DETAILED ACTION
This communication is a first office action on the merits. Claims 1-20, as filed are currently pending and have been considered below.
Election/Restrictions
Claims 1-15 were withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 22 January 2026.
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) 16-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sato et al. (US 2016/0280106).
Regarding claim 16, Sato et al. discloses an apparatus comprising:
a plurality of interconnected clips (34) wherein each clip of the plurality of clips includes:
a clip body including a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side, the top end, the bottom end, the first side (Fig. 10 as shown), and the second side defining a receiving region (Fig. 9 shows a receiving space between extension portions 50), and the top end defining an opening to the receiving region (Figs. 5-7 shows 118 being inserted from the top end through the opening into the receiving space);
a first side wing (50) including a first wing base (54) proximate to the top end and extending outward from the first side; and
a second side wing (50) including a second wing base (54) proximate to the top end and extending outward from the second side.
Regarding claim 17, Sato et al. further discloses: a connecting piece that interconnects adjacent clips (Fig. 11 shows a connecting piece between 42 and 44).
Regarding claim 18, Sato et al. further discloses wherein the connecting piece connects receiving regions of the adjacent clips (Fig. 10 as shown).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sato et al. as applied to claim 16 above, and further in view of Lane (US 1,501,001).
Regarding claim 19, Sato et al. discloses the invention except for wherein the first side wing at least includes an aperture defined in the first wing base between an outer edge of the first wing base and the clip body.
Lane teaches a device with an aperture (13).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include an aperture as provided by Lane on the first wing base of Sato et al. Adding an additional aperture would allow additional leverage to be provided to the first wing base when opening the clip for release of an attachment portion.
Regarding claim 20, Sato et al. further discloses wherein the receiving region is located below the first wing base and the second wing base (Fig. 3 as shown).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See Form 892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL S LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-5735. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/M.S.L/Examiner, Art Unit 3677
/JASON W SAN/ SPE, Art Unit 3677