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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: on page 11, lines 4, 9 and 20, the specification describes the invention by referring to the colors of the figures (“shown in Red”, “shown in Blue”, and “highlighted in green”). However, colored drawing figures of this application are not provided and are not permitted. Therefore, the specification should be rewritten to match the figures.
Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because (1) reference numeral “22” is not shown in the figures (mentioned on page 7, line 16). (2) in figures 5-7, circled letters a-e are not found in the description. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claims 1- 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McMillan ‘284 (2,744,284) in view of Magoon ‘372 and Bennett et al. ‘303 (1,141,303).
Regarding claim 1, McMillan discloses an adjustable hinge as claimed, including a jamb or frame leaf (10) having first holes (20) for receiving first fastening parts for mounting the frame leaf to a door jamb; a door leaf (11) for mounting the adjustable hinge to a door; the frame leaf and the door leaf each having at least one door knuckle (12, 13) configured to receive a locking pin or pin bearing (15) that form a pin connection so as to fix the door leaf and the frame leaf against relative axial movement and to enable the door leaf and the frame leaf to rotate relative to each other about a pivot axis of the locking pin or pin bearing (15) and at least one leaf knuckle connection; (C) squareness adjustment holes (31) in the jamb or frame leaf (10) configured to receive jamb or frame leaf spacers or shim buttons (30) for adjusting a relative position of the jamb or frame leaf inward or outward with respect to door jamb (25) so as to adjust the jamb or frame leaf squareness with the door jamb and independently of the pivot connection.
However, McMillan does not shown the hinge including roller thrust bearings between the knuckles as stated in claim 1. Magoon teaches a hinge having roller thrust bearings (60, e.g., figs. 8-10 and 17-18) mounted between hinge knuckles to reduce friction. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hinge of McMillan with the thrust bearings between the knuckles as taught by Magoon, to reduce friction between the door knuckles and the door frame knuckles.
Further, McMillan does not show (B) elongated slots in the door leaf for adjusting a flushness position of the door relative to the jamb or frame leaf and (A) height adjustment spacers disposed about the hinge pin to raise or lower a relative height of the door leaf with respect to the jamb or frame leaf as stated in claim 1. Bennett et al. teaches an adjustable hinge having elongated slots (11, fig. 7) in the door leaf for adjusting a flushness position of the door relative to the jamb and height adjust spacers (9, figs. 1-3) disposed about the hinge pin to adjust the height of the door relative to the jamb. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hinge of McMillan with the elongated slots in the door leaf and the height adjustment spacers disposed about the hinge pin, as taught by Bennett et al., to adjust the door leaf for a flushness position with the door frame and to raise or lower the door in a vertical direction.
As to claim 2, McMillan discloses the invention as claimed but for the roller thrust bearings, (B) elongated slots, and (A) height adjustment spacers. However, these components are included in claim 1 and are rejected as being obvious in view of Magoon and Bennett et al. There is no need to reiterate (see explanation in the rejection of claim 1 above).
Similarly, as to claim 3, regarding the (C ) squareness adjustment holes, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 4, regarding the roller thrust bearings and (A) height adjustment spacers, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 5, regarding the (B) elongated slots, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 6, regarding the roller thrust bearings and (B) elongated slots, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 7, regarding the (A) height adjustment spacers, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 8, regarding the roller thrust bearings and (A) height adjustment spacers, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 9, regarding the (C) squareness adjustment holes, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 10, regarding the (B) elongated slots, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 11, regarding the roller thrust bearings and the (B) elongated slots, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 12, regarding the (C ) squareness adjustment holes, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 13, regarding the (A) height adjustment spacers, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 14, regarding the (C ) squareness adjustment holes, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 15, regarding the (B) elongated slots, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
As to claim 16, regarding the (A) height adjustment spacers, not shown by McMillan, see explanation of claim 1 above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See attached PTO-892.
Related prior art:
3,832,755 (Maertin et al.) shows an adjustable hinge including standard fastener hole in one hinge leaf and elongated holes formed in another hinge leaf for adjustment of a door in a lateral direction.
2,611,921 (Weidelstam) shows an adjustable hinge having a washer, or alternatively a ball-bearing disposed between two hinge knuckles to reduce friction between rotating parts.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHUCK MAH whose telephone number is (571)272-7059. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00-3:00.
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/CHUCK Y MAH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677 CM
November 23, 2025