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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 June 24, 2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
This Action is in response to Applicant’s Reply of June 24, 2026.
Claims 2, 12, and 18 have been cancelled.
Applicant’s amendment to claims 1 and 6-8 overcome the previously presented 35 USC 112(a) rejection thereof.
Applicant’s amendment to claims 1, 8, and 10 overcome the previously presented 35 USC 112(b) rejection thereof.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to an art rejection of claim 8 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant has argued that Sanogo et al. fails to disclose at least one extension of a collar that engages both the at least one recess of the stem and the at least one recess of the bit in the penetrating configuration, and the at least one extension is axially spaced from the at least one recess of the bit in the rotatable configuration.
While the embodiment of Figures 1-7 of Sanogo et al. fails to disclose this feature, the embodiment shown in Figures 15-19 does as indicated in paragraphs [0056]-[0061]. The collar 270 includes extensions 250 and 282 – [0059] that engage with a recess shown at 296 of a stem 242 and a recess 280 of a bit 230 when the bit is to be rotated with the stem and disengages when the bit and stem are to be rotated independently of each other.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Sanogo et al. (US 2024/0100609, Sanogo).
Sanogo discloses a retractable pilot bit 210 – Fig 15-19 comprising:
a stem 242 defining at least one recess at 296 – Fig 16, [0058] and a rotational axis Fig 15 and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction about the rotational axis [0057];
a collar 270 coupled to the stem Fig 15, the collar defining at least one extension 250, 282 – [0059] and configured to rotate in the first rotational direction [0057]; and
a bit 230 defining at least one recess 280 – [0059], configured to rotate with relative to-the stem in the first rotational direction in a penetrating configuration [0059] – can rotate in both directions in the penetrating configuration however the claim language does not preclude this and configured to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction in a rotatable configuration [0060] – can rotate in both directions in the rotatable configuration however the claim language does not preclude this;
wherein the stem and the collar are configured to allow removal of the bit from the stem [0012], [0061]; and
wherein the at least one extension engages both the at least one recess of the stem and the at least one recess of the bit in the penetrating configuration, and the at least one extension is axially spaced from the at least one recess of the bit in the rotatable configuration Fig 16-19, [0059]-[0061].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-7, 9-11, 13-17, and 19-23 are allowed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER H GAY whose telephone number is (571)272-7029. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 6-3:30 and every other Friday 6-11.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Y Coupe can be reached at (571)270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JENNIFER H GAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
JHG
9/3/2026
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