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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on 08 May 2026 is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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.
Claim(s) 1-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by U.S. Pre-Grant Publication 2021/0247157 by Lesenfants (Lesenfants).
Regarding claim 1, Lesenfants discloses a handgun (See Figures, clearly illustrated) comprising: a barrel (26); a firing mechanism including a firing pin (27) and a trigger assembly (40); a slide (24); a frame (22); and a safety mechanism (100/120/140) configured to selectively restrict actuation of the firing mechanism (See at least Paragraphs 0068-0079), wherein the safety mechanism includes a thumb safety mechanism configured to be selectively actuated between a safe configuration and a fire configuration (See at least Paragraphs 0068-0079), wherein the thumb safety mechanism includes a thumb safety lever (100 or 120), wherein the thumb safety lever includes a recessed channel (See Figures, clearly illustrated), and wherein the thumb safety mechanism includes a thumb safety lever retention mechanism (105/106) that includes a projecting retention member (105) that is at least partially received within the frame and is biased to extend within the recessed channel (See Figures, clearly illustrated).
Regarding claim 2, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the projecting retention member includes at least one of a retention pin and a retention bearing (105).
Regarding claim 3, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the recessed channel and the projecting retention member together define a safe detent, which is configured to bias the thumb safety lever to remain in the safe configuration, and a fire detent, which is configured to bias the thumb safety lever to remain in the fire configuration (See at least Paragraphs 0068-0079).
Regarding claim 4, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the safe detent and the fire detent are separated from one another substantially vertically (See at least Figure 15, clearly illustrated).
Regarding claim 5, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the thumb safety lever retention mechanism further includes a projecting retention member biasing mechanism configured to bias the projecting retention member to extend within the recessed channel (106).
Regarding claim 6, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the frame defines a thumb safety lever retention mechanism recess configured to at least partially contain the projecting retention member (See at least Paragraph 0070).
Regarding claim 7, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the thumb safety mechanism is an ambidextrous thumb safety mechanism (See at least Paragraph 0068).
Regarding claim 8, Lesenfants further discloses wherein the recessed channel includes a hollowed out portion that defines a curved profile in a horizontal direction, the hollowed out portion being configured to retain the projecting retention member in the recessed channel to prevent accidental removal of the thumb safety lever from the handgun (See Figures, clearly illustrated).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See attached PTO-892 Form for a listing of applicable prior art references.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JONATHAN C WEBER whose telephone number is (571)270-5377. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8AM-5PM 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, Troy Chambers can be reached at 571-272-6874. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Jonathan C Weber/Primary Examiner,
Art Unit 3641
JONATHAN C. WEBER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3641
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