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 .
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) 17- is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dmuschewsky et al. (U.S. Publication No. 2015/0141160).
Dmuschewsky et al. discloses a method of using an instrument comprising: inserting a first end (A) of a shaft (Figure 8) into an internal opening (5) of an extension piece (3), the insertion step comprising; positioning the shaft so that a radial protrusion (C) of the shaft is on a first side of a projection (13) extending radially inward into the internal opening of the extension piece (Figure 8); advancing the radial protrusion along a ramp (25) formed by a first surface of the projection as the extension piece deforms; and passing the radial protrusion of the shaft from a first side of a second surface of the projection to a second opposing side of the surface of the projection so that the extension piece return to a non-deformed state (Figure 8).
Regarding claim 18, after the step of passing the radial protrusion of the shaft from the first side of the second surface of the projection to the second opposing side, the shaft is prevented from being removed from the extension piece (paragraph 41).
Regarding claim 19, the method further comprising: inwardly pressing an opposing pair of tabs (15) (17, 18, 19) included on the extension piece to elastically deform the extension piece and the opening defined by the extension piece (paragraph 34).
Regarding claim 20, after the step of inwardly pressing the opposing pair of tabs, withdrawing the shaft from the extension piece to decouple the shaft from the extension piece while the extension piece is elastically deformed (paragraph 34).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art alone or combination fails to disclose a shaft having a first portion and an end portion. The end portion having a cross-sectional diameter less than the first portion. The first portion having a radial protrusion to be removably engaged with an extension piece. The extension piece having an opening to receive the shaft end with the radial protrusion. The opening defined by a pair of arms, each arm having a protrusion extending into the opening. The pair of arms are elastically deformably such that when the shaft is inserted, the radial protrusion passes the projections to push the arms apart from their neutral position. When the protrusion passes the projections, the arms are moved back into the neutral position to prevent backout.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW YANG whose telephone number is (571)272-3472. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 - 9:00 M-F.
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/ANDREW YANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3775
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