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 .
Status of Claims
This office action is in reply to the amendments filed on April 7, 2026 and June 8, 2026. Claim 1 has been amended. Claims 19-21 have been added. Claim 18 has been cancelled. Claims 9-17 were previously withdrawn. Claim interpretation previously made under 35 USC 112(f) is maintained. The previous 35 U.S.C. 103 and 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejections have been updated and are discussed in greater detail below. Claims 1-8 and 19-21 are currently pending and have been fully examined.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on April 7, 2026, April 9, 2026 and April 20, 2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
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 “main body is configured to cooperate with one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts” (as in claim 1) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Therefore, the “main body is freely movable out of the housing after being disconnected from the retainer or the housing” (as in claim 1) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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). 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.
Specification
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required:
In paragraph 33 of the amended Specification filed on 4/7/26, the applicant discloses that, “The magnet 120 is arranged in the bit receiver 133.” However, Figure 3 and paragraphs 15 and 27 of the Specification originally filed respectively disclose “a hollow retainer 120” and “a magnet 132”. Further clarification is respectfully requested. Thus, the disclosure of the magnet 120 in paragraph 33 is confusing and needs to be corrected.
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 1-8 and 19-21 are Finally 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. Any remaining claims are rejected based on their dependency to a rejected base claim.
Claim 1 discloses that, “the main body is configured to cooperate with one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts…”. The examiner acknowledges the amendment to the Specification on April 7, 2026. In this amendment, applicant further defined that main body (130) includes an open-ended bit receiver (133, see amened Figure 3 filed on April 7, 2026).
However, it is unclear how the main body is actually configured to cooperate with one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts. In the amened Figure 3, how can bit receiver (133) engage with a bit? Where is this feature shown? Amened Figure 3 clearly shows bit receiver (133) being within the housing and the retainer. Does the main body have to be removed from the housing and the retainer in order to cooperate with the one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts? If so, the figures and the claims should be amended to support such a feature. Does the screwdriver have different states that it can be placed? If so, again the figures and the claims should be amended to support such a feature. Furthermore, the examiner also believes that the applicant should provide additional structural limitations of the screwdriver (i.e. elastic member, first connection mechanism [paragraphs 25-26], second connection mechanism [paragraph 27], etc. , paragraph 22) pertaining to the different states that the main body can be placed (e.g. first-third states, see paragraph 18) in order to prevent any future indefinite issues.
Claim 1 also discloses that, “wherein the retainer is configured to receive a pushing force from a user so as to disconnect the retainer from the housing, and disconnect the main body from the retainer or the housing; wherein the main body is configured to cooperate with one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts, and the main body is freely movable out of the housing after being disconnected from the retainer or the housing.”
However, it is unclear how the main body is freely movable out of the housing after being disconnected from the retainer.” Is the main body connected to the housing through the retainer? It is also unclear how the main body is disconnected from the retainer or the housing. Claim 1, previously required that the retainer receives a pushing force from a user so as to disconnect…the main body from the retainer or the housing. Thus, it is unclear how the pushing force applied to the retainer disconnects the main body from the housing. What is the connection between the main body and the housing that allows a pushing force to be applied to the retainer to disconnect the main body from the housing? How can the main body be disconnected from the housing but not from the retainer? The examiner recommends further defining claim 1 with additional structural limitations pertaining to how the retainer is detachably connected to the housing and how the main body is detachably connected to the retainer in an attempt to overcome the prior art of record. Also, the examiner recommends removing the alternative language of “the main body…detachably connected to the retainer or the housing” (in Line 4 of claim 1) in order to prevent confusion when determining the scope of the claim.
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.
Claims 1-8, 19 and 21 are Finally rejected, As Best Understood, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu (CN 211332960, previously cited) in view of Lin (5662013) and optionally further in view of Wei et al. (2016/0089771).
