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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of invention I in the reply filed on 2/2/2026 is acknowledged. Accordingly claim 14-22 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b).
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 6, 8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dzus (US 2,474,799). In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 7, Dzus disclose a threadless positioning retainer (37) comprising: first and second spaced apart end surfaces (read as the upper and lower surfaces of the member 37); an exterior; and a cylindrical threadless interior surface (38) with a single cube shaped key (39) extending from the interior surface adjacent the first end surface.
Claims 6, 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Warkentin (US 4,911,726). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, Warkentin disclose a threadless positioning retainer (90) comprising: first and second spaced apart end surfaces (read as the upper and lower surfaces of the retainer); an exterior having a hexagonal shape (96); and a cylindrical threadless interior surface with a cube shaped key (93) extending from the interior surface adjacent the first end.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 and 11-13 are allowable. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: in the context of the claimed invention, prior art does not disclose a positioning pin having a head end, an opposite pilot end with a point and taper leading to a positioning shank and a relatively enlarged retainer shank, wherein a keyway is in both shanks including a longitudinal portion and a circumferential portion in the retainer shank.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Claim 7 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. McCandless (US 2011/0262224), Droppleman (US 7,232,376), Carruthers (US 5,915,482), Gregory (US 1,091,212) and Bierwith (US 8,127,476) are cited to teach a positioning pin with a bayonet type catch. Wang (US 9,841,044) and Matsui (US 4,640,639), are cited to teach bayonet type catches. Ewen (US 4,398,322) teaches another example of hexagonal exterior. The additional references cited are of general interest.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FLEMMING SAETHER whose telephone number is (571)272-7071. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30 - 7:00 eastern.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine Mills can be reached at 571-272-8322. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FLEMMING SAETHER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3675
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