (28/32) configured to adjust a vertical position of the harness relative to the protective suit in response to a user input (Col. 3, lines 36-48). Durney does not specifically disclose the strap adjuster having a self-locking mechanism that resists tension in the strap and is controllably releasable under load in response to a rotational user input. However, Rumpf discloses a strap adjuster (Figures 1-3) having a self-locking mechanism that resists tension in the strap and is controllably releasable under load in response to a rotational user input (Col. 4, line 36-Col 6, line 41). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to use the strap adjuster as taught by Rumpf, in order to provide adjustable pressure, safety and locking force to the system of Durney.
Regarding Claim 20, Durney discloses the means for adjusting the vertical position of the harness includes a means for adjusting a strap length (Col. 3, lines 36-48 & Col. 4, line 60-Col. 6, line 14).
Regarding Claim 22, the combination of Durney and Rumpf disclose the strap adjuster comprises a motor (Rumpf, Col. 2, line 32-Col. 3, line 39) and a reel (Rumpf, Col. 2, line 32-Col. 3, line 39 & Col. 4, line 36-Col 6, line 41) configured to grip the strap the reel comprises a ratchet (Rumpf, Col. 4, line 36-Col 6, line 41); the rotational user input is a rotational force (Rumpf, Col. 4, line 36-Col 6, line 41); and the input device is configured to transfer the rotational force to the strap adjuster (Rumpf, Col. 4, line 36-Col 6, line 41).
PNG
media_image1.png
715
545
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Claim 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Durney (USPN 3,699,589) in view of Rumpf (USPN 4,083,512) in further view of Hawkins (USPN 3,724,815).
Regarding Claim 21, the combination of Durney and Rumpf do not specifically disclose the self-locking mechanism comprises a Weston Brake. However, Hawkins discloses a Weston Brake. It would have been obvious to use a Weston Brake for the locking mechanism, as taught by Hawkins, in order to protect from overloading.
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the amended claims have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection as discussed supra.
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.
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, 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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KATHARINE G KANE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732