DETAILED ACTION
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 § 102
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.
Claim(s) 19-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Davies (U.S. 2007/0289891).
In regards to claim 19. Davies discloses A method for making a weakening (at least elements 10, 12 and 20) in a sheet (sheet made of layers 1, 2, 3) of semirigid plastic material (see at least paragraphs 9), wherein it comprises the steps of:
making at least one substantially straight first incision (10) at a first edge (Illustrated In fig. 1) of the sheet ;
making at least one shaped incision (20) in a central portion (fig. 1 illustrated) of the sheet, laterally and at a distance from the substantially straight first incision (fig. 1);
wherein the incisions are formed by the plastic deformation of the material of the sheet (see at least paragraphs 56, 58, 63, 114, and 115).
In regards to claim 20. Davies further discloses the method for making a weakening according to Claim 19, wherein making a substantially straight incision (10) on a first surface (1) of the sheet (fig. 1) and making a shaped incision (20) on the opposite surface (2) of the sheet (1).
In regards to claim 21. Davies further discloses the method for making a weakening according to Claim 19, wherein in making at least one substantially straight second incision (12) at a second edge (fig. 1 opposite of edge 1 of incision 10) of the first sheet (1), opposite to the first edge, laterally and at a distance from the shaped incision (fig. 1 illustrates), wherein the second incision (12) is made by the plastic deformation of the material of the sheet (see at least paragraphs 56, 58, 63, 114, and 115).
In regards to claim 22. Davies further discloses the method for making a weakening according to Claim 21, wherein the steps of making the first substantially straight incision and the second substantially straight incision are simultaneous (see at least paragraphs 114, and 115).
In regards to claim 23. Davies further discloses the method for making a weakening according to claim 19, wherein the step of making the first substantially straight incision and/or the step of making the second substantially straight incision precedes the step of making at least one shaped incision (see at least paragraphs 109-117).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 24 is 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUCAS E A PALMER whose telephone number is (303)297-4779. The examiner can normally be reached Monday -Thursday 8am-6pm PT.
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/Lucas E. A. Palmer/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731