DETAILED ACTION
The Information Disclosure Statement filed on September 26, 2023 has been reviewed and considered by the Examiner.
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 –
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Krols (EP 2650189 A1).
Krols discloses a coupler arrangement for a vehicle comprised of a coupler head 9 and an uncoupling device comprised of a pair of handles 8 that are swiveled manually about an axis of rotation in a swivel direction from a first position, in which the
coupler head is in a first state in which it is coupled to an adjacent railcar or into a second position, in which the coupler head is in an uncoupled state. The axis of rotation is horizontal as defined by the main shaft 2 adjacent to the front of the railcar. The handles 8 are attached to the main shaft 2 by way of extending arms 6, 7 and forming a vertical swivel plane for the handles, as generally shown in figure 4 and the swivel angle is less than 45°. The two handles are connected through the common shaft so that if one is moved the other will move in unison and the handles can be operated by a worker standing laterally away from the rail car.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert J McCarry Jr. whose telephone number is (571)272-6683. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00.
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/Robert J McCarry Jr/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
RJM
January 28, 2026
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