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 § 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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a(1) as being anticipated by Chang (7,743,685).
PNG
media_image1.png
435
381
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Chang discloses all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a ratcheting wrench assembly comprising:
a drive head comprising a drive mechanism and an extension 36, Fig. 3;
a handle 20 comprising one or more legs 22, 24;
the drive head pivotably connected to the handle by a fastener 40, the fastener extending through an aperture 221 of each of the one 221 or more legs 242, Fig. 3 and an aperture of the extension 362; and
the fastener comprising a shank with a first end RT end Fig. 4 of the shank comprising threads TS annotated Fig. 3, the threads extend a partial length of the aperture 242 of one of the one or more legs 24 wherein the threads TS of the fastener mate with threads 244 on a surface of the aperture 242 of the one of the one or more legs receiving the first end of the shank Fig. 4.
PNG
media_image2.png
288
354
media_image2.png
Greyscale
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (TS)]
Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, Chang) meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more legs 24 is two legs 22, 24 with a handle recess not numbered, Fig. 3 between the two legs 22, 24, the fastener 40 extends through the apertures 221, 242 of each of the two legs and the aperture 362 of the extension 36, and the extension is positioned within the handle recess Fig. 4.
PNG
media_image4.png
382
330
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 2 wherein the aperture 221, 242 of the two legs receiving the first end RT/threaded end of the shank further comprises a counterbore 246 for receiving a section of the shank Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein the counterbore 246 is unthreaded counterbore 02:55 and the unthreaded counterbore is positioned adjacent the handle recess Fig. 4.
PNG
media_image4.png
382
330
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 5, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein the unthreaded counterbore 246 directly mates with or directly abuts an unthreaded surface of the shank 40 of the fastener within the aperture of the leg receiving the first end of the shank Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 6, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein an inside diameter of the unthreaded counterbore 246 is the same as an outside diameter of the shank of the fastener Fig. 4.
PNG
media_image2.png
288
354
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 7, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein an outside diameter of the shank 40 is constant aside from the threads of the shank Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 8, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein an inside diameter of the apertures 242 of the two legs are the same and constant aside from the threads on the surface the aperture Fig. 4.
PNG
media_image4.png
382
330
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 9, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein the threads of the shank TS and the threads 244 on the surface of the aperture 242 do not extend a full length of the aperture 24 of the leg receiving the first end of the shank Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 10, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture 242 of the one or more legs 24 receiving the first end threaded end of the shank further comprises an unthreaded counterbore 246 for receiving an unthreaded section of the shank Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 11, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein the unthreaded counterbore 246 is positioned adjacent the extension of the drive head Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 12, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein the threads 246 of the surface of the aperture 24 have a smaller diameter than the unthreaded counterbore defined at least by the valleys.
PNG
media_image2.png
288
354
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 13, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein the threads 244 of the surface of the aperture 242 and the threads TS of the shank are separated from the extension 36 of the drive head by the unthreaded counterbore 246.
PNG
media_image4.png
382
330
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 14, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein the unthreaded counterbore 246 directly mates with or directly abuts an unthreaded surface of the shank 40 of the fastener within the aperture 242 of the one of the one or more legs 24 receiving the first end TS of the shank 40.
Regarding claim 15, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein an inside diameter of the unthreaded counterbore 246 is the same as an outside diameter of the shank of the fastener 40, Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 16, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein an outside diameter of the shank 40 is otherwise constant aside from the threads of the shank Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 17, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein an inside diameter of each of the apertures 242 of the one or more legs 24 are the same and constant aside from the threads 244 on the surface the aperture 242, Fig. 4. Note that claim 17 requires only one leg.
Regarding claim 18, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 10 wherein the threads of the shank 40 and the threads 244 on the surface of the aperture 242 do not extend a full length of the aperture 242 of the leg of the one or more legs 24 receiving the first end of the shank 40, Fig. 4.
PNG
media_image5.png
349
342
media_image5.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 19, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener 40 further comprises a screw head not numbered for receiving a tool at a second end of the shank opposite the first end threaded end/TS of the shank 40, Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 20, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the ratcheting wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener 40 completely fills the aperture of each of the one or more legs 221 and 242 and the aperture 364 of the extension 36, Figs. 3 and 4.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Oriol and Sampson 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.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Hadi Shakeri/
December 25, 2025 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723