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 § 102
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 1-4 and 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kuo et al. (2013/0319189 “Kuo”).
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Kuo discloses all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a wrench 100 comprising:
a head 300 provided at a front end portion; and
a handle 200 to be gripped by a user,
wherein
the handle 200 is formed with a lightening portion defined by depression 412, the lightening portion including a depression formed on directly into the handle 200 including settled protecting layer 400 and a remaining portion 411 formed around the lightening portion Figs. 2A, B, the remaining portion includes:
a first inclined rib 411 intersecting an extending direction of the handle, and a second inclined rib annotated Fig. 2B intersecting the extending direction of the handle and also intersecting the first inclined rib,
in one or both of the first inclined rib and the second inclined rib, a respective first root portion annotated Fig. 2B on a rear end side is longer than a respective second root portion on a front end side, and
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (ROOT)][AltContent: textbox (ROOT)]the first inclined rib and the second inclined rib include a shared element annotated here, which forms a shaft shape along the extending direction of the handle, that is provided at a position where the inclined ribs intersect each other and is shared with each other.
Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, Kuo) meets the limitations, i.e., the wrench according to claim 1, wherein the handle further includes a frame constituting an outer frame, and each of the first inclined rib and the second inclined rib includes the respective second root portion on the front end side towards the head and the respective first root portion on the rear end side connected to the frame Fig. 2B.
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arc][AltContent: textbox (BASE)]
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the wrench according to claim 2, wherein a length of the remaining portion between a first surface facing away from an object to be tightened and a first back surface opposite to the first surface is smaller than a length of the frame between a second surface facing away from the object to be tightened and a second back surface opposite to the second surface annotated partial Fig. 2B.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the wrench according to claim 2, wherein the lightening portion 412 is surrounded by the frame, the first inclined rib 411, and the second inclined rib, and
the lightening portion 412 is wider on a front end side than on a base end side annotated above.
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (PARALLEL OUTER SURFACE)]Regarding claim 6, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the wrench according to claim 1, wherein the head 300 includes a tapered surface chamfered upper rim formed between a surface top facing away from an object to be tightened and an outer surface annotated Fig. 2A, partially shown here.
Regarding claim 7, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the wrench according to claim 1, wherein the head includes at least three outer flat surfaces top, bottom and side surface annotated above that are flat and constitute an outer surface.
Regarding claim 8, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the wrench according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of a neck defined by thickness connecting the head and the handle is a surface parallel to a rotation axis of the head annotated above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed July 7, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding the pending anticipation rejection over Kuo, Applicant argues that the lightening portion, defined by Kuo, are formed in the surface covering protection layer 400 (411, 412) and does not modify the structure of the shaft 200 itself. Examienr, respectfully disagrees. Claims recite for a handle formed with lightening portion that includes a depression formed in the handle. There is no limitation in the claim to restrict the “handle” recited to a shaft separate from the covering. As clearly seen in Figs. 2A and 2B, a handle portion annotated Fig. 2A is separate from a shaft or a shank portion
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (HANDLE
PORITON)][AltContent: textbox (SHAFT
PORITON)][AltContent: arrow]that couples to the head. Accordingly, a handle is defied by the examiner, to be met by the shaft 200 and the protective covering 410 that is settled and/or covered on the surface of the shaft, as described in paragraph 28 [0028]. As indicated by Applicant, Kuo, discloses for depression formed directedly in the top layer, which meets the meets the recitation of a “lightening portion including a depression”. Although
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the claim terminologies are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from specification, e.g., material removed from a “shaft” or from a “shaft of a handle”, are not read into the claims. A lightening portion, in Examiner’s opinion, is clearly met by the depression 412 and a handle is met by the shaft 200 and covering 400, which a user would grasp to manipulate the tool, i.e., a handle.
It is also noted that as it practiced in the art, a handle that is grasped for manipulating a tool, may be defined by a covering 10 that slips over a shaft (not shown), see for example cited reference Groos, paragraph 21 [0021].
Schultz et al. is cited disclosing a cushion grip handle with weight reducing windows 14 that penetrates through the grip.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADI SHAKERI whose telephone number is (571)272-4495. The fax phone number for forwarding unofficial documents for discussion purposes only is (571) 273-4495. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Keller can be reached on 571 272 8548. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Hadi Shakeri/
September 21, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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