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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 1/30/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s arguments do not persuasively pertain to claim 14. Applicant groups claim 14 with 1 for the purposes of the arguments. However, claim 14 does not depend from claim 1. Claim 15 is amended to broaden the scope.
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) 14, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Fernand CH 321947.
With regard to claim 14 Fernand discloses a balance-spring
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formed from a spiral strip of a determined length for a horological movement (see figure), at least a portion of the strip being provided with a scale
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comprising a plurality of graduations (see figure), each of which corresponds to a gain or loss time fraction of the horological movement (see figure).
See translation “Device for adjusting the position of the regulator of a watch part The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the position of the regulator of a watch part, comprising two pushers, each of which, by means of a rocker subjected to the action of a return spring, acts in a direction of movement of the regulator.”
With regard to claim 14 Fernand discloses the balance spring according to claim 14, wherein the scale comprises a plurality of graduations (see figure).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13, 16, 17 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Claim 17: The prior art does not teach nor suggest the claimed “between the button (8) and the tube (10)” in combination with the other limitations of claim 17.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. 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 SEAN KAYES whose telephone number is (571)272-8931. The examiner can normally be reached 10-6.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Renee Luebke can be reached at 571-272-2009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SEAN KAYES/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2844