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) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Winsor (US 5,302,063).
Winsor discloses a device for securing a grating of a transport railcar, the grating, shown in figure 16A, including a plurality of transversely coupled rods that form a plurality of grating openings therebetween, also shown in figure 16A. The device is comprised of a body 68 including a first end coupled to a surface of the railcar, shown in figure 17 with fastener 71, and a second end projecting through a grating opening, the second end including a flange extending transversely to a rod forming the grating opening as shown in figure 18. The flange has a tongue that extends through the hole in the middle plate 69.
The flange wraps over, and engages the rod, and is wider than the grating as shown in figure 18.
The fastener 71 is further comprised of a head and a shank, and the first end of the body includes an opening that is sized and shaped to receive the shank.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-14 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Robert J McCarry Jr. whose telephone number is (571)272-6683. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, S. Joseph Morano can be reached at 571-272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Robert J McCarry Jr/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
RJM
September 3, 2026
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