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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on June 30, 2026 has been entered.
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.
Claims 1, 2 and 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Faber (US PG Pub 2015/0336411).
For claim 1: Faber teaches a self-inking stamp 1 (see Fig. 3) with a housing 2 in which a stamp unit coupled to an actuating part displaceable relative to the housing in mounted, wherein the actuating part 3 comprises a snap in point (see Fig. 9A, the indentation on which element 32 rests) for receiving a snap-in hook 32 of a cover 30 of the self-inking stamp 30 wherein a pusher 3 is arranged on the actuating part (top portion), the pusher being configured, upon actuation by a user to exert a force on the snap in hook to actively move the snap-in hook out of the snap-in point for releasing the snap-in hook snapped in at the snap in point (see paragraph 20).
Regarding claim 9: The apparatus of claim 1, which is taught by Faber as shown above, performs the method of claim 9 in routine operation.
For claim 10: Within the apparatus of claim 1 above, Faber teaches the pusher 3 mounted on the actuating part 3 (see Fig. 3, pusher being the upper portion of the entire apparatus 3) as recited in claim 10.
For claim 2: Faber teaches the self-inking stamp according to claim 1 wherein the snap-in point 15, IX is provided on an outer side of the actuating part 3 (see Fig. 9, 9A, exterior portion or exterior to part 3).
For claim 8: Faber teaches the self-inking stamp of claim 1 wherein the impression open of the housing (see Fig. 9, bottom) is covered by a cover 2 and the cover comprises a snap in hook 32 (see paragraph 41, the cover 2 being surrounded by cover 15 having the hook 32) wherein the snap-in hook 32 is received at the snap-in point of the actuating part (see Fig. 9A).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 2 and 8-10 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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 3-7 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Faber does not teach the stamp of claim 2 having been amended, further comprising a tilting element.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID H BANH whose telephone number is (571)270-3851. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 12-8PM.
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, Stephen Meier can be reached at (571)272-2149. 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.
/DAVID H BANH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
Prosecution Insights