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 .
Detailed Action
The amendment filed on 07/22/2025 has been entered.
Objection to the Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
(1) In paragraph [0014], the last sentence is incomplete.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
1. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
2. Claims 1-2, 4-10 and 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) 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.
(1) In claim 1, lines 14-15, “the first gauge of wire is different than the second gauge of wire” should read --the first functional cutout is different in size than the second functional cutout-- to positively define the utility knife blade--.
(2) In claims 9, 10 and 20, the term “approximately” is indefinite because the specification lacks some standard for measuring the degrees intended.
(3) In claims 12-15, line 1, “The utility knife” should read --The utility knife blade--. Note line 1 of claim 11.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)
1. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
2. Claims 11-13 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Novak (U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0071216).
Regarding claim 11, Novak discloses a utility knife blade (210, see Fig.7 as annotated below) comprising:
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a planar body (212,214) defining an unsharpened edge (216) and a sharpened edge (222), the planar body (212,214) comprising a plurality of segments (220) configured to be snapped (e.g., along scores lines 218) relative to one another to detach a used portion of the sharpened edge (222);
an engagement feature (240) configured to retain the utility knife blade (210) in a utility knife during use of the utility knife blade (210); and
a first functional cutout (C) extending into the planar body (212,214);
wherein the planar body (212,214) is configured to bend without breaking upon application of a force transverse to the planar body (212,214) that exceeds an intended force for a force applied to the planar body (212,214) during use of the first functional cutout (C).
Regarding claim 12, Novak’s engagement feature (240) is an aperture (240) defined by the planar body (212,214).
Regarding claim 13, Novak’s first functional cutout (C) can be used as a wire stripper if so desired.
Regarding claim 20, Novak’s planar body (212,214) comprises a surface hardness of less than approximately 75 HR-30N (see paragraph [0034], lines 1-6, note Novak uses the same material “standard AISI grades 6135, 6150 and D6A” as that of Applicants disclose, see paragraph [0020] of this instant application).
Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
1. Claims 1, 2 and 4-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
2. Claims 14 and 15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
3. Claim 1 as amended contains allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record taken alone or in combination thereof shows or fairly suggests the claimed utility knife blade (10, see Fig.1) comprising, among other things, a planar body (12) shaped as an isosceles trapezoid having a long base (14), a short base (18), first leg (22) extending between the long base (14) and the short base (18); a first functional cutout (20a) extending into the first leg (22), spaced from both a sharpened edge (14) formed on the long base (14) and an engagement feature (16) configured to retain the utility knife blade (10) in a utility knife; and a second functional cutout (20b) extending into the first leg (22) spaced from the engagement feature (16), the sharpened edge (14) and the first functional cutout (20a), wherein the first functional cutout (20a) is sized to receive a first gauge of wire and the second functional cutout (20b) is sized to receive a second gauge of wire, the first functional cutout (20a) is different in size than the second functional cutout (20b).
Prior Art Citations
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0047447 (see Fig.35) and U.S. Patent No. 6,966,113 (see Fig.13) each shows an isosceles trapezoid utility knife blade comprising two opposing functional cutouts.
CN 209566147 (with English translation) is cited to show a ceramic blade (300) equipped with functional cutouts 330/320 for stripping wires.
Remarks
Applicant’s arguments with respect to independent claims 1 and 11 have been considered but are moot in light of the above new ground(s) of rejection. Their dependent claims 2, 4-10, 12-15 and 20 have not been argued separately and they stand and fall with independent claims 1 and 11.
Action Made Final
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.
Point of Contact
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HWEI-SIU PAYER whose telephone number is (571)272-4511. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Boyer Ashley, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-4502. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HWEI-SIU C PAYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724
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