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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Vernazza (PGPub 20220218173).
Vernazza teaches a surface cleaning tool comprising: a handle body (110) having a first longitudinal axis; and a head (130) configured to receive a wiper blade (120), and a plane extends through a center of the head parallel to the wiper blade and includes a second longitudinal axis of the head; wherein the head is movable along a path of movement relative to the handle body and an orientation of the plane of the head remains constant relative to the longitudinal axis as the head moves along the path of movement (figure 2a-2c).
With regards to claim2, the head is positionable at a plurality of positions relative to the handle body (figure 2a and 2c).
With regards to claim 3, the head is rotatable relative to the handle body between the plurality of positions (figure 2b).
With regards to claim 4, the plurality of positions includes a first position (figure 2b) and a second position (opposite position of figure 2b, where the head is swiveled to the same angle but in the other direction), wherein in the first position, the second longitudinal axis is arranged at a first angle relative to the first longitudinal axis, and in the second position, the second longitudinal axis is arranged at a second angle relative to the first longitudinal axis.
With regards to claim 5, the first angle is equal and opposite to the second angle (they are both 45 degrees).
With regards to claim 6, herein at least one position of the plurality of positions (figure 2a) is located between the first position and the second position along the path of movement.
With regards to claim 7, the plurality of positions includes a third position (figure 2c) where the second longitudinal axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.
With regards to claim 8, a locking mechanism (150’) operable to retain the head in one of the plurality of positions.
With regards to claim 9, the locking mechanism further comprises an engagement mechanism (155) movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the head being movable between the plurality of positions when the engagement mechanism is in the unlocked position, and the head being restricted from moving between the plurality of positions when the engagement mechanism is in the locked position.
With regards to claim 10, the head further comprises a plurality of slots (openings between 151, 152) and in the locked position, a portion of the engagement mechanism is positionable within one of the plurality of slots (figure 2a-2c).
With regards to claim 11, Vernazza teaches handle body (110); a head (130) connected to the handle body and configured to receive a wiper blade (120), the head being movable along a path of movement relative to the handle body, wherein the head further comprises a plurality of protrusions (151, 152) and a plurality of slots (figure 2a shows openings between protrusions) formed between the plurality of protrusions; and a locking mechanism (150’) operable to selectively lock the head relative to the handle body, the locking mechanism comprising an engagement mechanism (155) having an engagement feature positioned adjacent to a surface of the head, the engagement feature being receivable within one of the plurality of slots to restrict movement of the head along the path of movement.
With regards to claim 12, the engagement mechanism is manually movable to selectively lock the head relative to the handle body (slides back and forth out of the slots).
With regards to claim 13, the engagement mechanism is translatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the engagement feature being receivable within one of the plurality of slots in the locked position.
With regards to claim 14, each of the plurality of slots is associated with a different position of the head along the path of movement (figure 2a-2c).
With regards to claim 15, the head is movable within a plane oriented parallel to the wiper blade and including a longitudinal axis of the head (figure 1b).
With regards to claim 16, the plane is arranged at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the handle body (figure 1a).
With regards to claim 17, the longitudinal axis of the head is coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the handle body (figure 1b).
With regards to claim 18, the head is rotatable about an axis along the path of movement (figure 2a-2c).
With regards to claim 19, the axis is arranged at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the handle body (figure 2a-2c).
Relevant prior art
The applicant is advised to review prior art USPN 4847938 which reads on all the claimed subject matter. While a rejection was not made with this reference it is clear that the reference reads on all the claim limitations.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAY LYNN KARLS whose telephone number is (571)272-1268. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th (6am-5pm).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Monica Carter can be reached at 571-272-4475. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAY KARLS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723