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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species A (Figs. 1-9) withdrawing claims 8, 11-13, 18 and 20, in the reply filed on January 5, 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 6, 10 and 19 are also withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Species, C, B and D, respectively, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 01/05/2026.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “elastic protrusions” (Fig. 8A shown one) provided on the output member (claim 9) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. 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 Objections
Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 4, “wherein the actuating member”, appears to be referring to “each of the actuating members”, and is objected to. Claim 5 already recites for two actuating members and reciting for “the actuating member” implies utilizing a single spring and a single rigid force-applying section for this embodiment, which is improper. 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.
Claim 9 is 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.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "protrusions are provided on a top surface of output member" rendering the scope ambiguous. Paragraph [0084] of the instant application describes protrusions 341, however Fig. 8A only shown one. It is unclear how two elastic protrusions interact with the recesses 34. Clarification is required.
Rejection under 112 (a) or 112, 1st paragraph for insufficient disclosure is not applied at this time, since it appears that the claim deficiencies are of clarity and not of enablement.
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.
PNG
media_image1.png
486
462
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Claims 1, 3, 4 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kiefer, Jr. (4,546,676).
Kiefer, Jr. discloses all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a power tool, wherein the power tool comprises:
an input member 4 substantially constituting an annular shape Figs. 4, 5 and configured to be driven by a power source as defined per instant application, e.g., claim 16, wherein the power source is manual of the power tool to rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction ratcheting motion, ratchet teeth 44 being disposed on an inner circumference of the input member Fig. 5;
an output member 5 surrounded by the input member Fig. 1 and configured to mount a tool head thereon via 53 to move the tool head, the output member 5 comprising a pawl 9 having a first pawl portion LF side (similar to instant application) and a second pawl portion RT side;
PNG
media_image2.png
448
282
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
164
247
media_image3.png
Greyscale
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (DIFFERENT
PORTIONS)]an actuating member 82 capable of abutting against different portions of the pawl different portions of the inward recess, annotated partial Fig. 5 to respectively cause the pawl to be positioned in a first position and a second position relative to the input member switching operation, wherein the actuating member 82 is offset at least partially pin being biased out of lower part of control 8 from a central axis of the input member defined by center of 5, meeting the narrative/functional language of wherein when the pawl 9 is retained in the first position, the first pawl portion 92 is capable of engaging with the ratchet teeth 44 to only allow rotation of the input member in the first direction to be transmitted to the output member; when the pawl is retained in the second position, the second pawl portion is capable of engaging with the ratchet teeth to only allow rotation of the input member in the second direction to be transmitted to the output member ratcheting motions.
Regarding claim 3, PA (prior art, Kiefer Jr.) meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool according to claim 1, wherein the power tool further comprises: an operation member 8 for a user to operate to drive the actuating member 82, wherein the actuating member 82 is configured to elastically apply a force on the pawl via 83.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool according to claim 3, wherein the actuating member 82 abuts against the operation member 8.
PNG
media_image1.png
486
462
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 16, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool according to claim 1, wherein the power tool is a wrench torque multiplying hand wrench, the power source is a manual power source 2 or an electric power source, wherein the input member 4 swings alternately in the first direction and the second direction Figs. 7 and 8 via cam member 60, and wherein an eccentric transmission mechanism is disposed between the power source and the input member Figs. 4 and 5.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kiefer Jr.
Kiefer Jr. as applied to claim 1 above meets all of the limitations of the claim 2, including wherein the output member comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow output member main body 5, Fig. 5, a receiving groove 55 is provided on a side surface of the output member main body 5, and the pawl 9 is disposed in the receiving groove, and the actuating member 8, 82, 83 is located at least partially in the output member main body Fig. 5, except for the size of a wall thickness of the output member to be 5mm-9mm. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention with regards to dimension or desired size, e.g., 7mmn, for strength and rigidity in adapting the tool for a particular application, since such modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955).
In Gardnerv.TEC Syst., Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984), the Federal Circuit held that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kiefer Jr. in view of Hu (7,938,042).
Kiefer Jr. as applied to claim 1 above meets all of the limitations of the claim 9, as best understood, i.e., the power tool according to claim 4, wherein the operation member is a knob annotated Fig. 5, except for two recessed portions formed on a bottom surface of the knob and an elastic protrusion as best understood, being provided on a top surface of the output member main body such that when the elastic protrusions are partially placed in the recessed portions, the knob is fixed relative to the output member to retain the actuating members in place.
PNG
media_image5.png
352
441
media_image5.png
Greyscale
Hu teaches a ratchet wrench comprising a pin 252 biased by a spring 251 into a recess 43, Fig. 3 of a control member 40. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of Kiefer Jr. with the recess and elastic protrusion as taught by Hu to releasably retain the pawl in a chosen position.
Claims 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kiefer Jr. in view of Crocker (625,149).
Kiefer Jr. as applied to claim 1 above meets all of the limitations of the claim 14, except for the power tool to comprise a replacement operation assembly operable to allow the tool head to be replaced, wherein both ends of the tool head have different dimensions, and the power tool allows the tool head to be mounted on the power tool with different ends as output.
PNG
media_image6.png
247
495
media_image6.png
Greyscale
Crocker teaches a ratchet wrench with a release latch E to remove the tool head B with different ends as outputs H, H’. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of Kiefer Jr. with the release latch as taught by Crocker to allow similar parts with different size wrench-openings to be interchanged therewith.
PNG
media_image7.png
206
361
media_image7.png
Greyscale
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (INWARD
RECESS)]Regarding claim 15, PA (prior art, Kiefer Jr., modified by Crocker) meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the tool head B extending out of the output member has a cylindrical section partial Fig. 3 that is radially inwardly recessed relative to portions at its both axial side annotated, and the replacement operation assembly comprises a tongue annotated partial Fig. 2, a distal
PNG
media_image9.png
160
338
media_image9.png
Greyscale
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (TONGUE)]end of the tongue is a concave arc [AltContent: ]adapted to the cylindrical portion partial Fig. 2, and the tongue is configured to extend towards and retract from the cylindrical portion spring S’, wherein, when the tongue is engaged on the cylindrical portion, the tool head is allowed to rotate but axial movement of the tool head is limited Fig. 3; when the tongue is disengaged from the cylindrical portion, the tool head is allowed to moved axially to be replaced 66-70.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5, 7 and 17 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: art of record considered as a whole, alone or in combination, neither anticipates nor renders obvious a power tool comprising an input member, an output member, an actuating member, an operating member, wherein the actuating member comprises two actuating members, each of the actuating members comprises an arcuate structure extending about an axis of the input member, a spring and a rigid force- applying section in direct contact with the pawl; or the operation member being exposed from a top of the power tool, an actuating member groove extending in a plane perpendicular to the central axis and allowing the actuating member to move therein is disposed in the output member main body, the operation member having an extension section extending towards a bottom side to the actuating member groove, the extension section being configured to abut against the actuating member in a circumferential direction, together in combination with the rest of the limitations as recited in claims 5 or 7.
PNG
media_image11.png
206
220
media_image11.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image12.png
367
269
media_image12.png
Greyscale
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Kilness and Chaconas et al. are cited to show related inventions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADI SHAKERI whose telephone number is (571)272-4495. The fax phone number for forwarding unofficial documents for discussion purposes only is (571) 273-4495. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
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, Brian Keller can be reached on 571 272 8548. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Hadi Shakeri/
April 30, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
Prosecution Insights