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
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.
(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) 1-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Planz (US 2007/0035107 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Planz teaches a tractor drawbar adapter comprising:
a first end (2) adapted to slide over a tractor drawbar (4); and
a second end (8) having a different dimension from the first end (Figure 1), wherein the second end is adapted to accept a receiver hitch (14).
Regarding claim 2, Planz teaches a lock pin or drop pin (28) configured to secure the first end in a locked position on the tractor drawbar (Figure 1 and Para [0042]).
Regarding claim 3, Planz teaches that the first end has a dimension of 1 inch (thickness and height can be 1 inch, Para [0039]).
Regarding claim 4, Planz teaches that the second end has a dimension of 2 inches (Para [0027]).
Regarding claim 5, Planz teaches that the receiver hitch accepted by the second end comprises a ball mount on the end opposite to the end accepted by the second end (Figure 1 and Para [0002]).
Regarding claim 6, Planz teaches that the receiver hitch is of the type commonly used in vehicles (Figure 1 and Para [0002]).
Regarding claim 7, Planz teaches a locking mechanism (14) configured to secure the receiver hitch in the second end of the adapter (Figure 1 and Para [0032]).
Regarding claim 8, Planz teaches a method of providing a tractor drawbar adapter, comprising:
providing a first end (2) adapted to slide over a tractor drawbar (4); and providing a second end (8) with a different dimension from the first end (Figure 1), wherein the second end is adapted to accept a receiver hitch (12).
Regarding claim 9, Planz teaches securing the first end in a locked position on the tractor drawbar using a lock pin or drop pin (28; Figure 1 and Para [0042]).
Regarding claim 10, Planz teaches that the first end has a dimension of 1 inch (thickness and height can be 1 inch, Para [0039]).
Regarding claim 11, Planz teaches that the second end has a dimension of 2 inches (Para [0027]).
Regarding claim 12, Planz teaches that the receiver hitch accepted by the second end comprises a ball mount on the end opposite to the end accepted by the second end (Figure 1 and Para [0002]).
Regarding claim 13, Planz teaches that the receiver hitch is of the type commonly used in vehicles (Figure 1 and Para [0002]).
Regarding claim 14, Planz teaches a locking mechanism (14) configured to secure the receiver hitch in the second end of the adapter (Figure 1 and Para [0032]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references noted on the attached PTO-892 form teach tractor drawbar adapters of interest.
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/H.S./Examiner, Art Unit 3611 /VALENTIN NEACSU/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3611