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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recite “pickoff sit”. Clarification of the claim is required.
Claims 3-5,8,11 recite “the drive block”; claim 2 recited “reciprocal drive block”. Clarification of the claims is required.
Claim 4 recite “rotates the wheel”. Claim 1 recited “feed wheel”. Clarification of the claim is required.
Claim 11 recite “feed device framework”. Claim 1 recited “feed device”. Clarification of the claim is required.
Claim 12 recite “The fastener feed device wherein the feed wheel”. The dependency of claim 12 is missing. Clarification of the claim is required.
The claims are replete with 112(b) issues that require correction.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance of claim 1: A fastener feed device for a punch press including the features “a feed wheel rotatably affixed to the framework bottom member operative to pull said carrier strip to successive positions of advancement along said track, said feed wheel having a plurality of teeth with separate containment pockets between them, each pocket adapted to receive one of the fasteners; and a drive mechanism slidably affixed to the framework and operative to turn said feed wheel whereby individual loose fasteners occupying said feed wheel containment pockets are delivered to the pickoff site, said drive mechanism being driven by direct engagement with the press punch“ in combination with the remaining claim language is not taught by the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: US 20220033196; US 20110297724; US 20110170961; US 5619788; US 9120141.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AYODEJI H OJOFEITIMI whose telephone number is (571)272-6557. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, GENE CRAWFORD can be reached at (571) 272-6911. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AYODEJI H OJOFEITIMI/Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/GENE O CRAWFORD/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651
