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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Species C, Fig. 9 in the reply filed on August 5, 2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the mutually exclusive characteristics are all encompassed by generic figures and that all the mutually exclusive characteristics would necessarily be searched. This is not found persuasive because firstly all the generic figures do not encompass mutually exclusive characteristics. For example, the sprig sleeve of the non-elected Species of Fig. 7, is not required for the elected embodiment of Fig. 9. Similarly, the first protrusion of the first socket engaging a second protrusion of the second socket, of the non-elected Species of Fig. 4, is not required for the elected species of Fig. 9. Secondly, although same filed of search may be required, the features searched are not the same. Further, Applicant has not stated on the record that these species are obvious variants. The mutually exclusive characteristic impose serious search and examination burden.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 6, 7, 15, 17 and 18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected Species A and B, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 08/05/2026.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-5, 8-13, 16, 19 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chung et al. (2023021140 “Chung”).
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Chung discloses all of the limitations of claim 1, i.e., a power tool comprising;
an output assembly 30 defining a drive axis dotted-line Fig. 3;
a first socket 41 rotatable by the output assembly via conventional drive module [0021] in a first rotational direction;
a second socket 42 that receives the first socket Figs. 2, 5 and is rotatable by the output assembly in a second rotational direction conventional shear wrench; and
a collar 60 coupled to the output assembly and movable along the drive axis to releasably engage with the second socket [0024].
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Regarding claim 2, PA (prior art, Chung) meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 1, wherein the collar 60 engages the second socket 42 when the second socket is inserted into the output assembly Fig. 4 to lock the second socket to the output assembly via 52, 311, and the collar disengages with the second socket when the collar is moved axially along the drive axis in a first direction to release the second socket from the output assembly Fig. 6.
Regarding claim 3, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism 52 positioned between the second socket 42 and the collar 60 to be received in a groove defined in the second socket Fig. 4.
Regarding claim 4, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 3, wherein the collar 60 engages the locking mechanism 52 in a first position to move the locking mechanism into the groove to lock the second socket to the output assembly Fig. 4 and the collar 60 disengages from the locking mechanism 52 in a second position Fig. 6 to release the second socket from the output assembly.
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Regarding claim 5, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism 52 is a ball detent Fig. 4.
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[AltContent: textbox (PIN)][AltContent: arrow]Regarding claims 8 and 9, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 1, wherein the first socket includes a pin annotated partial Fig. 4 that is movable between a first position that couples the first socket to the second socket and a second position that decouples the first socket from the second socket; the power tool of claim 8, wherein the pin is received in an opening defined in the first socket and engages a recess defined in the second socket Fig. 4.
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[AltContent: textbox (EJECTOR PIN)][AltContent: arrow]Regarding claim 10, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 9, wherein an ejector pin annotated Fig. 4 moves within a cavity of the first socket 41 based on insertion of a fastener into the first socket, the movement of the ejector pin causing the pin to move between the first position and the second position.
CLAIM 11
Chung discloses all of the limitations of claim 11, i.e., a power tool comprising;
an output assembly 30;
a first socket 41 operatively coupled to the output assembly;
a second socket 42 operatively coupled to the output assembly, the second socket securing the first socket to the output assembly Fig. 4; and
a collar 60 movable between a first position Fig. 4 that secures the second socket 42 to the output assembly and a second position Fig. 6 that releases the second socket from the output assembly.
Regarding claim 12, PA (prior art, Chung) meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 11, wherein the collar 60 moves along a drive axis Figs. 4-6 of the output assembly between the first position and the second position.
Regarding claim 13, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the power tool of claim 11 further comprising a ball detent 52 moveably coupled to the output assembly between the collar 60 and the second socket 42, the collar moving the ball detent to engage with the second socket when the collar is in the first position Figs. 4 and 6.
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CLAIM 16
Chung discloses all of the limitations of claim 11, i.e., a shear wrench Abstract comprising:
an output assembly 30 defining a drive axis phantom line, Fig. 3;
an inner socket 41 coupled to the output assembly to rotate in a first rotational direction about the drive axis;
an outer socket 42 concentric with the inner socket and coupled to the output assembly to rotate in a second rotational direction twisting, conventional shear wrench about the drive axis [0022];
a collar 60 concentric with the outer socket 42 and moveable between a first position Fig. 4 and a second position Fig. 6 to releasably couple the outer socket to the output assembly; and
a locking mechanism 52 positioned between the collar 60 and the outer socket 42, the collar 60 engaging the locking mechanism 52 in the first position to secure the outer socket to the output assembly Fig. 4 and disengaging the locking mechanism in the second position to release the outer socket from the output assembly Fig. 6.
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[AltContent: textbox (SHOULDER
STOPS)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow]
Regarding claim 19, PA (prior art, Chung) meets the limitations, i.e., the shear wrench of claim 16, wherein securing the outer socket to the output assembly secures the inner socket to the output assembly via pin and shoulder stops not numbered.
Regarding claim 20, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the shear wrench of claim 19, wherein the locking mechanism 52 is a ball detent that is moveably secured in an opening in the output assembly Figs. 4 and 6.
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 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chung in view of Cummings et al. (11,059,151 “Cummings”).
Chung meets all of the limitations of claim 14, as applied to claim 13 abov3, except for the collar to be biased into the first position by a spring that extends between the collar and the output assembly.
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Cummings teaches an impact wrench having an inner socket 30 movably received within a second outer socket 46, wherein a locking collar 44 couples the sockets by a ball detent 49 that is biased by a spring 110 into the locked position Fig. 8 partially shown here. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of Chung with a spring as taught by Cummings in lieu or in augmenting biasing the locking sleeve into the locked and engaged position.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Blitz et al., Yasutomi et al. and Ikeda et al. are cited to show related inventions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADI SHAKERI whose telephone number is (571)272-4495. The fax phone number for forwarding unofficial documents for discussion purposes only is (571) 273-4495. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Keller can be reached on 571 272 8548. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Hadi Shakeri/
October 14, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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