In reference to claim 1, As Best Understood, Liu discloses a precision screwdriver (the examiner notes that the recitation “electric” is not limiting because the body of the claim describes a complete invention and the language recited solely in the preamble does not provide any distinct definition of any of the claimed invention’s limitations. Thus, the preamble of the claim is not considered a limitation and is of no significance to claim construction. See Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 182 F.3d 1298, 1305, 51 USPQ2d 1161, 1165 (Fed. Cir. 1999). See MPEP § 2111.02.) comprising (Figure 1):
a hollow housing (see figure below);
a hollow retainer (4) received in and detachably connected to the housing (Figure 1);
a main body (see figure below and note the different cross-hatch marks between the hollow housing and the main body in Figure 3 thereby indicating that these are two different components) received in the retainer (note, at least portion 3-6 of the main body is received in a chamber of the hollow retainer 4, see figure below and Figure 4), and detachably connected to the retainer (Figures 3 and 4) or the housing;
wherein the retainer is configured (i.e. from upper portion 4-6-1, see Figure 6) to receive a pushing force from a user (Figures 4 sand 5) so as to disconnect the retainer from the housing (Figures 1 and 3), and disconnect the main body from the retainer (Figures 1 and 3) or the housing; and
the main body is configured (i.e. from the open-ended bit receiver. See 1st and 2nd interpretations of the open-ended bit receiver in the annotated figures below) to cooperate with one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts.
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Chamber that receives portion 3-6 of the main body)][AltContent: arrow]
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[AltContent: textbox (1st interpretation of the Open-ended bit receiver portion of main body that engages with a bit)][AltContent: arrow]
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (2nd interpretation of the Open-ended bit receiver portion of main body that engages with a bit)]
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Liu lacks,
the main body being freely movable out of the housing after being disconnected from the retainer or the housing.
However, Lin teaches that it is old and well known in the art at the time the invention was made to provide a screwdriver comprising a hollow housing (1, similar to the hollow housing of Liu), a hollow retainer (2, similar to the hollow retainer 4, of Liu) and a main body (30, similar to the main body of Liu), wherein the main body is freely movable out of the housing (see figure 1) after being disconnected from the retainer or the housing (Figures 1-6).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the main body, of Liu, with the known technique of providing a main body that is freely movable out of a housing, as taught by Lin, and the results would have been predictable. In this situation, one could provide a more advantageous and versatile tool providing a compact configuration (see Column 1, Lines 21-24. Column 2, Lines 47-48, and Column 3, Lines 1-3).
In further reference to claim 1, in the alternative and assuming arguendo, that the term “electric” within the preamble should be considered, than Wei et al. is used for such a teaching.
Wei et al. teach that it is old and well known in the art at the time the invention was made to provide a screwdriver that can be used as an electric screwdriver (see Title) or as a manual screwdriver (see paragraphs 42 and 45, and note the manual screwdriver is similar to the manual screwdriver of Liu), and wherein a main body (11) comprises an exposed end (i.e. left end thereof in Figures 2 and 3) and wherein a charging port (i.e. formed as the “charging groove for accommodating and fixing the charging interface 164.”, see paragraph 51) is arranged in the exposed end of the main body (Figure 3).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the manual screwdriver, of Liu, with the known technique of providing a screwdriver that can be used as an electric screwdriver or as a manual screwdriver, as taught by Wei et al., and the results would have been predictable. In this situation, one could provide a more advantageous and versatile multi-functioning screwdriver (see paragraphs 2 and 4) that can be operated automatically (i.e. by using motor 12) and can be more easily charged (paragraph 51) or that can be used manually thereby allowing a user to obtain a relatively large torque (see paragraph 45).
