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, 4 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Peot [US 4,296,290].
In regard to claim 1, Peot discloses [in Figs. 1-3] a trigger switch, comprising: a trigger [12] that moves in a pulling direction in response to pressure of a pulling operation and moves in an opposite direction to the pulling direction in response to being released from the pressure; a movable engagement member [32] that moves in conjunction with movement of the trigger [12], wherein the movable engagement member [32] comprises ratchet teeth [pointed to at 32, Fig. 3] arranged along a movement direction; and a restraint engagement member [26, 28] that prevents movement of the movable engagement member [32] in the opposite direction to the pulling direction by engaging with the movable engagement member [32], wherein the restraint engagement member [26, 28] comprises a ratchet pawl [34], comprise an urging member [28] that urges that ratchet pawl toward the ratchet teeth of the moveable engagement member [32], allows movement of the movable engagement member [32] in the pulling direction, and engages with the movable engagement member [32] to prevent movement in the opposite direction from a position to which the movable engagement member [32] is moved in the pulling direction, wherein the ratchet teeth of the movable engagement member [32] and the ratchet pawl [34] of the restraint engagement member [26, 28] engage so that the movable engagement member [32] and the restraint engagement member [26, 28] engage.
In regard to claim 4, Peot discloses [in Figs. 1-3] the trigger switch according to claim 1, further comprising a release operation part [14] that receives an operation to release the movable engagement member [32] from engagement with the restraint engagement member [26, 28].
In regard to claim 5, Peot discloses [in Figs. 1-3] the trigger switch according to claim 1, further comprising a release operation part [14] that receives an operation to release the movable engagement member [32] from engagement with the restraint engagement member [26, 28].
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. In regard to amended claim 1, Applicant argues that “the Peot reference fails to disclose or suggest at least the features "wherein the restraint engagement member comprises a ratchet pawl, comprises an urging member that urges the ratchet pawl toward the ratchet teeth of the movable engagement member" as recited in the currently presented claim 1” because “In Peot, the lock button 28 (alleged as "urging member" in claims) is used to activate the lock-on mechanism only through a manual user operation, namely, by pushing the lock button 28 toward the switch body 20.” However, the Examiner notes that amended claim 1 does not specify how the urging member urges engagement. User operation of urging member [28] urges the ratchet pawl toward the ratchet teeth as recited in claim 1.
Applicant further argues that “If Peot's invention was modified to include an urging member that constantly biases/urges the lock pin 26 toward engagement, such modification would eliminate the need for the lock button 28 (the requirement for manual operation for safety).” However, the Examiner notes that amended claim 1 does not require that that the urging member constantly biases/urges the ratchet pawl as argued by the Applicant.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 LHEIREN MAE A CAROC whose telephone number is (571)272-2730. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.
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/LHEIREN MAE A CAROC/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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