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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/15/2025 has been entered.
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 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.
Claims 1-19 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dupree (U.S. 4,952,107).
Examiner Notes: It has been held that a recitation with respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus satisfying the claimed structural limitations. Ex parte Masham, 2 USPQ2d 1647 (1987).
As for Claim 1, Dupree discloses a fastening assembly for attaching a first structure to a second structure located at least partially behind the first structure, the assembly comprising:
a clip (11) configured to insert into an opening in the first structure (12) in an axial direction (see Fig. 2), wherein the clip is configured to engage the first structure upon being inserted into the opening of the first structure in the axial direction such that the clip is axially retained to the first structure (see Fig. 2), the clip comprising:
a base portion (22); and
a snap-fit shaft (21, see also Col. 2 lines 46-56) extending from the base portion in the axial direction;
wherein the clip defines a passthrough channel (23); and
a fastener (10) configured to insert through the passthrough channel to extend beyond the clip in the axial direction to mate with a mating portion (38) of the second structure (see Fig. 3), the fastener including a head (16) and a shank portion (17) extending from the head, wherein the head is recessed within the base portion (see Fig. 3 disclosing 16 recessed 35 of base portion 22);
wherein the clip and fastener are configured such that the clip axially limits a motion of the fastener when the fastener is advanced through the passthrough channel beyond a threshold insertion position to captively retain the fastener and prevent backing out of the fastener (see Fig. 3 and Col. 2 lines 27-38) and Col. 3 lines 9-40).
2. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion is configured to abut the first structure at the opening in the first structure (see Fig 3), and the snap-fit shaft is configured to extend through the opening in the first structure (see Fig. 3) to extend beyond the first structure in the axial direction (see Examiner’s Note).
3. The fastening assembly of claim 2, wherein the snap-fit shaft includes a first leaf-spring member (deflectable member defined by 20 and 32) and a second leaf-spring member (deflectable member defined by 20 and 32) separated by one or more slots (32) to allow the first leaf- spring member and second leaf-spring member to flex relative to each other (see Col. 2 lines 46-56).
4. The fastening assembly of claim 3, wherein the snap-fit shaft includes an outer ramp (lower ramped portion formed by bulbous portion of 20) formed from and/or extending outwardly from each of the first and second leaf spring member (see Fig. 2), each outer ramp configured to contact the first structure upon being inserted through the opening to cause respective leaf spring members to flex inwardly upon being inserted through the opening (see Col. 2 lines 46-56).
5. The fastening assembly of claim 4, wherein each outer ramp is positioned to allow a respective leaf spring member to snap outwardly when advanced beyond the first structure (see Col. 2 lines 46-56).
6. The fastening assembly of claim 5, wherein each outer ramp has a slope defining a proximal wall (upper ramped portion of bulbous portion of 20), wherein a pocket (pocket portion above(upper ramped portion of bulbous portion of 20) is formed between the proximal wall of each outer ramp and the base portion, the pocket configured to receive a wall of the first structure to secure the clip to the wall (see Figs. 2-3).
7. The fastening assembly of claim 6, wherein the snap-fit shaft includes a reducing inner dimension between a proximal portion and a distal portion such that the snap-fit shaft includes at least a first inner dimension (inner dimension of 35) and a second inner dimension (inner dimension of opening of passage 23) located distal of the first inner dimension, the second inner dimension being smaller than the first inner dimension (see Fig. 2).
8. The fastening assembly of claim 7, wherein the shank portion (17) has a first outer dimension (outer dimension of 17), and a distal end portion (distal end of 17) of the fastener has a second outer dimension (outer dimension of distal end of 17), and wherein the second outer dimension is larger than the second inner dimension (Fig. 2) such that insertion of the fastener through the snap-fit shaft causes an outward flex of the snap-fit shaft until the fastener is moved to or beyond the threshold insertion position (see Fig. 2).
9. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein the snap-fit shaft is configured to move back when the fastener is inserted to or beyond the threshold insertion position to create an axial backstop for the distal end portion of the fastener to captively retain the fastener and prevent backing out of the fastener (see Figs. 2-3).
10. The fastening assembly of claim 9, wherein the first outer dimension is equal to or less than the second inner dimension (see Figs. 2-3).
