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 .
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s amendment filed on 2/10/26.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the invention claimed in claim 1, see 112 2nd paragraph rejection below, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "4" have been used as a cam and as a contour on the drive element
The drawings are objected to because:
Here is the invention:
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At the instant, it is still unclear what the labeled lines above are, as shown during the movement from figs 1-3.
The specification defines element 5 as a drive element, element 4 as a cam (par 25), and element 12 as a spring.
According to the specification (par 41), spring 12 will act of the drive element 5 to aid in transferring the drive element 5 to the base or neutral position. Are these lines part of the drive element 5? Also, do they move?
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.
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 1, 3, and 5-13 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims 1, 11 and 12 require that the blocking lever pivot into a blocking position by an actuating movement of the drive element.
As illustrated, the blocking lever 6a, 6b will pivot into the blocking position by means of the cam 4 during the actuating movement of the drive element 5 and by means of the locking lever 8a, 8b. Correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 11 and 12, as interpreted above, 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.
Response to Arguments
With respect to the drawing objection, the current amendment overcomes part of the objections.
As shown above in the action, it is still unclear what are those lines illustrated.
The applicant argues that one of those lines is the contour of the drive element. That makes no sense, since how a contour changes position, meaning in fig 1, the lines are closer and in fig 2 they are separated. A contour is a line defining a shape, so how does the shape changes?
Furthermore, paragraph 25 defines element 4 as a cam, so which one is it? Therefore, the drawing objection and the 112 rejection are maintained.
As to the 112 2nd paragraph rejection, claims 1, 11 and 12 require that the blocking lever pivot into a blocking position by an actuating movement of the drive element.
As mentioned above, it is the cam 4 the one that interacts with the blocking lever. The drive element 5 just moves the cam. Therefore, the rejection is maintained.
As to the prior art rejection, the current amendment, adding the allowable subject matter of claims 4, 8 and 9 into claim 1, 11 and 12 respectively, overcomes the rejection.
Prosecution has been closed.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARLOS LUGO whose telephone number is (571)272-7058. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6pm.
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, Kristina Fulton can be reached at (571)272-7376. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Carlos Lugo/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3675
March 8, 2026