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 .
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 1-15 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.
Regarding claim 1, line 3, the phrase “the bearing area of the shaft” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 4, the phrase “the screw center axis” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 9, the phrase “the screw-in direction of rotation” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 14-15, the phrase “the distance of the intersection curve” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 16, line , the phrase “ the core diameter DK” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 17, the phrase “the intersection point ” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 18 , the phrase “the longitudinal direction of the screw ” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 19 , the phrase “the nearest intersection point ” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 19, the phrase “the distance DK/2 ” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 1, line 21, the phrase “the tangent (T)” and “the screw shell surface” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 4, the phrase “wherein the tip has a basic shape, in particular a conical basic shape, so that, viewed in cross-section, the edges on the side opposite the contour line are connected in a circle” is indefinite because it is unclear if the narrower limitation after “in particular” is positively claimed.
Regarding claim 5, line 3 , the phrase “the direction of the head” and “the head” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 7, line 3 , the phrase “ the head ” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 8, line 2, the phrase “the region of the distance (A2)” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 8, line 3, the phrase “the screw center line” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 9, line 2, the phrase “the distance (A) of the intersection curve” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 9, the phrase “wherein the distance (A) of the intersection curve (S) from the center axis at the end facing the foremost tip is less than or equal to 25%, in particular less than or equal to 15%, in particular less than or equal to 10%, in particular less than or equal to 5 %, of the core diameter DK” is indefinite because it is unclear if the narrower limitation after “in particular” is positively claimed.
Regarding claim 10, the following phrases lack antecedent basis: “the distance (A) of the intersection curve” (line 2); The bearing region” (line 3); “the removed material” (line 4); “the outward displacement direction (V)” (line 4-5); and “the direction of the head” (line 5).
Regarding claim 11, line 2, the phrase “the area of continuous increase of the distance (A)” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 12, line 3 , the phrase “the radial distance DK/2” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 13, line 2 , the phrase “the distance DK/2” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 13, line 3 , the phrase “ the cylindrical part of the shaft” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 14, line 2 , the phrases “the distance (AK)” (line 2); “the transition of the screw tip” (line 3); and “the point at which the intersection curve (S)’” lack antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 14, the phrase “wherein the thread has a pitch (P), and the distance (AK) from the transition of the screw tip into the bearing region to the point at which the intersection curve (S) reaches the distance DK/2 from the center axis (MA) is up to 10 times, in particular up to 8 times, the pitch (P), in particular up to 6 times, in particular up to 2.5 times, in particular approximately 1 times, the thread pitch.” is indefinite because it is unclear if the narrower limitation after “in particular” is positively claimed.
Regarding claim 15, line , the phrase “the resulting action ratio of distance (AK)” lacks antecedent basis.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 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.
The closest prior art is DE 202007018179 U1 to Reisser Schraubentechnik. Reisser Schraubentechnik teaches a countersunk screw, in particular a countersunk screw, which is designed and intended for fastening planks to wooden substructures comprising a shaft which has a core diameter and which transitions into a tip, which tip tapers starting from the bearing area of the shaft and which tip terminates at a foremost tip, said foremost tip lying on the screw center axis (MA), which screw has a thread (4) for screwing the screw to a component in a screw-in direction of rotation and the thread (1) extends up to the tip (3).
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Reisser Schraubentechnik does not teach a screw center plane is defined and at least two edges are formed at the tip by a recess at least of the tip, wherein a first edge lies in the screw-in direction of rotation and a second edge lies counter to the screw-in direction of rotation, wherein the first edge and the second edge lie on both sides of the screw center plane (ME), wherein the two edges are connected via a surface, wherein the surface has a contour line (K) in its cross-sections, an intersection curve (S) of the screw center plane (ME), which lies between the edges, with the surface is obtained, with the distance (A) of the intersection curve (S) from the screw center axis (MA), as viewed from the foremost tip, increasing at least until this distance corresponds to half the core diameter DK, with the intersection point (Al) of the intersection curve (S), which is DK/4 away from the screw center axis, is a length (L) in the longitudinal direction of the screw away from the nearest intersection point (A2) with the distance DK/2 from the screw center axis, the length (L) being greater than DK/3, wherein over the length (L) in this region an edge angle (alpha), which is defined between the tangent (T) to the screw shell surface on the first edge and the contour line (K), also increases with increasing distance of the intersection curve (S) from the center axis (MA).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The following reference teaches screws: (US-20020168245; US-20130011214; US-20090097941; US-20170122357.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CASSANDRA DAVIS whose telephone number is (571)272-6642. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
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/CASSANDRA DAVIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631
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