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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: the terms “first set of snaps” and “second set of snaps” are used to describe elements 128 and 132; however, the figures 2B, 2C, 3B, 3C, 3D and 5 show the elements 128 and 132 are rigid annular teeth structures. These elements are rigid in construction and do not resiliently self-engage; they are more properly characterized in the mechanical arts as teeth. The term “snap” denotes a resilient fastening element that deflects upon engagement and springs into a locked position. This ordinary meaning is inconsistent with the rigid tooth ring structures 128 and 132 shown in the figures. Further, applicant has not provided an express lexicographic definition of “snaps” that would put one of ordinary skill on notice that the term is being used in a special or non-ordinary sense.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 “first set of snaps engages with the second set of snaps to interlock with each other and restrict movement of the ratchet gear” (claim 1, claim 11); “the knob is slidable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation to selectively restrict rotation of the ratchet relative to the cavity” (claim 3, claim 19); and “applying a pull force to the knob engages the first set of snaps with the second set of snaps to lock the first set of snaps with the second set of snaps” (claim 5, claim 20) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. New or corrected drawings are required showing the structural elements that enable axial displacement of the ratchet gear (130) relative to the cover (104) upon pulling the knob (106), and resulting in engagement between the first snaps (128) and the second snaps (132) to engage and lock as claimed (in the pulled state). As illustrated in figures 1A-7, the second set of snaps (132) are not capable of engaging the first set of snaps (128) because the ratchet gear (130) cannot slide outside the cavity (124) when the knob (106) is pulled (see figure 3C) so that the second set of snaps (132) “mesh with” the first set of snaps (128) as described in paragraph [0056] of the specification. Also, it is noted that the second set of snaps (132) do not extend outwardly enough to engage the first set of snaps (128) as illustrated since the isometric views merely depict an axial position of the second set of snaps while the side views show the second snaps (132) not extending outwardly enough to engage the first set of snaps (128).
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.
The drawings are objected to because element 132 in figure 5 should be replaced with “204” to denote the protruded section (204) of the elastic ribs 134 and not the second set of snaps (132) as shown in the other figures. 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 Objections
Claim 7 is objected to because of the following informalities: the phrase “the first set of snaps of the ratchet gear” (line 3) should be replaced with -- the first set of snaps of the cavity --. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 is objected to because of the following informalities: the phrase “the first set of snaps of the ratchet gear” (line 3) should be replaced with -- the first set of snaps of the cavity --. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings fail to provide support for the engagement between the first set of snaps (128) and the second set of snaps (132) to interlock and restrict gear movement since the disclosure supports only the protruded section (204) engaging the first set of snaps (128); and the structural mechanism by which pulling the knob causes axial displacement of the ratchet gear (130) to bring the first set of snaps (128) and the second set of snaps (132) into engagement since no structure has been disclosed in any figure or paragraph for such mechanism.
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 1-20 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 and claim 11, the term “snaps” as applied to the rigid internal teeth 128 of the cover and the rigid peripheral teeth 132 of the ratchet gear fails to inform one of ordinary skill with reasonable certainty what structure is claimed. “Snaps” in the mechanical art denotes a resilient self-engaging fastener, not rigid teeth, and nothing in the written disclosure has provided definition for “snaps” to encompass rigid (detent) teeth. Claims 2-10 and 12-20 depend from claims 1 and 11, respectively, and therefore are also rejected under this section.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) & (b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 1st and 2nd paragraphs, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art does not teach or suggest a ratchet structure wherein the first set of snaps (128) engages with the second set of snaps (132) to interlock with each other and restrict movement of the ratchet gear (130) in combination with the other structural elements of claim 1 or claim 11.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 8-10 of the Arguments/Remarks, filed April 20, 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-18 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, claims 1-20 are not in condition for allowance and new grounds of rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 112(a) and § 112(b) are made as set forth above, and the specification objection and drawing objection are newly raised.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 for similar art cited. For example, Burns (US 10,076,160) discloses a ratchet structure having a pawl disc with cantilever pawl teeth engaging housing ratchet teeth to restrict rotation, and a knob axially movable to selectively disengage the pawl teeth from the housing.
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/R.D./ Examiner, Art Unit 3677
/JACK W LAVINDER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677
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