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 .
Detailed Action
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention Group A (claims 1-8 and 20 readable) in the reply filed on 12/16/2025 is acknowledged. In light of the allowable subject matter of claim 1, claims 9-14 have been rejoined with claim 1. Further, independent claim 15 and its dependent claims contain, in part, the limitation of claim 14 and, therefore, have been rejoined and examined for patentability.
Drawings Objection
The drawings are objected to because in Fig.20g, reference numeral “58” should read --62--. Note Fig.20f.
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.
Objection to the Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
(1) In paragraph [0070], line 13, “short side 16a” should read --short side 16b--.
(2) In paragraph [0083], line 20, “clamp arms 58” should read --clamp arms 56--. Note line 1 of paragraph [0078].
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objection
Claims 1-14 are objected to because of the following informalities:
(1) In claim 1, line 7, “predefine angle” should read --predefined angle--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
1. 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.
2. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
(1) The scope of claim 1 is vague. While the preamble calls for “a tool sharpening system, however, there is no means cited in the claim that enables sharpening of a tool. Thus, the claimed system is inoperative for performing the requisite function of sharpening a tool. It is suggested a sharpening stone be included in the main body of the claim to perform the function of sharpening.
(2) In claim 1, line 3, “the body” has no clear antecedent basis and should read --a body--.
(3) In claim 1, line 9, “a level surface” is vague and indefinite. It is suggested the phrase be changed to --a level surface of a sharpening stone--.
(4) In claim 1, line 13, “a blade” is vague and should be changed to --a blade of a hand tool--.
(5) In claim 1, lines 14-15, it is not understood how an assisted freehand sharpening of woodworking hand tool blades at specific angles is achieved. How does the angle reference block relate to the blade to be sharpened? What does it mean by “freehand” sharpening? Is the sharpening performed “automatically” without a user’s hand? There is no relationship between the angle reference block and the honing guide workable together to sharpen the blade of the hand tool.
(6) In claim 6, lines 2 and 3, “the outer surface” and “a sharpening surface” should read --an outer surface-- and --a sharpening surface of the sharpening stone--, respectively.
(7) In claim 7, lines 2 and 3, “a sharpening surface” and “the blade cutting edge” should read --a sharpening surface of the sharpening stone-- and --a cutting edge of the blade--, respectively.
(8) In claim 8, lines 2 and 3, “said roller ring” and “the cutting edge” should read --said roller member-- and --a cutting edge--, respectively.
(9) In claim 9, line 2, “a body” should read --the body-- since it refers to the one previously cited. Note line 3 of claim 1.
(10) In claim 14, lines 3-4, “said at least one guide rod opening” has no antecedent basis.
(11) In claim 14, line 12, “a tool blade” should read –the blade of the hand tool--. Note the above item (4).
(12) In claim 14, line 13, “guide rods” is vague. It appears “alongside guide rods” should read --along said guide rod--. Note lines 6-9 of the claim.
(13) In claim 15, line 20, “guide rods” is vague. It appears “alongside guide rods” should read --along said guide rod--. Note lines 12-15 of the claim.
(14) In claim 17, line 3, “the cutting edge of the blade” should read --a cutting edge of the tool blade--.
Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
1. Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
2. Claims 1-14 contain allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record taken alone or in combination thereof shows or fairly suggests the claimed tool sharping system comprising among other things, an angle reference block (12, see Fig.10) including a series of angled end surfaces (36a-36d), a series of slots (38) each disposed in the angle reference block (12) and including a stop member (40, Fig.12) that extends upward from a bottom of the slot (38) a given distance that is associated with a specific angle set point; and a key (42, Fig.10) receivable in the slots (38) to adjust the angle associated with said angled end surfaces, and wherein each said slot 938) designates a predefined angle for adjusting the angled end surface (36) to a desired set angle when said key (42) is disposed in a given said slot (38) and placed on a level surface (see Fig.17b).
3. Claims 15-19 contain allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record taken alone or in combination thereof shows or fairly suggests the claimed honing guide comprising, among other things, a housing (16, Fig.19f), at least one guide rod opening (54) disposed in the housing (16), a clamp (50, Fig.19a) removably carried by the housing (16) and having at least one guide rod (52) extending through the at least one guide rod opening (54); a first clamping arm (56, Fig.19a) carried by said guide rod (52) on a first side of the housing (16) and movable along said guide rod (52), a second clamping arm (56) carried by said at least one guide rod (52) on a second side of the housing (16) opposite the first side and movable along said guide rod (52); said first and second clamping arms (56) each including a securing arm portion (62, Fig.19d) extending at an inclined upward angle above a horizontal plane of a flat top surface of the housing (16).
4. Claim 20 contains allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record taken alone or in combination thereof shows or fairly suggests the claimed honing guide (10, Fig.1) comprising, among other things, a housing (16) rotatably carrying a roller ring (18) that carried in a raceway (24, Fig.6) defined in said housing (16), and wherein a bottom portion (28) of the housing (16) defines a section (28) of the raceway (24) and to provide a finger brace (28) against which a user’s finger rest during use; and at least one bearing unit (30) disposed along a top side of the raceway (24) and engaging the roller ring (18).
Prior Art Citations
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent No. 1,026,623 shows a honing guide (4) supported by a pair of arms (14,15).
U.S. Patent No. 2,740,241 is cited to show an angle reference plate (Fig.5) having indicia to indicate sharpening angles when used with a honing guide (see Fig.4) for sharpening a blade (25).
U.S. Patent No. 4,669,227 shows an angle plate apparatus with an adjustable workpiece holder.
U.S. Patent No. 4,733,501 shows an angle reference block (53, see Fig.3) including a series of angled end surfaces defining different angles (20º, 25º, 30º,35º).
U.S. Patent No. 8,197,304 is cited to show a tool sharpening system (Fig.1) comprising an angle reference block (9, Fig.3) having an angle plate (47) for positioning a blade to be sharpened at a desired sharpening angle.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0189263 shows a honing guide (10) comprising a body (12) that rotatably carries a roller member (20) that rolls on a sharpening stone (40) while sharpening a blade on the stone (40) when the blade (42A) is clamped in the honing guide (10).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0058923 shows a honing guide (20) comprising a roller member (64) for rolling on a sharpening stone (S) and a body (22) for holding a blade (8) to be sharpened.
GB-1445422 and GB-911900 each shows a honing guide.
Point of Contact
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HWEI-SIU PAYER whose telephone number is (571)272-4511. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Boyer Ashley, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-4502. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HWEI-SIU C PAYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724