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 § 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) 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Don (US 20040189022 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Don teaches a convertible door handle comprising: inner (8) and outer (7) handle parts; first and second threaded receptacles (832) on the inner handle part; first and second threaded receptacles (742) on the outer handle part; first and second threaded inner posts (9) for engagement with the inner handle part; and first and second threaded outer posts (735) for engagement with the outer handle part, wherein, the first and second inner and outer posts are engaged with the first and second threaded receptacles on the inner and outer handle parts (fig. 1), and positioned to extend in first and second notches (113), for installation of the door handle on a metal door (fig. 2), and wherein, the first and second inner and outer posts are removed from the inner and outer handle parts for installation of the door handle on a wood door (para. 0031).
Regarding claim 2, Don teaches the handle of claim 1 wherein the first and second inner posts and the first and second outer posts are threaded along a portion of the posts (9 is threaded, inner end of 735 contains internal threads and outer end includes a keyed recessed surface that is being interpreted as a single keyed thread in order to maintain engagement).
Regarding claim 3, Don teaches a convertible door handle system comprising: inner (8) and outer (7) handle parts; first and second inner threaded receptacles (832) on the inner handle part; first and second outer threaded receptacles on the outer handle part (742); first and second threaded inner posts (9) for engagement with the inner handle part; and first and second threaded outer posts (735) for engagement with the outer handle part, the first and second inner and outer posts threadably engageable with the first and second inner and outer threaded receptacles on the inner and outer handle parts (fig. 5, 8 and 735 threadably engage through the threaded receptacles), and positioned to extend in first and second notches (113) in a metal door, for installation of the door handle on a metal door.
Regarding claim 4, Don teaches the handle system of claim 3 wherein the first and second inner posts and the first and second outer posts are threaded along a portion of the posts (inner end contains internal threads and outer end includes a keyed recessed surface that is being interpreted as a single keyed thread in order to maintain engagement).
Regarding claim 5, Don teaches a method of converting a door handle for use with a wood door to a door handle for use with a metal door comprising: providing door handles with first and second receptacles (742, 832) on inner (8) and outer (7) handle parts; attaching the inner and outer handle parts to a wood door (para. 0031, door without holes 113); providing first and second inner and outer posts (9, 735); engaging the first and second inner and outer posts with the first and second receptacles on the inner and outer handle parts (fig. 2, with 9); aligning the first and second inner and outer posts with notches (113) on a handle aperture of a metal door; and attaching the inner and outer handle parts to a metal door with the inner and outer posts positioned within notches on a handle aperture of a metal door (fig. 2).
Regarding claim 6, Don teaches the method of claim 5 wherein the first and second receptacles on the inner and outer handle parts and the first and second inner and outer posts are threaded (732, 832 threadingly receive 9 and 735), and engaging the first and second inner and outer posts with the first and second receptacles on the inner and outer handle parts comprises threading the posts into the receptacles (threading 9 and 735 together comprises threading the two parts inside the receptacles).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES EDWARD IGNACZEWSKI whose telephone number is (571)272-2732. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST.
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, Kristina Fulton can be reached at (571)272-7376. 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.
/J.E.I./ Examiner, Art Unit 3675 /KRISTINA R FULTON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3675
Prosecution Insights