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 o+f the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-14 and 19 in the reply filed on 23 February 2026 is acknowledged.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: “205”, “526”. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: “556”. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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, 19 and 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 1,544,457 (Jones), of which figure 1 is reproduced below.
PNG
media_image1.png
530
461
media_image1.png
Greyscale
As concerns claim 1, Jones discloses a latch assembly comprising: a first portion comprising: a first body 14 configured with a first body hook 25; a first handle 12 movably associated with the first body; and a second portion movably coupled with the first portion, the second portion comprising: a second body 11; and a second handle 13 movably associated with the second body, the second handle configured with a second handle hook 22 and a second handle hook slot (see, above), wherein when the latch assembly is in a first position, the first body hook is engaged with the second handle hook slot (this is the position shown in figure 2).
As concerns claim 2, Jones discloses the latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the first body comprises a first body hook slot (see, above), wherein the second handle hook 22 is configured to engage and disengage with the first body hook slot (figure 2).
As concerns claim 19, Jones discloses a latch assembly comprising: a first subassembly 14 comprising a first contact surface 25; a second subassembly 13 movingly coupled with the first subassembly, the second subassembly comprising a second contact surface 22, wherein the first subassembly is identical to the second subassembly (in that they are structurally the same, i.e., body and handle, as shown above), wherein the second subassembly is movingly coupled with the first subassembly in a 180 degree opposite orientation with respect to a reference point (which could be the central axis of the apparatus or the pivot points at 16), wherein the first contact surface is engaged with the second contact surface when the latch assembly is in a closed position (figure 2).
As concerns claim 21, Jones discloses the latch assembly of claim 19, wherein the first subassembly comprises a first body hook slot, wherein the second subassembly is configured to engage and disengage with the first body hook slot (see the figure, above, the second subassembly engaged with the first body hook slot is shown in figure 2).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-14 and 22-24 are objected to as depending from rejected base claims, but may be allowable if
rewritten in independent form or incorporated into the independent claims, including all of the limitations of the
independent claims and any intervening claims, as the claimed latch assembly and supporting structure as described is not disclosed, taught or suggested by the prior art.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES G. SAYRE whose telephone number is (571)270-7045. The examiner can normally be reached from 9:30-6:00 Monday-Friday.
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, Nicole Coy can be reached at 571-272-5405. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
JAMES G. SAYRE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3672
/JAMES G SAYRE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3672