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 .
Status of Claims
Claims 1-6 are pending. Claims 1-4 are subject to examination in this Office action. Claims 5 and 6 are withdrawn (non-elected).
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I (claims 1-4) in the reply filed on 2 February 2026 is acknowledged.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/14/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the Examiner.
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 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 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by Carlson (U.S. Patent No. 804,451).
Regarding independent claim 1, Carlson describes a joist or beam hanger comprising:
a metal joist or beam end bracket (Figs. 1-4) consisting of a pair of parallel spaced vertical side plates (2, 2) joined together with a vertical back end plate (4, 4) and further including a bottom plate (1) to thereby form a joist or beam end support pocket (Figs. 1-4);
said vertical back end plate including multiple vertically spaced apertures (Figs. 1-4) for receiving lag bolts to secure said bracket to a building structure,
a metal sill rest support flange (unlabeled support flange positioned underneath bearing-flanges 3; Fig. 1) adjustably securable (via 3) to said vertical back end plate at multiple different vertical positions and having a portion thereof horizontally extending from said vertical back end plate away from said pocket and vertically pre-positioned on said vertical back end plate for resting on a wall sill plate or wall top plate of said building structure when said bracket is secured to said building structure (Fig. 1); and
at least one of said vertically spaced apertures positioned to receive one of said lag bolts in said wall sill plate or wall top plate (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 2, wherein said sill rest support flange is L-shaped having a vertical lip end portion that is securable to said vertical back end plate (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 3, wherein a portion of said sill rest support flange extends through one of multiple vertically spaced horizontal slots provided in said vertical back end plate, and said vertical lip end portion is secured to said vertical back end plate with one or more of said lag bolts (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 4, wherein said vertical lip end portion is welded to said vertical back end plate (Fig. 1).
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by Denn (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0100796).
Regarding independent claim 1, Denn describes a joist or beam hanger comprising:
a metal joist or beam end bracket (40; see e.g., Figs. 7A-7C) consisting of a pair of parallel spaced vertical side plates (46, 46) joined together with a vertical back end plate (43) and further including a bottom plate (45) to thereby form a joist or beam end support pocket;
said vertical back end plate including multiple vertically spaced apertures (48) for receiving lag bolts to secure said bracket to a building structure,
a metal sill rest support flange (70, 72) adjustably securable (via 38) to said vertical back end plate at multiple different vertical positions and having a portion thereof horizontally extending from said vertical back end plate away from said pocket and vertically pre-positioned on said vertical back end plate for resting on a wall sill plate or wall top plate of said building structure when said bracket is secured to said building structure (see e.g., Figs. 7A-7C); and
at least one of said vertically spaced apertures positioned to receive one of said lag bolts in said wall sill plate or wall top plate (see e.g., Figs. 7A-7C).
Regarding claim 2, wherein said sill rest support flange is L-shaped having a vertical lip end portion that is securable to said vertical back end plate (see e.g., Figs. 7A-7C).
Regarding claim 3, wherein a portion of said sill rest support flange extends through one of multiple vertically spaced horizontal slots provided in said vertical back end plate, and said vertical lip end portion is secured to said vertical back end plate with one or more of said lag bolts (see e.g., Figs. 7A-7C).
Regarding claim 4, wherein said vertical lip end portion is welded to said vertical back end plate (see e.g., Figs. 7A-7C).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure: Refer to the attached Form PTO-892.
Authorization for Email Communication – In the event Applicant wishes to communicate with the Examiner via electronic mail, written authorization should be provided in Applicant’s next response. See MPEP § 502.03. The following is a sample authorization form which may be used by Applicant:
Recognizing that Internet communications are not secure, we hereby authorize the USPTO to communicate with any authorized representative concerning any subject matter of this application by electronic mail. We understand that a copy of these communications will be made of record in the application file.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RODNEY MINTZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7327. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Th 0730 - 1630 EST.
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/RODNEY MINTZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3635