DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 7-22 of U.S. Patent No. 12,186,759 and claims 1-8 of U.S. Patent No. 11,839,879. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because all of the claimed limitation is disclosed or render obvious of the claims in the US Patents above.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Young (US 20110042498).
Regarding claim 1, Young discloses a hammer (Fig. 15) comprising: a. a connection portion (12); b. a contact portion (16); c. a neck (11) connecting said contact portion to said connection portion; d. a connection aperture (15) formed in said connection portion; e. a first tab (shown below) extending into said connection aperture; and, f. a second tab (shown below) extending into said connection aperture.
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Regarding claim 2, Young discloses the hammer according to claim 1 wherein said first and second tabs are further defined as symmetrically positioned with respect to a vertical line (shown below) bisecting said connection aperture.
Regarding claim 3, Young discloses the hammer according to claim 2 wherein said first and second tabs are further defined as asymmetrically positioned with respect to a horizontal line (shown below) bisecting said connection aperture.
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Regarding claim 4, Young discloses the hammer according to claim 3 further comprising a shoulder (14a) surrounding a portion of said connection aperture.
Regarding claim 5, Young discloses the hammer according to claim 4 wherein said shoulder is further defined as being configured to increase a thickness of said connection portion where said shoulder is positioned. (see Fig. 15: it increases the thickness of the connection portion)
Regarding claim 6, Young discloses the hammer according to claim 1 further comprising a relief cavity (15a) intersecting said connection aperture.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20090321546, US 20170368552, US 20110042498, US 20200122152, US 10610870, US 20170291175, US 5188303 are closest prior arts.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BOBBY YEONJIN KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-1866. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9 am - 5 pm.
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/BOBBY YEONJIN KIM/Examiner, Art Unit 3725