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 .
Previous Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
The indicated allowability of claim 8 is withdrawn in view of (Chaconas).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(A)(1) as being anticipated by US 2007/0289426 A1 to (Chaconas).
Noting the embodiment of Figs. 7-16, (Chaconas) discloses a fastener removal tool (bolt remover 110), the tool including: a main body 112; a receiving hole (axial bore 124 – Figs. 11 and 12) formed from a first outer side (body second end 118 to body first end 116) of the main body in a first direction (axial direction); and a plurality of teeth (axial ribs 128) each projecting from the main body 112 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction (direction…radially; para. [0050]), projecting inward in the receiving hole 124, and extending in a longitudinal direction (axial direction along longitudinal axis 114), the longitudinal direction and the second direction being contained in a same plane; wherein each of the plurality of teeth 128 is tapered in the first direction (axial direction – e.g., Figs. 12 and 15A); wherein each of the plurality of teeth is tapered in the second direction (radial direction – e.g., Figs. 15, 15A – angle ε; para. [0053]).
PNG
media_image1.png
746
534
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 and 11-16 are allowable.
Claims 9 and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if claim 9 is 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: regarding claim 1, that each of the plurality of teeth is tapered in the first direction; each of the plurality of teeth includes two flat side surfaces extending from the main body and an arcuate ridge surface connected to and between the two flat side surfaces; and, regarding claim 9, that each of the plurality of teeth includes two flat side surfaces extending from the main body and an arcuate ridge surface connected to and between the two flat side surfaces, is considered to be novel and non-obvious in view of the prior art of record.
Conclusion
Reconsideration of the prior art of record in response to the amendment filed 30 April 2026 has revealed that the second embodiment (Figs. 7-16) of the bolt remover of (Chaconas) anticipates claim 8. Claims 1-4 and 11-16 are allowable, and claim 9 if amended to include all of the limitations of claim 8 would be allowable.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David B. Thomas whose telephone number is (571) 272-4497. The examiner’s e-mail address is: dave.thomas@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 11:30-7:30.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Posigian can be reached on (. The fax phone 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.
/David B. Thomas/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
/DBT/
Prosecution Insights