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 Objections
2. Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Re claim 2, line 4: replace, “ii) ii)” with --ii)--.
Re claim 2, line 5: replace, “iii) iii)” with --iii)--.
Re claim 2, line 6: replace, “iv) iv)” with --iv)--.
Re claim 2, line 7: replace, “v) v)” with --v)--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
3. 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.
4. Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Orzech et al (7,621,536), hereinafter Orzech.
With respect to claim 1, Orzech discloses a support frame for an adjustable target disc-catching device (figures 1-7), comprising: a central pole-hub (102); a plurality of spokes radiating from the central pole-hub (arms 302A and 304A); a plurality of evenly distributed rails connecting to the spokes (figure 3); wherein each rail is a length of solid material (figure 3) comprising: an outer portion with an outer end (construed as the area ends of ends 328A and 328B – figure 3), an inner portion (starting at 316 and 318) with an inner end (310 and 312); wherein the outer end of the rail is attached to an outer chain barrier (area end of sleeves 314 and 318); the inner end of the rail is attached to an inner chain barrier; wherein the outer portion of the rail comprises an inclining sliding plane (arm portion of arm 302A between end 328A to sleeve 314 and the arm portion of 304A between end 328B to sleave 318 – figure 3); and the inner portion of the rail comprises a declining sliding plane (from 316 via 302B and 381 via 304B).
With respect to claim 2, Orzech illustrates in figure 3 illustrates the support frame, wherein the inclining sliding plane of the rail has an angle and length selected from: i) at least about 30 degrees and at least about 15 cm; ii) at least about 40 degrees and at least about 10 cm; iii) at least about 50 degrees and at least about 8 cm; iv) at least about 60 degrees and at least about 7 cm; or v) at least about 70 degrees and at least about 6 cm. Also see column 4, lines 11-31, wherein the length and angles are discussed.
With respect to claim 1, Orzech illustrates in figure 1, the support frame wherein a chain 108 hangs from the rail.
Conclusion
6. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure: See attached PTO form 892, Refence Cited.
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Allyson N. Trail whose telephone number is (571) 272-2406. The examiner can normally be reached between the hours of 7:30AM to 4:00PM Monday thru Friday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael G. Lee, can be reached on (571) 272-2398. The fax phone number for this Group is (571) 273-8300.
Communications via Internet e-mail regarding this application, other than those under 35 U.S.C. 132 or which otherwise require a signature, may be used by the applicant and should be addressed to [allyson.trail@uspto.gov].
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/ALLYSON N TRAIL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
February 21, 2026