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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 02/25/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed 02/25/2026 has been accepted. Claims 1, 3-4, 6-18, and 20-31 are currently pending within the application. Claims 2, 5, and 19 have been canceled. Claims 1, 20, and 25 have been amended. Claims 26-31 are newly added.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-9, filed 02/25/2026, with respect to claim rejections under 35 U.S.C. §102 and 35 U.S.C. §103 have been fully considered and are persuasive in view of Applicant’s amendments. The rejections has been withdrawn.
Claim Objections
Claims 26 and 31 objected to because of the following informalities: both claims recite the term “groovers” in line 4, respectively. It is suggested to amend this term to state, “grooves.” Appropriate correction is required.
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 26-29 and 31 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.
Claim 26 recites the limitation “outer surface of the tube main body” in lines 2-3. However, claim 1, which claim 26 directly depends on, also introduces the tube main body having an outer surface in lines 3-5. Therefore it is unclear whether claim 26 is introducing a new and separate outer surface of the tube main body that was previously introduced or simply referencing the same limitation previously introduced in claim 1. Examiner is interpreting the limitation in claim 26 to be in reference to the limitation in claim 1. Therefore it is suggested to amend the limitation in claim 26 to state, “the outer surface of the tube main body.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 27 recites the term “it” in line 2. It is unclear whether the term “it” is in reference to the term “the wire” or a piece of the melted plastic material that the wire has penetrated through. Therefore it is suggested to replace the term “it” with the term “the wire.” Such amendment will clarify Applicant’s intention of the wire being broken off after completion of the winding as is described in paragraph [0041] of Applicant’s specification. Examiner is interpreting the limitation as such. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 28 recites the term “it” in line 2. It is unclear whether the term “it” is in reference to the term “the wire” or a piece of the melted plastic material that the wire has penetrated through. Therefore it is suggested to replace the term “it” with the term “the wire.” Such amendment will clarify Applicant’s intention of the wire being broken off after completion of the winding as is described in paragraph [0041] of Applicant’s specification. Examiner is interpreting the limitation as such. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 28 recites the term “free end” in line 3. However claim 28 previously introduces the term “a free end” in line 2. Therefore it is unclear whether the limitation in line 3 is introducing a separate and distinctly new “free end” or whether the limitation in line 3 is referencing the limitation previously introduced in line 2. Examiner is interpreting the limitation as the latter. It is suggested to amend the limitation in line 3 to state, “the free end.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 29 recites the term “it” in line 2. It is unclear whether the term “it” is in reference to the term “the wire” or a piece of the melted plastic material that the wire has penetrated through. Therefore it is suggested to replace the term “it” with the term “the wire.” Such amendment will clarify Applicant’s intention of the wire being broken off after completion of the winding as is described in paragraph [0041] of Applicant’s specification. Examiner is interpreting the limitation as such. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 31 recites the limitation “outer surface of the tube main body” in lines 2-3. However, claim 1, which claim 31 directly depends on, also introduces the tube main body having an outer surface in lines 3-5. Therefore it is unclear whether claim 31 is introducing a new and separate outer surface of the tube main body that was previously introduced or simply referencing the same limitation previously introduced in claim 1. Examiner is interpreting the limitation in claim 26 to be in reference to the limitation in claim 1. Therefore it is suggested to amend the limitation in claim 31 to state, “the outer surface of the tube main body.” Appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-4, 6-18, 20-25 and 30 are allowed.
Claims 26-29 and 31 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the cited 35 U.S.C. §112(b) rejections and objections above.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Examiner agrees with Applicant’s interpretation as stated in Applicants remarks dated 02/25/2026 of the cited prior art within the final office action dated 11/06/2025.
Also the prior art fails to teach among other features, a method for producing a reinforced working channel tube for an insertion cord, the method comprising: providing a tube main body having a longitudinal axis and comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer comprising a different polymer material than the outer layer, the tube main body being an elongate hollow tube, and the outer layer having an outer surface and comprising a meltable plastic material; providing a wire; heating a portion of the wire; winding the portion of the wire under tension around the outer surface of at least a portion of the tube main body to form a coil having a coil pitch, the portion of the wire softening or melting the outer surface and penetrating through the outer surface of the tube main body; and allowing the outer surface of the tube main body to cool, wherein after cooling the coil is at least partially embedded in the outer layer and affixed to the tube main body.
Additionally, the prior art fails to teach among other features, a method for producing a reinforced working channel tube for an insertion cord, the method comprising: providing a tube main body having a longitudinal axis, the tube main body being an elongate hollow tube having an outer surface and comprising a meltable plastic material; providing a wire; passing a portion of the wire over a heating element to contact-heat the portion of the wire; winding the portion of the wire under tension around the outer surface of at least a portion of the tube main body to form a coil having a coil pitch, the portion of the wire softening or melting the outer surface and penetrating through the outer surface of the tube main body; and allowing the outer surface of the tube main body to cool, wherein after cooling the coil is affixed to the tube main body.
James M Taylor (US6464632) teaches the above except for providing a tube main body having a longitudinal axis and comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer comprising a different polymer material than the outer layer and passing a portion of the wire over a heating element to contact-heat the portion of the wire; winding the portion of the wire under tension around the outer surface of at least a portion of the tube main body to form a coil having a coil pitch, the portion of the wire softening or melting the outer surface and penetrating through the outer surface of the tube main body; and allowing the outer surface of the tube main body to cool, wherein after cooling the coil is affixed to the tube main body.
Yoshihiro Ueda (US12096912), Mullins et al. (US11197977), Von Felten et al. (US2005/0165275), and Fred Parker (5380304) alone or in combination teach the above except for the portion of the wire softening or melting the outer surface and penetrating through the outer surface of the tube main body; and allowing the outer surface of the tube main body to cool, wherein after cooling the coil is at least partially embedded in the outer layer and affixed to the tube main body.
There is no reason or suggestion provided in the prior art to modify the above prior art to have the additional features as claimed above, and the only reason to modify the references would be based on Applicant’s disclosure, which is impermissible hindsight reasoning.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEGAN E MONAHAN whose telephone number is (571)272-7330. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
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, Michael Carey can be reached at (571) 270-7235. 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.
/MEGAN ELIZABETH MONAHAN/Examiner, Art Unit 3795
Prosecution Insights