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 .
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 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.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lundstedt (U.S. 5,651,166).
As for Claim 1, Lundstedt discloses a rope adjusting buckle, comprising:
two supporting ribs (12 and 14) arranged opposite to each other;
a connecting rib (30) connected between the two supporting ribs (see Figs. 1-2) the connecting rib being configured for receiving a rope (W) wound on the connecting rib (see Figs. 1-2);
an abutting plate (20) connected between the two supporting ribs (see Figs. 1-2) such that a channel (channel formed between 20 and 30) for the rope to pass through is defined by the two supporting ribs and the abutting plate (see Figs. 1-2); and
a plurality of rib parts (40/42, see also Col. 5 lines 1-15) being formed on an inner wall of the channel (inner wall 30 that defines a side of the channel) in a staggered manner (see Col. 5 lines 1-15).
2. The rope adjusting buckle according to claim 1, wherein each of the supporting ribs comprises a Z-shaped rib body (rear portion of 12 or 14) and a flat plate portion (front portion of 12 or 14) extending from the Z-shaped rib body, wherein the flat plate portions of the two supporting ribs are arranged opposite to each other (see Figs. 1-2), wherein the connecting rib (30) is connected between the flat plate portions of the two supporting ribs (see Figs. 1-2), wherein the abutting plate (20) is also connected between the flat plate portions of the two supporting ribs (see Figs. 1-2), wherein the plurality of rib parts (see Col. 5 lines 1-15) are divided into two groups, wherein one group of the two groups of rib parts are formed on the flat plate portion of one supporting rib (see Figs. 1-2), and the other group of the two groups of rib parts are formed on the flat plate portion of the other supporting rib (see Col. 5 lines 1-15); and wherein the two groups of rib parts are arranged in a staggered manner (see Col. 5 lines 1-15).
3. The rope adjusting buckle according to claim 2, wherein the rope adjusting buckle further comprises a connecting rod (50) connected between the Z-shaped rib bodies (see Figs. 1-2) of the two supporting ribs, and wherein the connecting rod is configured for receiving a flexible strip (W) wound on the connecting rod (see Figs. 1-2).
4. The rope adjusting buckle according to claim 3, wherein the rope adjusting buckle further comprises a pressing connecting member (52) connected between the Z-shaped rib bodies of the two supporting ribs (see Figs. 1-2), the connecting member being configured for pressing the flexible strip when the flexible strip is wound on the connecting rod (see Figs. 1-2).
5. The rope adjusting buckle according to claim 2, wherein the rib parts are tooth-shaped (see 42 and Col. 5 lines 1-15), and the two groups of rib parts cooperate with each other to form alternating bends in the channel (see Col. 5 lines 1-15).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Pitman et al.(U.S. 2012/0297581)
Funathu (U.S. 5,245,731)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M UPCHURCH whose telephone number is (571)270-7957. The examiner can normally be reached 6AM-3PM EST M-F.
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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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/DAVID M UPCHURCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677