11. The fastening assembly of claim 10, wherein the head of the fastener (16) is larger than the passthrough channel (23) and contacts the base portion of the clip at a maximum insertion of the fastener into the passthrough channel (see Figs. 2-3).
12. The fastening assembly of claim 11, wherein the shank portion of the fastener is longer than the snap-fit shaft such that the shank portion extends beyond the snap-fit shaft in the axial direction (see Fig. 3).
13. The fastening assembly of claim 12, wherein each leaf-spring member includes an inner ramp (inner surface of 32) defined between the first inner dimension and the second inner dimension of the snap-fit shaft.
14. The fastening assembly of claim 13, wherein each inner ramp is distally located relative to the outer ramp (see Fig. 2).
15. The fastening assembly of claim 14, wherein the distal portion of the fastener includes a distally extending ramp shape configured to contact the inner ramp of each leaf spring member (see Fig. 2).
16. The fastening assembly of claim 15, wherein the fastener includes threading (threads of 17) on the distal portion proximal to the distally extending ramp shape configured to mesh with receiving threads of the mating portion of the second structure (38), wherein the shank portion and/or the distally extending ramp shape is smooth (see Fig. 2).
17. The fastening assembly of claim 2, wherein the base portion of the clip includes a bowl shape conformal to a recess in the first structure (see Fig. 2).
18. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of a flexible and/or electrically insulating material (see Col. 2 lines 27-28), wherein the fastener is made of metal (see Fig. 2).
As for Claim 19, Dupree discloses a clip for a fastening assembly, the clip configured to insert into an opening in a first structure in an axial direction, the clip comprising:
a base portion (22);
a snap-fit shaft (21) extending from the base portion in the axial direction to a distal end, the snap-fit shaft including a first leaf-spring member (right member 20) and a second leaf-spring member (left member 20) separated by one or more slots (32) to allow the first leaf-spring member and second leaf-spring member to flex relative to each other (see Col. 2 lines 46-36); and a first outer ramp extending from an exterior side of the first leaf-spring member (upper ramped portion of bulbous portion of 20) and a second outer ramp extending from an exterior side of the second leaf-spring member (upper ramped portion of bulbous portion of 20), the first outer ramp and the second outer ramp configured to contact the first structure upon being inserted through the opening to cause the first leaf-spring member and the second leaf-spring member to flex inwardly upon being inserted through the opening (see Figs. 2-3 and Col. 2 lines 46-56);
wherein the first outer ramp and the second outer ramp are spaced towards to base portion from the distal end (see Fig. 2); and
wherein the clip is configured to engage the first structure upon being inserted into the opening of the first structure in the axial direction such that the clip is axially retained to the first structure (see Fig. 3), the clip defining a passthrough channel (23), wherein the clip is configured to axially limit a motion of a fastener when a fastener is advanced through the passthrough channel beyond a threshold insertion position to captively retain the fastener and prevent backing out of the fastener (see Fig. 2).
As for Claim 21, Dupree discloses a fastening assembly for attaching a first structure to a second structure located at least partially behind the first structure, the assembly comprising:
a clip (10 and 11) configured to insert into an opening in the first structure in an axial direction, wherein the clip is configured to engage the first structure upon being inserted into the opening of the first structure in the axial direction such that the clip is axially retained to the first structure, the clip comprising:
a base portion (22); and
a snap-fit shaft (21) extending from the base portion to a distal end, the snap-fit shaft extending in the axial direction (see Fig. 2);
wherein an exterior diameter at the distal end (diameter of 21) is smallest exterior diameter of the snap-fit shaft; and
wherein the clip defines a passthrough channel (23); and
a fastener (10) configured to insert through the passthrough channel to extend beyond the clip in the axial direction to mate with a mating portion (38) of the second structure (see Figs. 2-3);
wherein the clip and fastener are configured such that the clip axially limits a motion of the fastener when the fastener is advanced through the passthrough channel beyond a threshold insertion position to captively retain the fastener and prevent backing out of the fastener (see Figs. 2-3).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-19 and 21 have been considered but are moot because -the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M UPCHURCH whose telephone number is (571)270-7957. The examiner can normally be reached 6AM-3PM EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571)272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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DAVID M. UPCHURCH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/DAVID M UPCHURCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677