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 § 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 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.
Claim 1, “a kind of bending bolt type anti-loosening nut”, unclear what applicant means by a kind and bolt type? Is applicant trying to claim a bending bolt that is anti-loosening nut and if so, then claim that. For examining purpose examiner is rejecting claims as best understood.
Claim 2, same 112 rejection as claim 1. Claims are rejected as best understood.
Claim 2, “a washer”, unclear how a bolt that is anti-loosening nut can have a washer? Applicant may be trying to claim a fastener assembly having multiple elements?
Claim 3-5, same 112 rejection as claim 1. Claims are rejected 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.
Claim(s) 1 and 3-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wu et al (CN104632850A). Claims are rejected as best understood.
Wu discloses a bending bolt anti-loosening nut assembly comprises an upper nut and a lower nut (e.g. nuts shown in figure 1-5), the upper nut and the lower nut are stacked on the outside of the bolt (e.g. see bolt shown in figure 6) and used to tightly connect the bolt to the connecting piece (e.g. see pieces shown in figure 5 having bolt holes), the lower nut is arranged close to the connecting piece, and the upper nut is arranged on the outer end surface of the lower nut (e.g. see figure 5), the adjacent end between the upper nut and lower nut is provided with an inclined surface (e.g. figures 1-4), the inclined surface is inclined towards the interior of the upper nut, so that an inclined plane angle with deformation space between the upper nut and lower nut is formed (e.g. see incline angle beta of the bolt in figure 5 that is created by incline angle(s) of the nut(s)).
Regarding claim 3: Wherein the inclined plane angle ranges from 5° to 9° (e.g. translation states 1-10 in paragraph 0032).
Regarding claim 4: Wherein the initial state of the upper nut and the lower nut is point contact, and the fastening state of the upper nut and the lower nut is surface contact (e.g. this is the case since the surface of the nut is inclined).
Regarding claim 5: Wherein the deformation inclination angle of the bolt is consistent with the inclined plane angle (e.g. this is the case as shown in figure 5).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu in view of Yang et al (CN2018509932U).
Wu discloses the invention as claimed above but fails to disclose a washer is arranged between the lower nut and the connecting piece, and the washer is sleeved on the bolt. Yang discloses a bending bolt anti-loosening nut (e.g. figure 3) having a washer (e.g. 27) that is arranged between a lower nut (e.g. 2) and the connecting piece (e.g. 22 and/or 23), and the washer is sleeved on the bolt (e.g. figure 3 shows this). It would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to configure the bending bolt anti-loosening nut assembly of Wu to have a washer as taught by Yang with reasonable expectation of success to provide a spacer and sealing (e.g. see description of 27 in Yang) and precent damage to connecting piece by the bolt (e.g. washer precent contact with connecting piece).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VISHAL A PATEL whose telephone number is (571)272-7060. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00 am to 4:00pm.
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, 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.
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.
/VISHAL A PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3675