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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 07/22/26 has been entered.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4-6, 9, 12-15 and 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jones et al. (US 2021/045104).
In regard to claim 1, Jones et al. teaches a hard hat system comprising: a hard hat comprising: an outer shell, the outer shell comprising: an exterior surface; an interior surface defining a cavity sized to receive a head of a user (see annotated figure 15 below); and a crown portion configured to cover part of the head of the user (see annotated figure 15 below), wherein a bottom segment of the crown portion defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell (see annotated figure below); and a side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment (see annotated figure below), the side accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots (see slots 84); and an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge (adapter: 66), the adapter comprising: a connection tab (see connection tab in annotated figure below on different attachment and paragraph 0036); and a body comprising a first end and an opposing second end (see annotated figure below); an upper surface extending between the first end and the second end (see annotated figure below); and a lower surface opposing the upper surface and facing the connection tab (see annotated figure below); two or more adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end (see slots in annotated figure below in adapter 66); wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support two or more accessories (see accessories 132 in annotated figure 15 below and paragraph 0060); and wherein, when the adapter is coupled to the side accessory ridge, the body extends along and interfaces against an upper edge of the side accessory ridge between the first end and the second end of the body (see annotated figure 15 below, bottom of adapter interfaces and extends along the upper edge of the ridge between the first and second ends).
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In regard to claim 2, Jones et al. teaches wherein the plurality of slots of the side accessory ridge comprise: a first slot; a second slot; and a third slot, wherein the second slot is positioned between the first slot and the third slot (see slots/ports: 84 in annotated figure above).
In regard to claim 4, Jones et al. teaches wherein the two or more adapter slots comprise three slots (see three adapter slots in 66 in annotated figure above).
In regard to claim 5, Jones et al. teaches wherein the adapter is supported by side accessory ridge and interfaces against the upper edge of the side accessory ridge such that the two or more adapter slots are positioned above the side accessory ridge (see annotated figure 15 above).
In regard to claim 6, Jones et al. teaches wherein the adapter is supported along and is positioned against a lateral outer surface of the side accessory ridge (see annotated figure 15 shows adapter 16 is supported along a lateral outer surface of the side accessory ridge).
In regard to claim 9, Jones et al. teaches a hard hat system comprising: a hard hat comprising: an outer shell, the outer shell comprising: an exterior surface; an interior surface; and a crown portion comprising a bottom segment that defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell (see annotated figure 15 above); and a side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment (see annotated figure 15 above), the side accessory ridge comprising a slot extending downward, in a first direction (see slots 84, in figures 14 and 15, slop opening of first slot in which the adaptor is in extends in a first downward direction as seen by arrow 90 in figure 15); and an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge (see adapter: 66 in annotated figure 15), the adapter comprising: a connection tab (see connection tab attached to attachment in annotated figure above and paragraph 0036), a body comprising a first end and an opposing second end (first/upper end of adapter 66 and lower/second end of adapter 66), a plurality of adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end (adapter slots on 66 in annotated figure 15 above); each of the plurality of adaptor slots extending downward, along a minor axis of the body and in the first direction (see slots in adaptor 66 they extends in the same downward direction as arrow 90 on slot 84, which is the first direction: see figure 15); wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support an accessory (accessories: 132, figure 15 and paragraph 0060); and wherein when the adaptor is coupled to the side accessory ridge, the body extends along and interfaces an upper portion of the side accessory ridge between the first and the second end of the body (see annotated figure 15 below, bottom of adapter interfaces and extends along the upper edge of the ridge between the first and second ends).
In regard to claim 12, Jones et al. teaches wherein a bottom edge of the body of the adapter interfaces against an upper edge of the side accessory ridge (see adapter 66 body interfacing against the upper ridge in annotated figure 15 above).
In regard to claim 13, Jones et al. teaches wherein the adapter is supported along a laterally outward facing surface of the side accessory ridge (figure 15 shows adapter 16 is supported along a lateral outer surface of the side accessory ridge).
In regard to claim 14, Jones et al. teaches wherein, when the adapter is coupled to the side accessory ridge, the connection tab of the adapter is positioned in the slot of the side accessory ridge (connection tab 86 as illustrated in annotated figure above attached to an attachment, as the attachment clip coupling attachment/adapter 66: paragraph 0036 and 0060 and the adapter 66 being positioned in the slots of the side accessory ridge: see annotated figure 15 above).
In regard to claim 15, Jones et al. teaches a hard hat system comprising: a hard hat comprising: an outer shell, the outer shell comprising: an exterior surface; an interior surface; and a crown portion comprising a bottom segment that defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell (see annotated figure 15 above); a brim extending radially outward and away from a portion of the lower circumference (see brim in annotated figure 15 above); and a side accessory ridge positioned on a lateral portion of the outer shell along the bottom segment (see accessory ridge in annotated figure 15 above), the side accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots (see accessory ridge slots/ports: 84 in annotated figure 15 above); and an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge (see adapter 66 coupled to accessory ridge in annotated figure 15 above), the adapter comprising: a connection tab (connection tab is in annotated figure above associated with accessory/attachment 64, which is connection tab/clip that is attached to accessory/attachment 66: paragraph 0038), wherein the connection tab extends downward in a first direction (connection tab as annotated above extends in a downward direction); and a body comprising a first end and an opposing second end (see annotated figure above); a plurality of adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end (see adapter slots in annotated figure 15 above); wherein each of the adapter slots extends downward in the first direction (slots extend downward and sideways, see annotated figure above); wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support an accessory (see accessories 132 coupled to adapter 66 in annotated figure 15 above); and wherein when the adaptor is coupled to the side accessory ridge, the body extends along and interfaces an upper portion of the side accessory ridge between the first and the second end of the body (see annotated figure 15 below, bottom of adapter interfaces and extends along the upper edge of the ridge between the first and second ends).
