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 .
Drawings
The subject matter of this application admits of illustration by a drawing to facilitate understanding of the invention. Applicant is required to furnish a drawing under 37 CFR 1.81(c). No new matter may be introduced in the required drawing. 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).
Claim Objections
Claims 11-20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Re. claim 11; The phrase “A pressing tool, comprising” as recited in line 1 appears to be --A pressing tool, comprising:--.
The phrase “from the depository toward the crimping drum;” as recited in line 7 appears to be --from the depository toward the crimping drum,--.
The phrase “configured to be pressed between adjacent ferrules;” as recited in lines 10-11 appears to be --configured to be pressed between adjacent ferrules; and--.
The phrase “wherein a holding-down device spring supported” as recited in lines 12-13 appears to be --a holding-down device spring supported--.
Re. claim 16; The phrase “a press-on surface of a shorter arm can press” as recited in lines 2-3 appears to be --a press-on surface of a shorter arm of the two arms can press--.
The phrase “a press-on surface of a longer arm can press” as recited in lines 3-4 appears --a press-on surface of a longer arm of the two arms can press--.
Re. claim 17: The phrase “the spring constant of the spring element retained” as recited in line 3 appears to be --a spring constant of the spring element retained--.
Re. claim 18: The phrase “at side walls of the tool head cap” as recited in line 2 appears to be --at side walls of the head cap of the tool head--.
Re. claim 19: The phrase “wherein a strip guide is arranged” as recited in line 1 appears to be –further comprising a strip guide arranged--.
Re. claim 20: The phrase “the strip guide is attached in the region of a rear half” as recited in lines 1-2 appears to be –the strip guide is attached in a region of a rear half--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 11-20 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.
Re. claim 11: The phrase “wherein a holding-down device spring supported on the support surface” as recited in line 13 renders the claim vague and indefinite. It is unclear as to what the support surface is indicated. The support surface lacks antecedent basis.
Re. claim 16: The phrase “a sleeve head of a ferrule” as recited in line 3 and “a sleeve neck of a ferrule” as recited in line 4 enders the claim vague and indefinite. According to the limitation “at least one arm arranged to abut a ferrule adjacent to a ferrule to be detached” as recited in lines 2-3, there is the ferrule adjacent to the ferrule to be detached. It is unclear as to what the ferrule of the sleeve head and the ferrule of the sleeve neck are indicated. Clarification is required.
Re. claim 20: The phrase “the first manual lever” as recited in line 2 lacks antecedent basis.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art of record of Schmode (DE-4322856 C1) teaches all limitations including a press tool including two manual levers movable relative to one another, a crimping unit having a crimping drum arranged in a tool head of the pressing tool and having at least one crimping die and a depository for storing a strip of ferrules connected to one another as a belt, a transport device movable in a prestressed manner toward the crimping drum to transport the ferrule strip from the depository toward the crimping drum, wherein the transport device has a transport plate and a transport lever being pivotably arranged and sprung relative to the transport plate, and the transport lever has an attachment close to the crimping drum and configured to be pressed between adjacent ferrules. However, Schmode silent to teach a holding-down device spring supported on the support surface to press the transport plate against the transport lever is arranged between the transport device and a support surface of a head cap of the tool head. It is not obvious taken alone or in combination of other references fairly to suggest the claimed invention.
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.”
The Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. HEGGEMANN et al. (PGPub 2023/0234197 A1), Strickland (US PAT. 4,006,502), and Edwards, Sr. et al. (US PAT. 3,800,584) are cited to further show the state of the art with respect to a press tool.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL D KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4565. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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/PAUL D KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729