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 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nigra (1,875,484).
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (END
PORTION)]Nigra meets all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners comprises,
a screw bit body 11 having a fastener engagement free end portion 12 and a tool engagement end portion annotated here, a plurality of flat non-adjoining longitudinally tapered fastener engagement surfaces 18 on said fastener engagement free end portion defining a defined by the tip, elongated recesses 16 joining each of said respective flat fastener engagement surfaces Fig. 3 defining spaced oppositely disposed parallel fastener engagement edges leading edge 17 and trailing edge annotated Fig. 3 in each of said spaced
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (TRAILING EDGE)]flat fastener engagement surfaces, said elongated recess 16 extending from the fastener engagement free end top surface tip to within said tool engagement end portion 13, said elongated recess surfaces 16 are transversely concaved in fastener engagement edge to edge orientation between said respective flat fastener engagement surfaces Fig. 3, except for disclosing a hexagonal shank.
Nigra discloses that the shank 11 may be of any desired cross section 02:19.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to form a hexagonal shank in adapting the tool for hexagonally shaped workpieces, since it has been held that changing shape, dependent on work-piece parameters, involves only routine skill in the art. In re Stevens, 101 US PQ 284(CCPA1954).
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (TAPERED
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Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, modified Nigra) meets the limitations, i.e., the bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said elongated recessed 16 have a vertical tapered curvilinear end portion annotated Fig. 1 between said parallel fastener engagement edges 17, trailing edge in said tool engagement end portion Fig. 1.
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastener engagement free end portion has right angled transition edges from said top surface tip to said respective annularly spaced flat tapered engagement surfaces Figs. 1 and 3.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastener engagement edges 17 are at an obtuse angle to said respective flat fastener engagement surfaces Figs. 3 and 4.
Regarding claim 5, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat fastener engagement surfaces 16 are of equal transverse dimension Figs. 1 and 2.
Regarding claim 6, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners set forth in claim 1 wherein said tool engagement portion 13 has a plurality of flat adjoining longitudinally extending surfaces e.g., lead line 13, except for a driver receiving bore in its free end. Nigra prefers a square shank 13 for readily engaging a wrench. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to form a square receiving socket in adapting the tool for being readily engaged by a male ratchet driver, since it has been held that changing shape, dependent on work-piece parameters, involves only routine skill in the art. In re Stevens, 101 US PQ 284(CCPA1954).
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Regarding claim 7, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the bi-directional multi-grip socket bit for hexagonal fasteners set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated recess fastener engagement edges leading edge 17 and trailing edges define oppositely disposed longitudinally tapered flat engagement surfaces 16 there between Fig. 3.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Kukucka et al., Wagner and Johnson et al. 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 7, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723