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 .
Application Status
Claims 1-20 are pending and have been examined in this application.
This communication is the first action on the merits.
Claims 1-20 are rejected herein.
Information Disclosure Statement
As of the date of this action, an information disclosure statement (IDS) has been filed on 06/04/2024, and on 05/30/2025 and reviewed by the Examiner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 2, 6 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
The recitation of claim 2 wherein “…waist-circular, or petal-shaped.” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear what shape is defined by waist-circular. Furthermore, the shape of a petal varies greatly, Thus, one would not know at what shape the infringement would occur.
The recitation of claim 6 wherein “…wherein when the operating part is driven by an external tool to rotate, the first rotating part is rotated at a predetermined angle in the first mounting hole of the first…” renders the claim indefinite because claim recites step of using the product within the apparatus claim. The Examiner suggests the use of the term “configured”.
Dependent claim 7 is rejected based on its dependency on claim 6.
Appropriate correction/explanation is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre-AIA 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 1-3, 5-7 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Cuddy (U.S. Pat. No. 10443635 B2).
Regarding claim 1, Cuddy teaches a first connector (414), wherein the first connector is configured to cooperate with a second connector (314) to realize a connection between a first member (302) and a second member (306), or the first connector is configured to cooperate with a third connector and threaded fasteners to realize the connection between the first member and the second member,
the first connector comprises a first connector body (body of 414), a first side of the first connector body is protruded to form a connecting boss (head of 414), and a second side of the first connector body is provided with a mounting part (threaded end of 414), and the mounting part is configured to lock into a first mounting hole of the first member, the first connector body is fixed with an operating part (402) between the connecting boss and the mounting part, the operating part is arranged at a distance from the connecting boss to form a connecting groove (central groove of 402), and the operating part is driven by an external tool to drive at least a part of the first connector body to rotate; wherein an outer side wall of the operating part at least has one operating plane or operating hole or operating bump or operating groove, or cross section of the operating part is adapted to a cross section of a sleeve (capable see Figs. 3-6 for configuration).
Regarding claim 2, Cuddy teaches the cross section of the operating part (402) is quadrilateral, hexagonal, oval, waist-circular, or petal-shaped.
Regarding claim 3, Cuddy teaches a cross-sectional area of the operating part (402) is larger than a cross-sectional area of the connecting boss (head of 414).
Regarding claim 5, Cuddy teaches the connecting groove (central groove of 402) surrounds an outer side wall of the first connector body in a circumferential direction to form an annular groove.
Regarding claim 6, Cuddy the mounting part (threaded portion of 414) comprises a first rotating part fixed to the first connector body, and an outer side wall circumference of the first rotating part is provided with external threads (threads of 414), or along a lateral viewing direction of the first rotating part, a distance between two ends of the first rotating part along a first predetermined linear direction is larger than a second predetermined linear direction;
wherein when the operating part is driven by an external tool to rotate, the first rotating part is rotated at a predetermined angle in the first mounting hole of the first member, the first rotating part fasten with an inner wall of the first mounting hole [capable].
Regarding claim 7, Cuddy teaches The first connector according to claim 6, wherein a cross-sectional area of the operating part (402) is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first rotating part.
Regarding claim 11, Cuddy teaches a first connector (414), wherein the first connector is configured to cooperate with a second connector (314) to realize a connection between a first member and a second member, or the first connector is configured to cooperate with a third connector and threaded fasteners to realize the connection between the first member and the second member, wherein the first connector comprises a first connector body (body of 414), and a first side of the first connector body protrudes to form a connecting boss (head of 414), a second side of the first connector body is provided with a mounting part (end of 414 opposite of head part), and the mounting part is to lock into a first mounting hole of the first member, and the first connector body is fixed with a driving external thread part (threaded portion of 414) between the connecting boss and the mounting part, and the driving external thread part is matched with an operating part (402) with an internal thread, and the operating part is arranged at a distance from the connecting boss to form a connecting groove (inner groove of 402), the operating part is to be driven by an external tool to drive at least a part of the first connector body to move; wherein an outer side wall of the operating part has at least one operating plane or operating hole or operating bump or operating groove, or a cross section of the operating part is adapted to a cross section of a sleeve [capable].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claims 4 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cuddy (U.S. Pat. No. 10443635 B2).
Regarding claims 4 and 12, Cuddy teaches The first connector according to claim 11, wherein a cross section of the connecting boss (head portion of 414) is circular. However, Cuddy is silent to disclose the diameter of the connecting boss. The Examiner notes that it would have been an obvious matter of design choice to make the connecting boss of Cuddy having a diameter of the connecting boss is 3-5.3 mm, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955). The motivation would have been to provide appropriate grip during operation.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8-10 and 13-20 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. See attached PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD IJAZ whose telephone number is (571)272-6280. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 11:00 am-10:00 pm.
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MUHAMMAD IJAZ
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3631
/Muhammad Ijaz/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631
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