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 .
The amendment filed on 01/07/2026 in response to the Non-Final rejection mailed on 07/22/2025 has been considered. Claim(s) 1, 2, 4-18, 20, and 21 is/are pending. Claim(s) 3 and 19 has/have been canceled. Claim(s) 21 has/have been added. Claim(s) 1, 2, 4-18, 20, and 21 has/have been examined in this action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2011/127516.
Regarding claim 21, George et al. disclose a corner key (40, Fig.12) for a frame comprising: a corner key (40, Fig.12) having a base (corner portion at 40 and 45) with a first portion (41) and a second portion (43); a first extension member (62) movably connected to the first portion with a first connector (78) integrally formed with the first extension member and the first portion (connector is essential to the corner key); and a second extension member (63) movably connected to the second portion with a second connector (79) integrally formed with the second extension member and the second portion; wherein the first extension member is movable with respect to the first portion such that the first extension member can be moved toward the first portion to a first distance (tighten the connector) and away from the first portion to a second distance (loosen the connector).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s amendments and arguments filed 07 January 2026, with respect to claims 1, 7, and 13 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejections of claims 1, 2, 4-18, and 20 have been withdrawn.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 4-18, and 20 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record fails to disclose the combination of elements of the corner key for a frame, including the base, first and second portions, and first and section extensions, and further including the different specifics regarding the connectors of the corner key.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 RYAN D KWIECINSKI whose telephone number is (571)272-5160. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Mattei can be reached at (571) 272-3238. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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RDK
/RYAN D KWIECINSKI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3635
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