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 .
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s amendment filed on 5/6/26.
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.
Claim(s) 1-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 110499958 (CN 958) in view of EP 0682167 to Udo et al (Udo).
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Regarding claims 1 and 8, CN 958 discloses a security system for locks. The lock is equipped with a bolt (5).
The security system comprises a closed-door detector (11) configured to move linearly when activated by an external element, and an anti-tamper cam (20) configured to be situated either in a first non-locking position or in a second locking position, such that the anti-tamper cam is situated in a second locking position when the closed-door detector moves linearly by making contact with the external element, preventing the bolt from opening.
The security system further comprises a locking element (27) configured to rotate around a second axis of articulation, the hinged locking element being provided with a locking portion configured in such a way that when the hinged locking element rotates around the second axis of articulation, said locking portion acts as a stop for the bolt, preventing the opening thereof.
CN 958 fails to disclose that the locking element is hinged. CN 958 just discloses that the locking element rotates.
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Udo teaches that it is well known in the art to provide a hinge (10) to a locking element (9) for rotatably support the element.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the locking element described by CN 958 with a hinge, as taught by Udo, in order to rotatably support the element.
As to claim 2, CN 958 discloses that the anti-tamper cam (20) is configured to rotate around a first axis of articulation.
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As to claim 3, CN 958 illustrates that the locking element is dimensioned to comply with the following geometric condition:
H
×
L
2
>
R
×
L
1
wherein:
(H) is the distance within which the anti-tamper cam locks the bolt;
(R) is the distance that the hinged locking element must travel to lock the bolt;
(L1) is the distance between the first axis of articulation and the first point of contact of the anti-tamper cam and the bolt; and
(L2) is the distance between the second axis of articulation and the first point of contact of the locking portion and the bolt.
As seen above, R is smaller than H, and L1 is approximately the same as L2, so then CN 958 is configured to comply with the equation.
Applicant is reminded that a change in the size or shape of a prior art device is a design consideration within the skill of the art.
As to claim 4, CN 958 illustrates that the following geometric condition is also configured to meet:
A>B
wherein:
(A) is the distance the bolt travels until it is locked by the hinged locking element; and
(B) is the distance the bolt travels until it is locked by the anti-tamper cam.
As to claim 5, CN 958 illustrates that the following geometric condition is also configured to meet:
A
×
H
×
L
2
>
R
×
B
×
L
1
.
As to claim 6, CN 958 illustrates that the centre of gravity of the hinged locking element is situated outside the second axis of rotation (not in the axis).
As to claim 7, Udo teaches that the locking element (9) is spring-loaded (spring 11).
Response to Arguments
Applicant argues that the combination fails to disclose a hinged locking element configured to rotate around a second axis of articulation, being provided with a locking portion configured in such a way that when the hinged locking element rotates around the second axis of articulation, the locking portion acts as a stop for the bolt, preventing the opening thereof.
The applicant argues that the present claimed system is different from the cited art and that the functioning of the system claimed is completely different from the disclosed in the prior art.
The claim just requires a “hinged locking element” that acts as a stop for the bolt, nothing else.
CN 958 discloses that element 27 is configured to rotate around a second axis of articulation and is provided with a portion (end of 27) configured in such a way that when the element rotates around the second axis of articulation, the portion acts as a stop for the bolt (4, 5), preventing the opening thereof.
Therefore, element 27 is a locking element as claimed.
Udo is only used to demonstrate that it is well known in the art to provide a hinge (10) to a locking element (9) for rotatably support the element.
Therefore, CN 958, as modified by Udo, discloses the invention as claimed.
Since the arguments are not persuasive, and the examiner will not change this position, in order to expedite prosecution, applicant can 1) clearly claim the invention or 2) file an appeal brief as his next response in order to allow the Board of Appeals to decide.
Prosecution has been closed.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARLOS LUGO whose telephone number is (571)272-7058. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina Fulton can be reached at (571)272-7376. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Carlos Lugo/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3675
June 6, 2026
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