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) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Weiss (USPN 6347426).
With regards to claim 1, Weiss teaches an apparatus comprising: a roller handle (6) having a connecting rod (12) with first and second ends; a first endcap (7) attached to a first end of the connecting rod, wherein the first endcap is configured to be positioned within at least a first end portion of a roller cover; a second endcap (6) configured to be attached to the second end of the connecting rod and to be positioned within at least a second portion of the roller cover, wherein the first endcap is configured to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a first direction parallel to the connecting rod; and a roller cover locking mechanism (14) configured to removably attach to the second endcap to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a second direction that is parallel to the connecting rod.
With regards to claim 2, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a twist-lock threaded screw cap (18; figure 4).
With regards to claim 3, the first and second endcaps are undersized relative to the inner diameter of a roller cover to facilitate easy removal when the roller cover locking mechanism is released (figure 1).
With regards to claim 4, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a surface having a diameter that is larger than the second endcap (col. 3, lines 7-10).
With regards to claim 5, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a surface having textured surface for gripping (21).
With regards to claim 6, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a contoured shape for gripping (knurled surface; 21).
With regards to claim 7, Weiss teaches a method of manufacturing a roller cover assembly, the method comprising: attaching a first endcap (7) to a connecting rod (12) of a roller handle (6), wherein the first endcap is configured to be positioned within at least a first end portion of a roller cover; attaching a second endcap (6) to the connecting rod, wherein the second endcap is configured to be positioned within at least a second end portion of the roller cover, wherein the first endcap is configured to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a first direction parallel to the connecting rod; and providing a roller cover locking mechanism (14) configured to removably attach to the second endcap to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a second direction that is parallel to the connecting rod.
Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Miller (USPN 5755004).
With regards to claim 1, Miller teaches an apparatus comprising: a roller handle (6) having a connecting rod (not labeled; but shown in figure 2) with first and second ends; a first endcap (figure 1, right end) attached to a first end of the connecting rod, wherein the first endcap is configured to be positioned within at least a first end portion of a roller cover; a second endcap (4; figure 5) configured to be attached to the second end of the connecting rod and to be positioned within at least a second portion of the roller cover, wherein the first endcap is configured to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a first direction parallel to the connecting rod; and a roller cover locking mechanism (20; figure 5) configured to removably attach to the second endcap to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a second direction that is parallel to the connecting rod.
With regards to claim 2, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a twist-lock threaded screw cap (24, 28).
With regards to claim 3, the first and second endcaps are undersized relative to the inner diameter of a roller cover to facilitate easy removal when the roller cover locking mechanism is released (figure 1).
With regards to claim 4, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a surface having a diameter that is larger than the second endcap (col. 2, lines 14-19).
With regards to claim 5, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a surface having textured surface for gripping (figure 7; knurled).
With regards to claim 6, the roller cover locking mechanism includes a contoured shape for gripping (knurled surface).
With regards to claim 7, Weiss teaches a method of manufacturing a roller cover assembly, the method comprising: attaching a first endcap (right end; figure 1) to a connecting rod (not labeled, figure 2) of a roller handle (6), wherein the first endcap is configured to be positioned within at least a first end portion of a roller cover; attaching a second endcap (4; figure 5) to the connecting rod, wherein the second endcap is configured to be positioned within at least a second end portion of the roller cover, wherein the first endcap is configured to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a first direction parallel to the connecting rod; and providing a roller cover locking mechanism (20; figure 5) configured to removably attach to the second endcap to arrest lateral movement of the roller cover along a second direction that is parallel to the connecting rod.
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).
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, 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.
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.
/SHAY KARLS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723