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 .
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s amendment filed on 10/06/25.
Claim Objections
Claim 6 and 13 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 6 and 13, line 2, change the term “the main side” to -the first side- since there is no antecedent of basis for a main side (is actually the first side).
Appropriate correction is required.
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) 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 17 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over FR 2516969 to Dorille in view of US Pat No 2,232,020 to Bernhardt.
PNG
media_image1.png
776
1588
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claims 1, 2 and 17, Dorille discloses a door strike assembly capable of being used on a barn door and configured to receive a door lock bolt.
The strike assembly comprises a main body (7) having a first side to contact a door frame or wall, a second side and a third side opposed to the second side. The second and third sides are extending transversally from the first side. The main body comprises a bolt receiving aperture disposed within the second side of the main body to receive the door lock bolt therein.
A strike base (3) disposed at the first side of the main body. The strike base comprises a main body contacting portion to be fastened to the door frame or wall, and a plurality of connecting members (6) to fasten the main body contacting portion to the door frame or wall, and a plurality of apertures disposed within the main body contacting portion to receive the plurality of connecting members therethrough.
A receiving member (4) is connected to the main body connecting portion of the strike base.
However, in this embodiment, Dorille fails to disclose that the main body is attached to the door frame via a connection of at least one of the second and third sides with the receiving member.
Dorille discloses that the main body (7) is attached to the door frame via a connection of a screw (8) passing through other sides of the main body and the main body connecting portion.
PNG
media_image2.png
489
548
media_image2.png
Greyscale
However, Dorille discloses another embodiment (fig 6), wherein a main body (22) is attached to a door frame via a connection of at least one of a lateral side of the main body with a receiving member (15).
PNG
media_image3.png
597
1482
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Bernhardt teaches that it is well known in the art to provide a main body (14) that is attached to a door frame via a connection of at least one of a second and a third side of the main body with a receiving member (15).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the connection between the main body and the receiving member described by Dorille, dimensionally so as to be through the lateral side, as taught by the other embodiment of Dorille, and that the side is either a second or third side, as taught by Bernhardt, since it would be considered as a design consideration within the art to use any of the two ways to secure the two members in place.
As to claims 4 and 11, Dorille illustrates that the receiving member is located within and extends along the second side of the main body.
As to claims 5 and 12, Dorille illustrates that the main body includes an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, the upper and lower sides extending between the first, second and third sides.
As to claims 7 and 14, Bernhardt teaches that the third side of the main body is connected to the receiving member with a fastener.
As to claim 19, Dorille illustrates that the receiving member is located within and extends along one or the pair of sides of the main body.
Claim(s) 3, 10 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over FR 2516969 to Dorille in view of US Pat No 2,232,020 to Bernhardt and further in view of US Pat No 2,042,024 to Schlage.
Dorille, as modified by Bernhardt, fails to disclose a bolt securing member connected to the receiving member. Dorille discloses a one-piece member.
PNG
media_image4.png
442
999
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Schlage teaches that it is well known in the art to either provide a receiving member as a one piece (fig 2) or as providing a bolt securing member (13) connected to the receiving member.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the receiving member described by Dorille, as modified by Bernhardt, with a bolt securing member, as taught by Schlage, in order to provide a surface for the bolt when is secured within, so as to prevent damage to the receiving member.
Claim(s) 6 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over FR 2516969 to Dorille in view of US Pat No 2,232,020 to Bernhardt and further in view of US Pat No 1,894,913 to Sadler.
Dorille, as modified by Bernhardt, fails to disclose that the main body includes an outer side opposite the main side, the main body further including an angled side extending from the outer side toward the first side.
PNG
media_image5.png
452
500
media_image5.png
Greyscale
Sadler teaches that it is well known in the art to provide a main body (24) shaped so as to includes an outer side opposite the first side and an angled side extending from the outer side toward the first side.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the main body described by Dorille, as modified by Bernhardt, shaped so as to includes an outer side opposite the first side and an angled side extending from the outer side toward the first side, as taught by Sadler, since the esthetic of the main body have no effect on the function of the device.
Applicant is reminded that a change in the shape of a prior art device is a design consideration within the level of skill of one skilled in the art.
Claim(s) 8, 9, 15, 16 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over FR 2516969 to Dorille in view of US Pat No 2,232,020 to Bernhardt and further in view of US Pat No 2,731,822 to Bargman.
As to claims 8 and 15, Dorille, as modified by Bernhardt, fails to disclose that the strike assembly further comprises a connecting member disposed between the door frame and the main body contacting portion of the strike base, wherein the connecting member is connected to the main body contacting portion.
PNG
media_image6.png
618
1233
media_image6.png
Greyscale
Bargman teaches that it is well known in the art to provide a connecting member (31) disposed between a door frame and a main body contacting portion (24) of a strike base, wherein the connecting member is connected to the main body contacting portion.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the strike assembly described by Dorille, as modified by Bernhardt, with a connecting member, as taught by Bargman, in order to provide more support or reinforcement to the striker base.
As to claims 9, 16 and 20, Bargman teaches that the receiving member (32) is fastened to the connecting member (by screws 29, 30).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the previous prior art rejection to the claims 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.
Prosecution has been closed.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 CARLOS LUGO whose telephone number is (571)272-7058. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6pm.
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, Kristina Fulton can be reached at (571)272-7376. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Carlos Lugo/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3675
January 14, 2026