DETAILED ACTION
The Information Disclosure Statement filed on April 17, 2024 has been reviewed and considered by the Examiner.
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 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, 3, 7-14, 16, 20, 21 and 27 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Groot (NL 1031731).
Groot discloses an extension cable reel comprised of a central body 20 having a first face on a first side of said central body and a second face, on a second side of said central body, said second face being on an opposite side of said central body from said first face. The left and the right sides of the central, upright tube are interpreted as the faces of the structure. A first length of electrical cable 3, of predetermined length of is in electrical communication with a second predetermined length 8 of electrical cable via the central body. The central body has an axle, shown in figure 3, extending perpendicular to a main plane of the central body and extending outward from the first face of the central body and extending outward from said second face of said central body. A first drum 2, freely rotatably mounted on said axle on said first side, and having a first drum internal face adjacent to said first face of said central body and a first drum external face opposite to said first drum internal face. A second drum 6, freely rotatably mounted on the axle on second side. The second drum having a second drum internal face adjacent to the second face and a second drum external face opposite to the second drum internal face. Figure 2 shows the two drums with the central body in between and the inner and outer faces if the drums. The internal and external faces of the drums are also shown in the cross section of figure 3. The length of electrical cable is further comprised of a first proximal end attached to said first drum and a first distal end in electrical communication with at least one plug 4 with the first proximal end in electrical communication with said central body. The length of electrical cable being reversibly windable on the first drum; and a predetermined length of electrical cable is further comprised of a second proximal end attached to said second drum and a second distal end in electrical communication with at least one electrical socket 10 with the second proximal end in electrical communication with said central body and the length of electrical cable being reversibly windable on said second drum. Each current-conducting wire of each electrical cable is in electrical communication with a current conducting wire of the second cable by slip rings 26, 27 mounted on the axles inside the drums as shown in figure 3. The central body further comprises a supporting member in the form of lower base legs and a carrying handle.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-6 and 17-19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Sparrowhawk (US 2014/0263796), Richter (US 6,250,443), Meneian (US 4,565,333), Eurom (US 4,102,445) all disclose various types of cord reels with multiple cable drums.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert J McCarry Jr. whose telephone number is (571)272-6683. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, S. Joseph Morano can be reached at 571-272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Robert J McCarry Jr/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
RJM
June 15, 2026
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