In regard to claim 17, Jones et al. teaches wherein the connection tab of the adapter is positioned in one of the plurality of slots of the side accessory ridge when the adapter is coupled to the hard hat, wherein the connection tab extends downward toward the brim (connection tab 86 as illustrated in annotated figure above attached to an attachment, as the attachment clip to attachment 66: paragraph 0036 and 0060).
In regard to claim 18, Jones et al. teaches wherein the plurality of adapter slots extend between an upper surface and a lower surface through the body of the adapter (see adapter slots in 66 in annotated figure above), wherein the lower surface of the body faces the brim (see lower surface in annotated figure above).
In regard to claim 19, Jones et al. teaches wherein the connection tab has a snap fit design (see connection tab in annotated figure above with three snap-fit prongs hat interact with ports/slots 84).
In regard to claim 20, Jones et al. teaches wherein the hard hat further comprises an opposite side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment, the opposite side accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots (paragraph 0009).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jones et al. (US 2021/0145104) in view of Tsai et al. (US 2021/0153588).
Jones et al. teaches a hard hat system as described above in claim 1. However, Jones fails to specifically teach the connection tab engagement with the downward facing surface of the hard hat.
In regard to claim 7, Tsai et al. teaches a hard hat with an adaptor slot and spring clip attachment of an accessory, wherein the spring clip comprises an engagement surface that engages a downward facing surface of the hard hat (see figures 5 and 8, engagement surface 223 that engages downward facing surface of hard hat edge at 701).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date to one having ordinary skill in the art to have replaced the spring clip of Jones et al. with the spring clip of Tsai et al., since the spring clip of Jones et al. provided with an engagement surface that engages a downward facing surface of the hard hat would provide a spring clip that securely attaches the adaptor to the hard had so as not to become easily dislodged.
Claim(s) 1 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai et al. (US 2021/0153588) in view of Jones et al. (US 2021/0145104).
In regard to claim 1, Tsai et al. teaches a hard hat system comprising: a hard hat (700) comprising: an outer shell (paragraph 0002), the outer shell comprising: an exterior surface (see figures 4-5 and 7); an interior surface defining a cavity sized to receive a head of a user (see figure 4); and a crown portion configured to cover part of the head of the user (see figure 4), wherein a bottom segment of the crown portion defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell (see figure 4); and a side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment (accessory ridge: protrusion 7), the side accessory ridge comprising a slot (slot: 71); and an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge (clamping plate: 12), the adapter comprising: a connection tab (23, 22); and a body (body: 12, 13 and 21) comprising: a first end an opposing second end (right side vs. left side of body); an upper surface extending between the first end and the second end (upper half of plate 12); and a lower surface opposing the upper surface and facing the connection tab (lower half of plate 12); two or more adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end (see upper slot: 12 and lower slot: 13, figure 5), wherein each of the two or more adapter slots extends through the upper surface and the lower surface (see figures 3 and 5); wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support two or more accessories (see figures 5 and 8, configured to couple two or more accessories as desired); and wherein when the adapter is coupled to the side accessory ridge, the body extends along and interfaces against an upper edge of the side accessory ridge between the first end and the second end of the body (body of adaptor portion 21 and specifically 214 interfaces against ridge 7, see figure 6 and paragraph 0028).
However, Tsai et al. fails to teach the slots on the accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots.
Jones et al. teaches a helmet with an accessory ridge that comprises a plurality of slots (see figure 15 slots 84, paragraph 0008).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date to one having ordinary skill in the art to have provided the accessory ridge of Tsai et al. with multiple slots as taught by Jones et al., since the accessory ridge of Tsai et al. provided with multiple slots would provide a helmet that can attach multiple accessories thereto at the same time or change the location of the accessory attachment as desired by the user.
In regard to claim 8, Tsai et al. teaches wherein the two or more accessories is configured to comprise a face shield and an earmuff (goggles is face shield and strap is earmuff, it is noted that the accessories are not being positively required of the claims).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3 and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 07/22/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Jones et al. and Tsai et al. fail to teach the limitations as amended into amended claims 1, 9, and 15.
As detailed above, Jones et al. and Tsai et al. teach the amended limitations with as detailed above and with different interpretations of the adaptor structure.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALISSA L HOEY whose telephone number is (571)272-4985. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00-5:30 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Clinton T Ostrup can be reached at (571)272-5559. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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ALISSA L. HOEY
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3732
/ALISSA L HOEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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