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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Species A, Figs. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B in the reply filed on 5/5/2016 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
Applicant includes claim 1-5, 8, 9, 12-14, and 16-18 as reading the claims. However, Claim 9 does not read on the elected species because it requires a sliding block which is in the species shown in Fig. 5 (p.[0051-0054]). Accordingly claims 6-7, 9-11 and 15 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b). Claim 19 is rejoined due to its dependence from an allowable claim.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the aircraft and cabin fitting must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-5, 8, 12-14 and 16-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In claim 1, line 4-6, it is unclear how the bush would be slidable in an unlocked position because in the unlocked position it appears that is would have to be fixed or it would initiate the locked position. In claim 14, there is no antecedent basis for “the frame” and it is unclear how the fastening device would be in the opening because the fastening device includes the bolt which is at least partially outside of the opening. In claim 16, lines 14-16, it is unclear how the retaining ring would be between the locator bush and shank in the perpendicular direction because as understood the retaining ring is located axially from the locator bush when the shank in inserted. The claims were examined as best understood.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-5 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Picard (US 11,976,461). Picard discloses a fastening system comprising: a support structure (36); a mechanical element (30) and a fastening device (28). The fastening device comprising: an enclosure (50) mounted to the support structure, a locator bush (64) housed in the enclosure slidable along a longitudinal axis from an unlocked position (Fig. 3A) to a locked position (Fig. 3B); a retaining element (62) positioned around the longitudinal axis mechanically coupled to the locator bush (at 100, 104); a locking bolt (34) including a head to mount to the mechanical element slidable into the locator bush (at 136) to bring the retaining element into positively-locking engagement with the bolt (Fig. 3B). The bolt includes a circumferential recess (40) for the retaining element and the retaining element is axially fixed in relation to the enclosure with a positioning element (56) fixed to the enclosure.
Claims 1-2, 4 and 12-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Paasche (US 2007/0194173). Paasche discloses a fastening system comprising: a support structure in the form of an aircraft frame (14); a mechanical element in the form of a cabin fitting (22) and a fastening device (26). The fastening device comprising: an enclosure (50) mounted to an opening in the aircraft frame (Fig. 1), a locator bush (36) housed in the enclosure (32) slidable along a longitudinal axis from an unlocked position (Figs. 4-5) to a locked position (Figs. 6-7); a retaining element (42) positioned around the longitudinal axis mechanically coupled to the locator bush (34); a locking bolt (28) including a head (28b) to mount to the cabin fitting slidable into the locator bush (at 36a) and into positively-locking engagement with the bolt (Fig. 7). The bolt includes a circumferential recess (below the end 28a) for the retaining element.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 8 appears would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 16-19 appear would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: in the context of the claimed invention the prior art does not disclose the retaining element being a retaining ring.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Wiley (US 10,927,874) and Droste (US 10,920,819) are cited to teach fastening devices with threaded bolts. Stultz (US 2,896,287) is cited to teach a retaining ring. Ciprian (US 8,220,222) is cited to teach anti-slip teeth. The other references cited are of general interest.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FLEMMING SAETHER whose telephone number is (571)272-7071. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30 - 7:00 eastern.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine Mills can be reached at 571-272-8322. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FLEMMING SAETHER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3675
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