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 Objections
Claims 14 and 20 were previously objected to. Applicant has successfully addressed these issues in the amendments filed on 11/24/2025. Accordingly, the objections to the claims have been withdrawn.
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) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 20130133384 to Pickar.
Regarding claim 1, Pickar discloses:
A door handle assembly (fig 1), comprising: a single lock actuator (44/46) configured to actuate between an unlocked position (fig 9) and a locked position (fig 8); and one or more linkage bars (48/50) in mechanical communication with and extending from the single lock actuator (fig 3), the one or more linkage bars comprising: a first engagement (48) member configured to engage with a handle locking bolt (60) such that actuation of the lock actuator causes actuation of the handle locking bolt between an unlocked position (fig 9) and a locked position (fig 8), wherein, when in the locked position, the handle locking bolt is configured to prevent rotation of a handle (20/22) of the door handle assembly; and a second engagement member (50) configured to engage with a deadbolt (18) such that actuation of the single lock actuator causes actuation of the deadbolt between an unlocked position (fig 9) and a locked position (fig 8), wherein, when in the locked position, the deadbolt is configured to engage with a mortice to prevent opening of a door (not shown, see abstract) to which the door handle assembly is affixed.
Regarding claim 2, Pickar discloses:
The door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the single lock actuator comprises a lock cam (44 is a loc cam) with one or more crank arms (56) connected to the lock cam.
Regarding claim 3, Pickar discloses:
The door handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the lock cam is actuatable by operation of a key cylinder (40), a thumb turn, or a motor system.
Regarding claim 4, Pickar discloses:
The door handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a single key cylinder (40 is a single key cylinder) accessible from an exterior face (12) of the door handle assembly.
Regarding claim 5, Pickar discloses:
The door handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more linkage bars comprises a single linkage bar (70), and wherein the one or more crank arms comprises a single crank arm (56).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14-20 is allowed.
Claims 6-13 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 11/24/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding Applicants arguments that 44/46 are 2 separate actuators, Examiner respectfully disagrees. 44 and 46 are two components that act together to be a lock actuator. They do not individually function, and so the both of them together are a single lock actuator. Therefore, rejection is maintained.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Yahya Sidky whose telephone number is (571)272-6237. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8:30-4:30.
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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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/Y.S./Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3675
/CHRISTINE M MILLS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3675