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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement of 11/07/2024 has been received and reviewed.
Claim Objections
Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 20, line 4, “a frame or wall” should be “the frame or wall”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 17, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by NPL cited by applicant (Pemko).
Regarding claim 1, Pemko discloses:
A release stop (page 2) for a barrier (door seen in page 4), the release stop comprising: a support member (230, see fig 1 below) configured to be operatively coupled with a frame or wall (fig 1); a stop member (250) operatively coupled with the support member; a cover (300, see fig 2 below) operatively coupled to the support member and the stop member (fig 2); and a release lock (ERS seen in page 2 and 11) operatively coupled to the support member, the stop member (pages 11 and 12), or the cover; wherein with the release lock in a first position (when pin is not inserted into ERS) the stop member is restricted from moving with respect to the support member, and with the release lock in a second position (when pin is inserted into ERS, see fig 1 below) the stop member is allowed to move with respect to the support member.
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Fig 1
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Fig 2
Regarding claim 2, Pemko discloses:
he release stop of claim 1, wherein the stop member comprises: a stop web (web seen in fig 1); and a stop head (bottom half of step web) with stop teeth (teeth seen on stop head in fig 1 above), wherein the stop head extends from the stop web (see figs 1 and 2).
Regarding claim 17, Pemko discloses:
A release lock (ERS) for a release stop (page 2), the release lock comprising: a lock body (B, see fig 3 below); and one or more lock projections (P) extending from the lock body; wherein the one or more lock projections restrict a cover (C) of the release stop from moving (by restricting the channel in the closed position) with respect to a stop member (250) or a support member (230) of the release stop.
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Fig 3
Regarding claim 20, Pemko discloses:
A method of using an anti-obstruction system for allowing a barrier (door seen in page 4) that swings inwardly to swing outwardly (page 4), the anti-obstruction system comprising a double swing hinge (110, see fig 4 below) operatively coupled adjacent a first edge (top edge seen in fig 4) of the barrier and to a frame or a wall (bottom wall seen in fig 4), and a release stop (page 2) comprising a support member (230) operatively coupled with a frame or wall (fig 1), a stop member (250) operatively coupled with the support member, a cover (300) operatively coupled to the support member and the stop member, and a release lock (ERS) operatively coupled to the support member, the stop member, or the cover; the method comprising: disengaging the release lock from a first position (fig 2) in which the stop member is restricted from moving with respect to the support member into a second position (fig 1) that allows the stop member to move with respect to the support member; and swinging to the barrier outwardly past the stop member (page 4).
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Fig 4
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-16 and 18-29 are 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 Yahya Sidky whose telephone number is (571)272-6237. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8:30-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine Mills can be reached at (571) 272-8322. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Y.S./Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3675
/CHRISTINE M MILLS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3675