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. Abstract The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because FILLIN "Enter appropriate information" \* MERGEFORMAT the word "includea" should instead read "include a". The abstract should end with a single period and not two. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b). Specification The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: FILLIN "Enter appropriate information" \* MERGEFORMAT "trailer booth sheath" should read, "trailer boot sheath" in paragraphs [0020], [0021], [0022], [0023], [0033], [0034], twice in [0038], [0040], and [0041]. Appropriate correction is required. Drawings The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “706” has been used to designate both FILLIN "Identify the part" \* MERGEFORMAT a tongue (paragraph [0038]) and FILLIN "Identify the part" \* MERGEFORMAT a part in Fig. 7 that appears to be identical to a part designated by reference character "602" in Fig. 6. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: FILLIN "Enter the appropriate information " \* MERGEFORMAT "704", "707", "708", and "709" in Fig. 7 . Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters " FILLIN "Enter appropriate reference character" \* MERGEFORMAT 708 " and " FILLIN "Enter appropriate reference character" \* MERGEFORMAT 709 " have both been used to designate FILLIN "Enter part that is referred to by different numbers" \* MERGEFORMAT a part not mentioned in the description for Fig. 7 . Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)( 1 ) as being anticipated by US 2017/0225529 A1 to Dennis McGuffee (hereinafter McGuffee). Regarding claim 1, McGuffee discloses a trailer hitch protection device (10, Fig. 1, Para 0029) comprising: a first portion ( described as a shaft portion having a first end 11 and a second end 12 , para 0029 , shown in Figs. 1-3, Figs. 7A – 7C , reference character “a” in Annotated Fig s. 1 and 3 , below ) covering a trailer hitch ( 20, Fig. 6 ) ( para 0027 discloses that t he trailer hitch protection device is configured to cover the trailer hitch , F ig s. 7A - 7C depict the first portion of the trailer hitch protection device covering the trailer hitch ) and extending outward from the trailer hitch to a location proximal to the trailer hitch ( Using Annotated Figs. 1 and 3, below, E xaminer interprets the phrase, “extending outward from the trailer hitch to a location proximal to the trailer hitch” to mean that the first portion e xtends longitudinally from 12 toward a location designated by reference character “b ” ) ; a second portion abutting the first portion at the location proximal to the trailer hitch (Annotated Fig. 1 depicts a second portion 17, described by McGuffee as a protective pad , abutting the first portion at b) , where the second portion is connected to the first portion at a substantially perpendicular angle between the first portion and the second portion ( para s 0006 and 0025 , Figs. 1 and 7A – 7C disclose the second portion connected to the first portion at a substantially perpendicular angle between the first portion and the second portion . ) , where the second portion comprises a solid body ( para 0024 describes the second portion is made of a single material and Fig. 1-3 disclose it having a solid body ) with a mold fit ( concavity of second portion body 17 is shown in Annotated Fig. 3 to securely fit owing to its complementary shape to 21, Fig. 6 , thus “mold fit”) to receive the trailer hitch ( the body of second portion 17 fit s securely around 21 of the trailer hitch, also see Fig. 6 , para 0029 . The second portion abut s the first portion at reference character “b” and is partially comprised of the generally round shap e configured to complementarily fit securely around the trailer hitch, i.e., the second portion receives the trailer hitch ). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT Tyler Ferguson whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-7374 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 7:30-5:00 . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Valentin Neacsu can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-6265 . 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. /Tyler Ferguson/ Examiner, Art Unit 3611 /VALENTIN NEACSU/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3611