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 . This office action is in response to the amendment filed on 12/10/2025 in which claims 1-2, 21-27 are pending, claims 1-2 are currently amended and claims 21-27 are new.
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 22 and 27 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 22 and claim 27 recites the limitation " the non-cutting edge " in line 2 and lines 8-9 respectively. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-2, 21-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Costa (U.S. Patent D356,020). In regards to claim 1, Costa discloses a knife (see annotations below) comprising: a multi grip handle including an end grip surface; grip surfaces, a connecting region having a first cutting edge that is substantially straight and perpendicular to the multi-grip handle, the grip surfaces being positioned between the end grip surface and the first cutting edge, and a blade connected to the multi grip handle via the connecting region and having a second cutting edge.
PNG
media_image1.png
565
767
media_image1.png
Greyscale
In regards to claim 2, Costa discloses wherein the blade comprises has a third cutting edge positioned between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge.
In regards to claim 21, Costa discloses wherein the third cutting edge is serrated with a toothed surface (as shown above).
In regards to claim 22, Costa discloses wherein the second cutting edge is curved (as shown above) with the non-cutting edge of the blade is linear.
In regards to claim 23, Costa discloses wherein the non-cutting edge of the blade is substantially parallel to the multi-grip handle (as annotated above).
In regards to claim 24, Costa discloses wherein the multi-grip handle extends farther from the connecting region than a tip of the blade, and first cutting edge is a chopping edge.
In regards to claim 25, Costa discloses wherein the blade and the multi-grip handle extend in the same parallel direction away from opposite distal ends of the connecting region (both extend from the right to the left away from the connecting region).
Claims 1 and 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Costa (U.S. Patent D356,020). In regards to claim 1, Costa discloses a knife (see annotations below) comprising: a multi grip handle including an end grip surface; grip surfaces, a connecting region having a first cutting edge that is substantially straight and perpendicular to the multi-grip handle, the grip surfaces being positioned between the end grip surface and the first cutting edge, and a blade connected to the multi grip handle via the connecting region and having a second cutting edge.
In regards to claim 26, Costa discloses wherein the multi-grip handle and the blade are not connected opposite the connecting region, forming an opening for entry of a user's hand allowing the user to perform multiple cutting, chopping, and cleaving actions with one knife using different grips on the multi-grip handle.
PNG
media_image2.png
442
747
media_image2.png
Greyscale
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.
Claim 27 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Loomis (U.S. Patent 5113587) in view of Jeffcoat (U.S. Patent 5,581,895).
In regards to claim 27, Loomis discloses a knife comprising: a multi-grip handle (20) having an end grip surface and grip surfaces; a connecting region (25) having a first chopping edge that is straight and perpendicular to the multi-grip handle at an end of the multi-grip handle; the grip surfaces being positioned between the end grip surface and the first chopping edge; and a blade (12) connected to the multi-grip handle via the connecting region and having a second cutting edge (16), the second cutting edge is curved with the non-cutting edge (14) of the blade being linear, wherein the non-cutting edge of the blade is parallel to the multi-grip handle, and wherein the multi-grip handle (20) and the blade are not connected opposite the connecting region, forming an opening for entry of a user's hand allowing the user to perform multiple cutting, chopping, and cleaving actions with one knife using different grips on the multi-grip handle.
Loomis discloses the claimed invention except that the handle is at an angle to the connection portion and a blade non-cutting edge and therefore does not disclose the high lighted limitations in which the connecting region is perpendicular to the multi grip handle and the non-cutting edge is parallel to the multi grip handle. Attention is further directed to the Jeffcoat knives. Jeffcoat discloses a multipurpose knife where the knife is attached to the handle via a fastener 60. Jeffcoat sets forth that the fastener allows the blade to move from the closed position as in Figure 1 to the open position of Figure 2. Alternatively, “fastener 60 allows the individual user to select the most comfortable angle alpha. for each type of cut.” Col6. Lines 47-50. Thereby Jeffcoat anticipates that alternative angles of the handle relative to the blade edge are contemplated due to the given cutting application. As multiple positions of the handle relative to the blade edge are contemplated by Jeffcoat with the same blade edge, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to have modified the handle of Loomis to either be adjustable about a corresponding fastener, or two have provided the handle of Loomis at a different angle, e.g. parallel to the non-cutting edge and perpendicular to the connection portion as depending on the needs of the user per the given cutting application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-27 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA M LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-8339. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8a.m.- 5p.m..
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, Adam Eiseman can be reached at 571-270-3818. 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.
/LAURA M LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724