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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 5, 8-11 and 15 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on April 24, 2026.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “311” has been used to designate both “clamping surface” and dowel portion.
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. 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 § 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.
Claims 1-4, 6, 7 and 16-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hu (2006/0200962).
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Hu meets all fo the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a tool comprising:
a base 61,62 including a through hole accommodating 1;
first and second jaw bodies 5 pivotably coupled to the base @19;
and a shank 1 having distal and proximal ends, wherein the distal end is threadedly coupled to the base @63; wherein rotation of the base with respect to the shank in a first rotational direction causes the first and second jaw bodies to pivot in a direction toward each other and rotation of the base in a second rotational direction causes the first and second jaw bodies to pivot in a direction away from each other [0015].
Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, Hu) meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 1, wherein the proximal end is adapted to couple to a slide hammer Fig. 5.
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 2, wherein the proximal end includes a coupling 9 adapted to couple to the slide hammer, and the coupling is shaped so it can engage a tool.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw bodies 5 respectively include opposing first and second gripping jaws 51, Fig. 2.
Regarding claim 6, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw bodies 5 each include a workpiece-specific geometry 51 adapted to cooperatively grip a work piece.
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[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (PIVOT)]Regarding claim 7, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 1, further comprising a yoke 31 coupled to the distal end of the shank 1, the first and second jaw bodies 5 being pivotably coupled to the yoke @pivot bolts.
CLAIM 16
Hu meets all fo the limitations of claim 16, i.e., a tool comprising:
a base 6 defining a through hole receiving 1 and first and second wings 63, 64;
a shank 1 having distal and proximal ends, wherein the distal end is threadedly coupled to the through hole of the base Fig. 2;
a yoke 31 coupled to the distal end of the shank; and
first and second jaw bodies 5, each jaw body having a clamping surface 51, wherein the first and second jaw bodies are pivotably @41 coupled to the yoke by a yoke pin 41;
wherein rotation of the base 6, 61 with respect to the shank 1 in a first rotational direction causes the first and second jaw bodies to pivot about the yoke pin in a clamping direction, and rotation of the base in a second rotational direction causes the first and second jaw bodies to pivot in an unclamping direction [0015].
Regarding claim 17, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second wings includes opposing first and second wing projections, the first jaw body is disposed between the first and second wing projections of the first wing, and the second jaw body is disposed between the first and second wing projections of the second wing.
Regarding claim 18, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second wing projections includes a pin hole, a first pin is disposed in the pin holes of the first and second wing projections of the first wing, and a second pin is disposed in the pin holes of the first and second wing projections of the second wing.
Regarding claim 19, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 14, wherein the proximal end includes a coupling adapted to couple to a slide hammer, and the coupling is shaped to engage a tool.
CLAIM 20
Hu meets all fo the limitations of claim 16, i.e., a tool comprising:
a base 6, 61 defining a through hole and opposing first and second wings 63, 64;
a shank 1 having distal and proximal ends, wherein the distal end is threadedly coupled to the through hole of the base Fig. 2; and
first and second jaw bodies 5 pivotably disposed between Fig. 5 the first and second wings;
wherein rotation of the base with respect to the shank in a first rotational direction causes the first and second jaw bodies to pivot in a clamping direction, and rotation of the base in a second rotational direction causes the first and second jaw bodies to pivot in an unclamping direction [0015].
Regarding claim 21, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second wings includes first and second pin holes receiving bolts, Fig. 2.
Regarding claim 22, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 21, further comprising a first pin bolt not numbered adjacent 61 disposed in the first pin holes of the first and second wings, and a second pin bolt not numbered adjacent 62 disposed in the second pin holes of the first and second wings Fig. 2.
Regarding claim 23, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool of claim 20, wherein the proximal end includes a coupling 9 adapted to couple to a slide hammer, and the coupling is shaped to engage a tool.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Bugosh and Robertson are cited to show related inventions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADI SHAKERI whose telephone number is (571)272-4495. The fax phone number for forwarding unofficial documents for discussion purposes only is (571) 273-4495. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
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, Brian Keller can be reached on 571 272 8548. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Hadi Shakeri/
May 14, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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