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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/16/2025 has been entered.
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) 1-8 and 10-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kabel (U.S. 3,353,227).
As for Claim 1, Kabel a fastening device, comprising:
a head (4) having:
a first strap aperture (8, see Fig. 4 disclosing a first strap aperture defined by 8 and 15);
a second strap aperture (8, see Fig. 4 disclosing a first strap aperture defined by 8 and 15, which alternate embodiment of Fig. 10 discloses a second strap aperture that would be defined by 8 and 15);
a first fastener receiving area (15 and 20, see Figs. 4 and 10); and a second fastener receiving area (15 and 20 see Figs. 4 and 10),
wherein the first strap aperture intersects the first fastener receiving area (see Figs. 4 and 10), and
wherein the second strap aperture intersects the second fastener receiving area (see Figs. 4 and 10),
wherein the head has a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side (4 is defined by 4 sides see Figs. 4 and 10), and
wherein the first fastener receiving area and the second fastener receiving area are each open on at least one lateral side of the head (see Figs. 4 and 10).
2. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture each have a same shape (see Figs. 4 and 10), and wherein the first fastener receiving area and the second fastener receiving area each have a same shape (see Figs. 4 and 10).
3. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the first strap aperture is perpendicular to and intersects the first fastener receiving area (see Figs. 4 and 10), and wherein the second strap aperture is perpendicular to and intersects the second fastener receiving area (see Figs. 4 and 10).
4. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture extend between the first lateral side and the second lateral side (see Figs. 4 and 10), and
wherein the first fastener receiving area and the second fastener receiving area extend between the top side and the bottom side (see Figs. 4 and 10).
5. The fastening device of claim 1, further comprising:
a strap (20) insertable into the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture (see Figs. 4 and 10), the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture each having a shape that corresponds to a cross- section of the strap (see Figs. 4 and 10).
6. The fastening device of claim 1, further comprising:
a first fastener (12) disposed in the first fastener receiving area; and
a second fastener (12) disposed in the second fastener receiving area.
7. The fastening device of claim 6, wherein the first fastener is press fit with respect to the first fastener receiving area (see Figs. 4 and 10), and wherein the second fastener is press fit with respect to the second fastener receiving area (see Figs. 4 and 10).
8. The fastening device of claim 6, wherein the first fastener is not disposed within the first strap aperture (see Figs. 4 and 10), and wherein the second fastener is not disposed within the second strap aperture (see Figs. 4 and 10).
10. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener receiving area is open on a first lateral side of the head (see Figs. 4 and 10), and wherein the second fastener receiving area is open on a second lateral side of the head (see Figs. 4 and 10), the second lateral side being opposite the first lateral side (see Figs. 4 and 10).
As for Claim 11, Kabel discloses a method of securing a fastening device, the fastening device including a strap (2), a first fastener (12), a second fastener (12), and a head (4) having a first strap aperture (8), a second strap aperture (8, see Figs. 4 and 10), a first fastener receiving area (15 and 20), and a second fastener receiving area (15 and 20), the method comprising:
guiding the strap through the first strap aperture (see Figs.1, 4, and 10);
guiding the strap through the second strap aperture (see Figs.1, 4, and 10);
securing a first portion of the strap to the head within the first strap aperture by moving the first fastener with respect to the first fastener receiving area so as to pass the first fastener through the first portion of the strap or deform the first portion of the strap with the first fastener (see Figs.1, 4, and 10); and
securing a second portion of the strap to the head within the second strap aperture by moving the second fastener with respect to the second fastener receiving area so as to pass the second fastener through the second portion of the strap or deform the second portion of the strap with the second fastener (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
passing the strap around at least one object (1) to be secured after guiding the strap through the first strap aperture and before guiding the strap through the second strap aperture (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
after passing the strap around the at least one object, tightening the strap around the at least one object (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture each have a same shape (see Figs.1, 4, and 10), and wherein the first fastener receiving area and the second fastener receiving area each have a same shape (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first strap aperture is perpendicular to the first fastener receiving area (see Figs.1, 4, and 10), and wherein the second strap aperture is perpendicular to the second fastener receiving area (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the head (see Figs.1, 4, and 10) has a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, wherein the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture extend between the first lateral side and the second lateral side (see Figs.1, 4, and 10), and
wherein the first fastener receiving area and the second fastener receiving area extend between the top side and the bottom side (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture each have a shape that corresponds to a cross-section of the strap (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first fastener receiving area and the second fastener receiving area are each open on at least one lateral side of the head (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first fastener receiving area is open on a first lateral side of the head (see Figs.1, 4, and 10), and wherein the second fastener receiving area is open on a second lateral side of the head, the second lateral side being opposite the first lateral side (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
As for Claim 20, Kabel discloses a method of securing a fastening device around at least one object (1), the fastening device including a strap (2), a first fastener (12), a second fastener (12), and a head (4) having a first strap aperture (8), a second strap aperture (8), a first fastener receiving area (15 and 20), and a second fastener receiving area (15 and 20), the method comprising:
guiding the strap through the first strap aperture (see Figs.1, 4, and 10);
guiding the strap around the at least one object (see Figs.1, 4, and 10);
guiding the strap through the second strap aperture (see Figs.1, 4, and 10);
securing a second portion of the strap to the head within the second strap aperture by moving the second fastener with respect to the second fastener receiving area so as to pass the second fastener through the second portion of the strap or deform the second portion of the strap with the second fastener (see Figs.1, 4, and 10);
tightening the strap around the at least one object (see Figs.1, 4, and 10); and
securing a first portion of the strap to the head within the first strap aperture by moving the first fastener with respect to the first fastener receiving area so as to pass the first fastener through the first portion of the strap or deform the first portion of the strap with the first fastener (see Figs.1, 4, and 10).
PNG
media_image1.png
394
482
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Response to Arguments
Applicant should submit an argument under the heading “Remarks” pointing out disagreements with the examiner’s contentions. Applicant must also discuss the references applied against the claims, explaining how the claims avoid the references or distinguish from them.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M UPCHURCH whose telephone number is (571)270-7957. The examiner can normally be reached 6AM-3PM EST M-F.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571)272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DAVID M UPCHURCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677