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 .
Detailed Action
The preliminary amendment filed on 12/06/2024 has been entered.
Claim Objection
Claims 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 36, 53 and 57 are objected to because of the following informalities:
(1) In claims 27 and 53, line 8, “an lower portion” should read --a lower portion--.
(2) In claim 57, line 8, “an lower portion” should read --a lower portion--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
1. 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.
2. Claims 6-8, 15, 25, 28, 33, 39, 41,42 and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
(1) In claim 6, line 5, “one end” is indefinite. One end of what?
(2) In claim 6, line 7, “another end of the spring” is vague since there is no one end of the spring cited.
(3) In claim 8, line 3, “another end” is vague and should read --the other end--. Note the crank 60 shown in Fig.1 has two ends (e.g., “one end” cited at line 2 of the claim and the other end). Also, “an end”, cited at line 5 of the claim, should read --the other end--.
(4) In claim 8, line 4, “the bushing of the wheel” is unclear. The phrase should read --the cylindrical bushing--. Note line 4 of the claim.
(5) In claim 8, line 6, “the body of the wheel” is unclear and should read --the bowl-shaped body--. Note line 3 of the claim.
(6) In claim 15, line 2, “one side” and “a lower part” are not positively defined.
(7) In claim 15, lines 4-5, it is not understood what it is meant by “an edge of the cutting blade after installation is exposed only at a cutting position below”. What does it mean by “at a cutting position below”? Below what? Also, it is not clear what “remaining directions” is.
(8) In claim 25, line 2, “the cutting blade above the “V” - shaped opening in use” does not make sense.
(9) In claims 28 and 54, line 4, “a lower portion” should read --the lower portion-- since it refers to the one previously cited.
(10) In claim 33, lines 5-6, “the sets of indicia which denotes a second fine adjustment position” is incorrect. It is suggested “which denotes a second fine adjustment position” be deleted, and after “section”, at line 4 of the claim, “--which denotes a second fine adjustment position-- should be added.
(11) Claim 39 is improperly dependent from claim 38 and should depend from claim 21. It is noted “a body” cited in claims 38 and 39 is the body 1302 shown in Fig.11, and “a lock” of claim 38 and “a surface“ of claim 39 both refer to the same element 1304 shown in Fig.11. Note independent claims 47 and 56.
Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
1. Claims 1, 2, 5, 11, 12, 20, 21, 38, 46, 47, 49, 51, 54 and 56 are allowed.
2. Claims 6-8, 15, 25, 28, 33, 39, 41, 42 and 44 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
3. Claims 27, 30, 32, 36, 53 and 57 are objected to but would be allowable if amended to overcome the objection set forth.
4. Independent claims 1 and 21 and all their dependent claims contain allowable subject matter.
The most relevant prior art of record is U.S. Patent No. 2,551,401 to Underhill which shows a stripping tool (10, see Fig.1) for an armor-wrapped cable (C) comprising:
a first handle (12) including a cutting portion (12c), a pivoting portion (12a) and a gripping portion (12b), the pivoting portion (12a) being disposed between the cutting portion (12c) and the gripping portion (12b); the cutting portion (12c) including a drive mechanism (15,16) configured to drive a cutting blade (14), the drive mechanism (15,16) including a driveshaft (15) and a driver/crank (16) coupled to the driveshaft (16) for driving the cutting blade (14);
a second handle (11) including a clamping portion (11c), a pivoting portion (11a) and a gripping portion (11b), the pivoting portion (11a) being disposed between the clamping portion (11c) and the gripping portion (11b);
the first handle (12) and the second handle (11) being pivotally at the pivoting portion (12a) of the first handle (12) and the pivoting portion (11a) of the second handle (11) so that the second handle (11)is pivotable relative to the first handle (12) with the gripping portion (12b) of the first handle (12) and the gripping handle (11b) of the second handle (11) held by a user so as to clamp the armor-wrapped cable (C) between the cutting portion (12c) of the first handle (12) and the clamping portion (11c) of the second handle (11) and cut the cable (CC) by the cutting portion (12c) of the first handle (12) substantially as claimed except Underhill’s drive mechanism (15,16) is not of the claimed type (see the drive mechanism “50” shown in Fig.1 of this instant application) including a driveshaft (52), a first cam (54), a second cam (56) and a driver/crank (60), wherein the first cam (54) is at a first end of the driveshaft (52), and the second cam (56) is at a second end of the driveshaft (52), the first cam (54) and the second cam (56) have the same profile, and the first cam (54) and the second cam (56) are arranged to be driven by the driver/crank (60) to rotate in the same phase together.
5. Independent claims 47 and 56 and all their dependent claims contain allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record taken alone or in combination thereof shows or fairly suggests the claimed stripping tool (1001, see Fig.11) comprising, among other things, a first handle (1010) including a cutting portion (1012), a gripping portion (1016) and a pivoting portion (1014) disposed between the cutting portion (1012) and the gripping portion (1016); a second handle (1020) pivotally coupled to the first handle (1010) and including a clamping portion (1022), a gripping portion (1026) and a pivoting portion (1024) disposed between the clamping portion (1022) and the gripping portion (1026) of the second handle (1020) and pivotally connecting to the pivoting portion (1014) of the first handle (1010); and a position adjustment mechanism (1300, see Fig.17) configured to prevent movement of the first and second handles (1010,1020) toward each other when the gripping portions (1016,1026) are grasped by a user and brought toward tach other, the position adjustment mechanism (1300) including a body (1302, see Fig.17) rotatably mounted on the cutting portion (1012) of the first handle (1010) for engaging with a surface (1304 required by claim 47) of the clamping portion (1022) of the second handle (1020) when the handles (1010,1020) are moved toward each other or a lock (1304, required by claim 56) configured to prevent rotation of the body (1302).
Prior Art Citations
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent No. 2,031,470 shows a stripping tool (Fig.2) for an armor-wrapped cable (A) comprising a cutting blade (37), a crank/drive (36, Fig.4) coupled to a driveshaft (see Fig.8) for driving the cutting blade (3) to cut the cable (A).
U.S. Patent No. 3,047,949 shows means for controlling the opening of pruning shears.
U.S. Patent No. 3,283,404 shows a wire stripper having a first handle (17) including a body (26) rotatably mounted thereon, and a lock (28) configured to prevent rotation of the body (26).
U.S. Patent No. 4,nt No. 4,39,923 is cited to show a pair of snips equipped with a rotatable body (40) engageable with a lock (38,60) for preselecting the limit of the closed position of the snips.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0245332 is cited to show an armored cable stripping tool.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HWEI-SIU PAYER whose telephone number is (571)272-4511. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday – Friday from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
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/HWEI-SIU C PAYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724