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 1-12 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 recites “ a second sized” which renders the claim indefinite and unclear because it appears to fail to recite the structure which is sized. Examiner, for the purpose of examination, will interpret “a second sized” to be referring to a second sized “ring.”
Claims 2-11 are rejected from being dependent from a rejected claim.
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) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fishack (U.S. Patent No. 3,953,911).
As for Claim 1, as best understood, Fishack discloses a strap device, comprising:
a strap (12) having a first end and a second end(ends of 12);
a first end component (10) coupled to the first end of the strap, wherein the first end component
comprises a first ring (14), a hook (24) extending from an outer surface of the first ring, and a projection (28) extending from the outer surface of the first ring such that a portion of the projection, a portion
of the outer surface of the first ring, and a portion of the outer surface of the hook define a channel (30); and
a second end component (42) coupled to the second end of the strap, wherein the second end
component comprises a second sized such that the second ring can pass through the first ring (see Fig. 2).
Re: Claim 2. The strap device of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a strap core (core of 12) that includes one or more strands that are wound (see Fig. 1 disclosing 44).
Re: Claim 3. The strap device of claim 2, wherein the strap core includes two strands (44, see Fig. 1).
Re: Claim 4. The strap device of claim 2, wherein the strap core includes three strands (44, see Fig. 1).
Re: Claim 5. The strap device of claim 2, wherein the strap core is constructed of a carbon steel alloy (see Col. 2 lines 46-52).
Re: Claim 6. The strap device of claim 2, wherein the strap comprises an inner sleeve (inner sleeve of 12) surrounding the strap core, and an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve (outer sleeve of 12).
Re: Claim 7. The strap device of claim 6, wherein the inner sleeve is constructed from a plastic
material and the outer sleeve is constructed from a polypropylene textile (see Col. 2 lines 46-52).
Re: Claim 8. The strap device of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to receive the strap (see Fig. 1).
Re: Claim 9. The strap device of claim 1, wherein the second ring has an inner diameter sized to
receive the hook within the second ring (see Fig. 1).
Re: Claim 10. The strap device of claim 1, wherein the first end component further comprises a first collar (20) and the second end component further comprises a second collar (42), and the strap device
further comprises:
a first collar crimp (crimp of 20) mechanically secured at the first end of the strap and a second collar crimp (crimp of 42) mechanically secured at the second end of the strap, wherein the first collar is overmolded onto the first collar crimp and the second collar is overmolded onto the second collar crimp (see Fig, 1).
Re: Claim 11. The strap device of claim 1, wherein the first end component further comprises a steel core (see Col. 2 lines 46-52).
Re: Claim 12. The strap device of claim 11, wherein the steel core is surrounded by glass filled nylon (see Col. 2 lines 46-52).
As for Claim 13, Fishack discloses a strap device, comprising:
a strap (12) having a first end and a second end;
a first end component (10) coupled to the first end of the strap, wherein the first end component
comprises a first ring (14) and a hook (28) extending from the first ring; and
a second end component (40) coupled to the second end of the strap, wherein the second end
component comprises a second ring (42) sized such that the second ring can pass through the first
ring (see Fig. 2).
Re: Claim 14. The strap device of claim 13, further comprising:
a projection (24) extending from the hook.
Re: Claim 15. The strap device of claim 14, further comprising a channel (26) at least partially defined by the projection.
Re: Claim 16. The strap device of claim 15, wherein the channel is arranged to receive the strap (see Fig. 1).
Re: Claim 17. The strap device of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises a strap core constructed of one or more strands (44).
Re: Claim 18. The strap device of claim 17, wherein the one or more strands are constructed of a carbon steel alloy (see Col. 2 lines 46-52).
Re: Claim 19. The strap device of claim 13, wherein the first end component includes a steel core
surrounded by glass filled nylon (see Col. 2 lines 46-52).
As for Claim 20, Fishack discloses a strap device, comprising:
a strap (12)having a first end and a second end, wherein the strap includes a strap core
comprising two or more wound strands (44);
a first end component (10) coupled to the first end of the strap, wherein the first end component
comprises a first ring (14), a hook (28) extending from an outer surface of the first ring, and a projection (24) extending from the outer surface of the first ring such that a portion of the projection, a portion
of the outer surface of the first ring, and a portion of the outer surface of the hook define a channel (30); and
a second end component (40) coupled to the second end of the strap, wherein the second end
component comprises a second ring (42), wherein the second ring is sized such that the second ring
can pass through the first ring and also receive the hook (see Fig. 1).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Esposito et al. (U.S. 5,317,788).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M UPCHURCH whose telephone number is (571)270-7957. The examiner can normally be reached 6AM-3PM EST M-F.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571)272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAVID M UPCHURCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677
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