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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the second recess for receiving and securing a second alignment device (claim 11) and the handle (claim 1) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 1, line 10, ‘of’ should be ‘on’. Claim 5, the golf club cannot include a device that is not physically attached to it. Claims 1 and 12, should handle be shaft? If not, provide location in the specification. For examining purposes, the term handle will be considered a shaft.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 6-13, and 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Parsons et al. (20210402267). Claim 1, Parsons discloses a golf club, comprising a shaft having a grip (paragraph 96) at a first end and a head at a second end, the head having attached thereto an alignment device (visual guide 122, 124, 126, fig 4) [0084] [0074]; the head comprising: a contact surface (150); a top surface extending away from the contact surface (170); and a bottom surface extending away from the contact surface and located beneath the top surface (180); wherein the bottom surface faces opposite to the top surface (fig 1); and wherein the alignment device is positioned in a visible region of the top surface and configured to be adjusted (removable) to provide a visual aid for properly aligning the head along a target path (visual guide 122, 124, 126, fig 4) [0084]. Claim 2, the top surface includes one or more upper facing surfaces configured to receive and secure the alignment device, and wherein the one or more upper facing surfaces form the visible region of the top surface (fig 4). Claim 6, the alignment device is permanently locked and fixed into place on the top surface [0087]. Claim 7, the alignment device is a medallion and is a circular shape allowing a player to focus on the alignment device (fig 4). Claim 8, the head houses the alignment device. Claim 9, the alignment device mechanically secures to the head or the top surface using screws [0087]. Claim 10, the head includes a recess for receiving and securing the alignment device (figs 1, 11-12). Claim 11, the head includes a second recess for receiving and securing a second alignment device (122, 124, 126). Claim 12, Parsons discloses a method of forming a golf club, comprising: forming a shaft having a grip at a first end and a head at a second end; forming a head having: a contact surface, a top surface extending away from the contact surface; and a bottom surface extending away from the contact surface and located beneath the top surface; wherein the bottom surface faces opposite to the top surface [0074]; and configuring a visible region of the top surface for receiving and securing an adjustable alignment device (visual guide 122, 124, 126, fig 4) [0084] [0074]; the alignment device providing a visual aid for properly aligning the head along a target path. Claim 13, forming, in the top surface, one or more upper facing surfaces configured for receiving and securing the alignment device, the one or more upper facing surfaces forming the visible region of the top surface (fig 4). Claim 17, the alignment device is a medallion and is a circular shape allowing a player to focus on the alignment device (fig 4). Claim 18, the alignment device mechanically secures to the head or the top surface using screws [0087]. Claim 19, the head includes a recess for receiving and securing the alignment device (figs 1, 11-12). Claim 20, the head includes a second recess for receiving and securing a second alignment device (122, 124, 126).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 3-4 and 14-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Parsons et al. (20210402267) in view of Primiano et al. (6,450,893). Claims 3-4 and 14-15, Parsons does not disclose a training device attached to the handle. Primiano teaches a detachable laser training device attached to the shaft of a golf club. One of ordinary skill in the art would have included a laser training device to assist a user. Claim 16, Parsons discloses the alignment device is permanently locked and fixed into place on the top surface [0087]. One of ordinary skill in the art would have included a laser training device to assist a user.
Conclusion
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/RAEANN GORDEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3711
February 13, 2026