In reference to claim 2, Liu discloses further comprising a magnet (4-7) and an attracting member (3-1), wherein the retainer defines a chamber (see figure above) to receive the main body, the magnet is arranged on an end of the retainer [not the main body], the attracting member is mounted on the main body [not the retainer], the attracting member is magnetically attracted to the magnet (see following portion of translation disclosing that, “the pop-up mechanism 3 is provided with a pop-up magnet 4-7; the contact surface of the ejecting mechanism 3 and the batch head chamber main body 4-1 is provided with an iron sheet 3-1”), which detachably connects the main body to the retainer or the housing (Figures 1 and 3). Thus, Liu shows a reverse orientation of the magnet and the attracting member and therefore lacks,
the magnet being arranged on an end of the main body and the attracting member is mounted on the retainer or the housing.
However, the examiner notes that the applicant fails to provide any criticality in providing the magnet being arranged on an end of the main body and the attracting member being mounted on the retainer or the housing or that this specific arrangement provides any unexpected result. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to rearrange the magnet such that it is arranged on an end of the main body and the attracting member is mounted on the retainer or the housing, since it has been held that a mere reversal of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. In re Einstein, 8 USPQ 167. In this situation, one could reverse the location of the magnet and the attracting member and still provide the desired magnetic connection therebetween.
In reference to claim 3, Liu discloses that the attracting member is a metal rod (3-1) aligned with the magnet (Figures 2-4).
In reference to claim 4, Liu discloses further comprising an elastic member (3-3) arranged around the attracting member (Figure 3).
In reference to claim 5, Liu discloses that the elastic member is compressed (Figure 3) when the main body is received in the retainer (see Figure 3 showing the elastic member being compressed whereas Figure 4 shows the elastic member being stretched).
In reference to claim 6, Liu discloses that the elastic member comprises a first end (i.e. upper end thereof) attached to the retainer (at least through the connection of parts therebetween), and an opposite second end (i.e. lower end thereof) abutting against the main body (Figure 3).
In reference to claim 7, Liu discloses that the elastic member is a coil spring (Figure 3).
In reference to claim 8, Liu discloses that the retainer and the housing each comprise an open end (see figures below), the exposed end of the main body and the open ends of the retainer and the housing are flush (Note; the definition of the term “flush” is defined according to www.merriam-webster.com as being; “directly abutting or immediately adjacent”, see definition 4b. Since, open ends of the main body, the retainer and the housing are “directly abutting or immediately adjacent” to each other [see figures below] they meet the definition above and thus the limitation of the claim) with one another when the main body is received in the retainer and the retainer is received in the housing.
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In reference to claim 19, Liu discloses the claimed invention as previously mentioned above, but lacks,
a charging port arranged in the exposed end of the main body, wherein the charging port is configured to allow electrical energy to be supplied to the main body.
However, Wei et al. teach that it is old and well known in the art at the time the invention was made to provide a screwdriver comprising a main body (11) comprises an exposed end (i.e. left end thereof in Figures 2 and 3) and wherein a charging port (i.e. formed as the “charging groove for accommodating and fixing the charging interface 164.”, see paragraph 51) is arranged in the exposed end of the main body (Figure 3).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the screwdriver, of Liu, with the known technique of providing a screwdriver that includes the charging port that is arranged in the exposed end of the main body, as taught by Wei et al., and the results would have been predictable. In this situation, one could provide a more advantageous and versatile screwdriver that can be more easily charged (paragraph 51).
In reference to claim 21, Liu discloses the claimed invention as previously mentioned above, but lacks,
the housing, the retainer and the main body are configured to switch between a storage state and a disconnected state, in the storage state, the main body is received in the retainer, and the retainer is stored in the housing; and in the disconnected state, the main body is completely disconnected from the retainer or the housing, and the retainer is completely disconnected from the housing.
