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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 5, 9-10 & 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)&(a)(2) as being anticipated by Dean et al (5597497).
Dean et al disclose a torch (e.g. Figs. 1, 4) for an arc process operation, comprising: a handle (e.g. 10); and a trigger coupled to the handle, wherein the trigger comprises: a base segment (e.g. 16) configured to rotate relative to the handle via a pivot (e.g. 30); and an extended segment (e.g. 32) coupled to the base segment, wherein the extended segment is configured to move relative to the base segment to transition the trigger between an extended/second configuration (e.g. Fig. 1, 48) and a compact/first configuration (e.g. Fig. 1, 46), the extended segment extends away from the base segment in the extended configuration, and the extended segment extends along the base segment in the compact configuration.
Wherein the extended segment is coupled to the base segment at an additional pivot (e.g. 42), and the extended segment is configured to rotate relative to the base segment via the additional pivot to move relative to the base segment; the second segment comprises a first surface (e.g. 34) and a second surface (e.g. 36) disposed at opposite sides of the second segment, the first surface faces away from the handle in the first configuration (e.g. 46), and the second surface faces away from the handle in the second configuration; and actuation of the trigger causes the handheld tool to perform the processing operation. The handle comprises a base portion and a grip portion, and the trigger is coupled to the base portion (e.g. Fig. 4); and the second segment is configured to rotate relative to the first segment in a first rotational direction toward the base portion of the handle to transition the trigger to the first configuration, and the second segment is configured to rotate relative to the first segment in a second rotational direction toward the grip portion to transition the trigger to the second configuration (e.g. Fig. 1 to transition between positions 46 & 48).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-4, 6-8, 11-15, & 19-20 are 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. Additional references listed on form PTO-892 are cited for their relevance to the disclosed invention and demonstration of the state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL LESLIE whose telephone number is (571)272-4819. The examiner can normally be reached M - F 8 am - 4-30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nathaniel Wiehe can be reached at (571)272-8648. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL LESLIE/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745
January 10, 2026