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 § 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 1-3, 6, 7 and 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over O’Dell (10,173,313) in view of Geertsema et al. (4,406,559 “Geertsema”).
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (KEYWAY)] O’Dell meets all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a locking device 10 for connecting a handle shaft 12 to a tool body 14, comprising:
a handle shaft 28 having a longitudinal length, with a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second portion of the handle shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is substantially cylindrical and externally threaded @74, wherein the first end of the shaft further includes a keyhole 64 recessed into the shaft Fig. 3,
a tool body 26 having a threaded bore 58 that is mateable with the threads of the handle shaft, the threaded bore having an outer rim, wherein the tool body has a keyway annotated above spaced from the outer rim that provides an additional access location to the threaded bore,
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a locking mechanism 80 having a body having a key 84 mateable in the keyhole 64 of the handle shaft, wherein the locking mechanism is 84 can be moved between a first position whereby the key is not situated in the bore Fig. 2 and keyhole and a second position where the key 84 is located in the keyhole when coupled,
wherein when the key 84 is located in the keyhole 64, the handle shaft is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis 01:37, and
wherein when the key is not located in the keyhole, the handle shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis allowing the handle shaft to be removed from the tool body, except for the fitting 26 defines the handle shaft and the coupler 28 defines the tool body, and for the locking mechanism to be hingedly connected to the first end of the tool body.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to form the fitting defining the external threads on the handle shaft and providing the coupler defining the internally threaded bore on the tool body, as an alternative means of achieving the same results, 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.
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Geertsema teaches a locking mechanism having a body 22 having a key 50 mateable in a keyhole 36 of a shaft 46 hingedly connected to the first end of the tool body. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of O’Dell with a hingedly coupled key as taught by Geertsema as locking the parts together.
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (HINGED ARM)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (HINGED SOCKET)]Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, O’Dell modified by Geertsema) meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism body includes a hinge arm annotated partial Fig. 3 or hinge socket and the tool body has a complimentary tool arm or tool socket annotated mated with the respective hinge arm or hinge socket to selectively provide mating between the key and keyhole.
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 2, wherein the key rotates in an arc about a rotational axis of the hinge arm or hinge socket via 52.
Regarding claim 6, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 1, wherein the key 84 O’Dell/50 Geertsema extends outwardly from a surface of the locking mechanism body Fig. 2 O’Dell, Fig. 3 Geertsema.
Regarding claim 7, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 6, wherein the key 50 is a projection having a height greater than a width, and wherein the keyhole 36 has a height greater than a width Fig. 3 Geertsema.
Regarding claim 15, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 1, wherein the keyhole 64 is located in the threaded area of the handle shaft.
CLAIM 16
O’Dell meets all of the limitations of claim 16, i.e., a method for connecting a handle shaft to a tool body, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a handle shaft 28 having a longitudinal length, with a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second portion of the handle shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is substantially cylindrical and externally threaded @74, wherein the first end of the shaft further includes a keyhole 64 recessed into the shaft Fig. 3,
mating a tool body 26 having a threaded bore 58 that is mateable with the threads of the handle shaft, the threaded bore having an outer rim, wherein the tool body has a keyway annotated above spaced from the outer rim that provides an additional access location to the threaded bore, wherein a locking mechanism 80 is 84 mateable in the keyhole 64 of the handle shaft, and
manipulating the locking mechanism from a first position whereby the key 84 is not situated in the bore and keyhole Fig. 2 and a second position where the key 84 is located in the keyhole 64, wherein when the key 84 is located in the keyhole 64, the handle shaft is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis 01:37, and wherein when the key 84 is not located in the keyhole, the handle shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis allowing the handle shaft to be removed from the tool body Fig. 2, except for the fitting 26 defining the handle shaft and the coupler 28 defining the tool body, and for the locking mechanism to be hingedly connected to the first end of the tool body.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to form the fitting defining the external threads on the handle shaft and providing the coupler defining the internally threaded bore on the tool body, as an alternative means of achieving the same results, 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.
Geertsema teaches a locking mechanism having a body 22 having a key 50 mateable in a keyhole 36, Fig. 3 of a shaft hingedly connected to the first end of the tool body. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of O’Dell with a hingedly coupled key as taught by Geertsema as locking the parts together.
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (HINGED ARM)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (HINGED SOCKET)]Regarding claim 17, PA (prior art, O’Dell modified by Geertsema) meets the limitations, i.e., the method according to claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism body includes a hinge arm annotated partial Fig. 3 or hinge socket and the tool body has a complimentary tool arm or tool socket annotated mated with the respective hinge arm or hinge socket to selectively provide mating between the key and keyhole, and
further including the step of rotating the key and an arc about a rotational axis of the hinge arm or hinge socket when locking or unlocking.
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Claims 4, 5, 8-14, 18 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over PA as applied to claims 1 and 16 above, and further in view of Chen (2013/0047796).
PA (prior art, O’Dell modified by Geertsema) as applied to claim 1 and 16 above, meets all of the limitations of 4 or 18, except for wherein a pair of hinge arms are present and located on opposing sides of the locking mechanism body.
Chen teaches a screwdriver with a storage compartment 22, comprising a locking mechanism comprising a hinge arm 234 and the tool body 21 includes the tool socket 224, wherein a pair of hinge arms 234 are present and located on opposing sides of the locking mechanism body 23 with a latching means 236, 226.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to further modify the modified invention of PA with hinged arms, sockets and the latching means as taught
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by Chen for an inexpensive means of hingedly coupling the locking body to the tool body further provided with a latching means.
Regarding claim 5, PA (prior art, O’Dell modified by Geertsema and Chen) meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device of claim 4 wherein the tool body keyway 221 Chen or annotated Fig. 2 O’Dell is sized to accommodate at least a portion of the locking mechanism, and wherein the keyway includes the tool sockets 224, Fig. 1.
Regarding claims 8, 11, and 19, PA modified for the hinged arm of Chen comprising the latching means meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 1, 5 or claim 18 (including the step of mating), wherein the tool body keyway 225 has a sidewall including a latch arm 226, wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch bore 236 flexibly connected to the body of the locking mechanism, and wherein the latch arm is mateable with the sidewall including a latch bore Fig. 2, except for that the latch bore is on the locking mechanism and the latch arm is on the tool body. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to form the latch bore on the tool body and providing the latch arm on the lock body, as an alternative means of achieving the same results, 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.
Regarding claim 9, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 8, wherein the latch arm protrusion 236 (modified 236) is located on an upper surface of the locking mechanism body 23, Fig. 2 Chen.
Regarding claim 10, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 9, wherein the key 84, O’Dell/50 Geertsema extends laterally outward from a sidewall of the locking mechanism body Fig. 2/Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 12, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 11, wherein the latch arm modified 236 is located on an upper surface of the locking mechanism body, and wherein the key 84 O’Dell/50 Geertsema extends laterally outward from a sidewall of the locking mechanism body Fig. 2/Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 13, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 4, wherein each of the hinge arms are resiliently connected to the locking mechanism body via 224, 234, 226, 236.
Regarding claim 14, PA appears to meet the limitations, i.e., the locking device according to claim 12, wherein each of the hinge arms 234 are resiliently connected to the locking mechanism body, however forming the arms from a resilient material, e.g., plastic for longevity would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Howard Bukovitz are cited to show related inventions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADI SHAKERI whose telephone number is (571)272-4495. The fax phone number for forwarding unofficial documents for discussion purposes only is (571) 273-4495. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Keller can be reached on 571 272 8548. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Hadi Shakeri/
February 19, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723