However, Lin teaches that it is old and well known in the art at the time the invention was made to provide a screwdriver comprising a hollow housing (1, similar to the hollow housing of Liu), a hollow retainer (2, similar to the hollow retainer 4, of Liu) and a main body (30, similar to the main body of Liu), wherein the main body is freely movable out of the housing (see figure 1) after being disconnected from the retainer or the housing (Figures 1-6);
wherein the housing, the retainer and the main body are configured to switch between a storage state (Figures 2 and 3) and a disconnected state (Figure 1), in the storage state, the main body is received in the retainer, and the retainer is stored in the housing (Figures 2 and 3); and in the disconnected state, the main body is completely disconnected from the retainer or the housing, and the retainer is completely disconnected from the housing (Figure 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the housing, the retainer and the main body, of Liu, with the known technique of providing the housing, the retainer and the main body that are configured to switch between a storage state and a disconnected state, as taught by Lin, and the results would have been predictable. In this situation, one could provide a more advantageous and versatile tool providing a compact configuration (see Column 1, Lines 21-24, Column 2, Lines 47-48, and Column 3, Lines 1-3).
Claim 20, is Finally rejected, As Best Understood, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu (CN 211332960, previously cited) in view of Lin (5662013), optionally in view of Wei et al. (2016/0089771) and further in view of McKenzie (4924733).
In reference to claim 20, Liu discloses the claimed invention as previously mentioned above, and further shows that the main body comprises an open-ended bit receiver that is arranged at the end of the main body that is located in the retainer (see 1st and 2nd interpretations of the Open-ended bit receiver portion of main body on page 8 above), but lacks,
a magnet arranged in the bit receiver.
However, McKenzie teaches that it is old and well known in the art at the time the invention was made to provide a screwdriver (1) comprising a bit receiver (13, Figure 2, similar to the bit receiver of Liu) with a magnet (15) arranged in the bit receiver (Figure 2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the bit receiver, of Liu, with the known technique of providing a bit receiver including the magnet therein, as taught by McKenzie, and the results would have been predictable. In this situation, one could provide a more advantageous and versatile device that more effectively holds an operating bit during normal operation (Column 3, Lines 56-58).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-10, filed April 7, 2026, with respect to amended claim 1 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The previous 35 U.S.C. 103 rejection of claim 1 has been withdrawn and another U.S.C. 103 rejection has been provided above.
Applicant's arguments see pages 11-12, filed April 7, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant contends that, “Liu teaches a screwdriver handle capable of accommodating screwdriver bits. The screwdriver handle includes a handle body 1 and an ejecting mechanism 3. As shown in the annotated FIG. 3 of Liu above, the Office Action equates a solid portion within the hollow housing to the main body of claim 1 of the present application. However, the asserted main body of Liu is not designed to cooperate with one or more screwdriver bits to turn screws and bolts. As clearly shown in FIG. 1 of Liu below, it appears that the screwdriver handle includes a bit engaging member protruding from an end of the handle body 1. It is the bit engaging member that cooperates with a screwdriver bit, not the asserted main body as shown in the annotated FIG. 3 of Liu above. As clearly shown in the figures 3-5 of Liu, the asserted main body of Liu always stays stationary relative to the hollow housing and is designed to provide a chamber for the ejecting mechanism 3 and a bit receiving assembly 4 (equated to the retainer of claim 1 of the present application by the Office Action), and has nothing to do with cooperating with a screwdriver bit.”
However, the examiner respectfully disagrees with this statement. Under both interpretations of the open-ended bit receiver (see figures above), the bit engaging member forms a portion of the open-ended bit receiver (see figures above) and engages with bits thereby meeting the limitation of the claim. Since, all of the structural limitations have been met the examiner believes that the rejection is proper.
The examiner also acknowledges the argument on page 12 pertaining to the main body, of Liu, as not being freely movable but is moot because the Liu reference has not been used for such a teaching in the rejection above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.
Specifically, applicant further defined the main body with respect to the housing, the retainer and with screwdriver bits claim 1 (see amendment on 4/7/26).
Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT J SCRUGGS whose telephone number is (571)272-8682. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6-2.
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, David Posigian can be reached at 313-446-6546. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROBERT J SCRUGGS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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