DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-20 are pending.
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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I, Species A1, B3, C3, D1, and E2 in the reply filed on January 14, 2026 is acknowledged. Applicant neglected to identify the claims encompassing the elected species (see page 6 of restriction requirement mailed December 5, 2025), so the Examiner does so now. Claims 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 13-16 are directed to unelected species and are hereby withdrawn. Claim 18-20 are directed to unelected Invention II and are also withdrawn. Thus, claim 1, 2, 4 , 6, 8, 11, 12, and 17 are considered the elected claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 2, and 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Barbarite et al. (US 6425167) in view of Vaiani (US 6427374).
Barbarite et al. (US 6425167) in view of Vaiani (US 6427374)
Regarding claim 1, Barbarite describes a quilt binding assistance device (accessory clip 10) comprising:
a main suspension rope (braided cord 12);
a ceiling fastener (eyelet, col. 2, ll. 10-13);
a connector fastener (fastening device 26) attached to the swivel, the connector fastener linking the swivel to a first end of the main suspension rope (12); and
a secondary rope (braided cord 14) attached to a second end of the main suspension rope (attached via ring support 24), the secondary rope terminating in a fastener (fastening device 26).
Barbarite does not explicitly describe a swivel connected to the ceiling fastener and positioned below the ceiling fastener.
In related art related to the problem of suspending attached components Vaiani describes a swivel (swivel device 82) connected to the ceiling fastener and positioned below the ceiling fastener (as modified, is connected via the connector fastener).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify Bararite to include a swivel device as described in Vaiani in order to reduce the ability of kinks to form in the device (Vaiani, col. 5, ll. 37-39).
Regarding claim 2, Barbarite as modified describes the quilt binding assistance device of claim 1, wherein the fastener is comprised of a pinch clamp (spring based clip 28).
Regarding claim 4, Barbarite as modified describes quilt binding assistance device of claim 1, wherein the ceiling fastener is comprised of an eye bolt (eyelet, col. 2, ll. 10-13, Barbarite).
Claim 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Barbarite et al. (US 6425167) in view of Vaiani (US 6427374) and Barrick et al. (US 20150135768).
Regarding claim 6, Barbarite describes the quilt binding assistance device of claim 1, but does not explicitly describe wherein the secondary rope is comprised of a paracord, rather, Barbarite describes that the ropes are braided cords.
In related art for the purpose of suspending objects, Barrick describes the use of paracord (para. 0020).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the cord of Barbarite to be paracord as such a modification is a simple substitution of one known element (braided cord) for another (paracord) with predictable results. That is, one having ordinary skill in the art would have no unknown or confusing results by replacing the cords of Barbarite with the paracord of Barrick.
Claims 8, 11, 12, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Barbarite et al. (US 6425167) in view of Vaiani (US 6427374) and Cueto et al. (US 4220306).
Regarding claim 8, Barbarite describes a quilt binding assistance device (accessory clip 10) comprising:
a main suspension rope (braided cord 12);
a ceiling fastener (eyelet, col. 2, ll. 10-13);
a connector fastener (fastening device 26) attached to the swivel, the connector fastener linking the swivel to a first end of the main suspension rope (12); and
a secondary rope (braided cord 14) attached to a second end of the main suspension rope (attached via ring support 24), the secondary rope terminating in a fastener (fastening device 26).
Barbarite does not explicitly describe a swivel connected to the ceiling fastener and positioned below the ceiling fastener.
In related art related to the problem of suspending attached components Vaiani describes a swivel (swivel device 82) connected to the ceiling fastener and positioned below the ceiling fastener (as modified, is connected via the connector fastener).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify Bararite to include a swivel device as described in Vaiani in order to reduce the ability of kinks to form in the device (Vaiani, col. 5, ll. 37-39).
Barbarite does not explicitly describe an adjustment fastener positioned on the main suspension rope, the adjustment fastener configured to modify a length of the main suspension rope.
In related art related to the problem of suspending attached components Cueto describes an adjustment fastener (device 10) positioned on the main suspension rope, the adjustment fastener configured to modify a length of the main suspension rope (height adjustment, abstract).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing the instant application to modify the device of Barbarite to include the adjustment fastener of Cueto in order to permit the user to adjust the height of the device to their particular liking (se abstract, Cueto, describing height adjustment).
Regarding claim 11, Barbarite as modified describes the quilt binding assistance device of claim 8, wherein the adjustment fastener is comprised of a cord lock (is a cord lock).
Regarding claim 12, Barbarite describes the quilt binding assistance device of claim 8, wherein the main suspension rope is comprised of a braided cord (braided cord 12).
Regarding claim 17, Barbarite describes the quilt binding assistance device of claim 8, wherein the connector fastener is comprised of a snap clip (is a snap clip).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Multiple references are cited that include straps connected to other components that could be utilized in at least obviousness-type rejections.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK J LYNCH whose telephone number is (571)272-1145. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Th, Alt F: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Clint Ostrup can be reached on 571-272-5559. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK J. LYNCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732