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 (IDS) submitted on 06-25-2026 is acknowledged. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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) 1-5 and 8-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Vidal (6,668,386).
Regarding claim 1, Vidal discloses a drawstring assembly (figs 1-2), comprising:
a looped sleeve (member 14) with one or more openings (members 22 and 24), wherein the looped sleeve is a flexible tube looped onto itself;
a first cord (member 16) placed at least partially inside the looped sleeve; and a first loop handle (members 30, 32, 138 and 40); wherein: the first cord forms a cord loop of more than 360 degrees within the looped sleeve (para 0017);
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the first loop handle is a first part of the first cord not including any end of the first cord, and is accessible outside the looped sleeve via at least a part of the one or more openings (fig 1 annotated above);
the first loop handle is configured to, when pulled in a first direction, untighten the first cord (fig 1 annotated above) when the looped sleeve is placed and tightened around an enclosed object; and the first cord provides a threshold against uncontrolled untightening by asserting friction (para 0018 to 0019) when at least one of: the first cord touches itself (fig 1); or the first cord touches the looped sleeve (fig 1).
Regarding claim 2, Vidal discloses the first loop handle is located at a front, a side, or a back of the looped sleeve (fig 1).
Regarding claim 3, Vidal discloses the first loop handle includes one of a tab (fig 1), a bow knot, a faux bow, or other pendant adapted to assist pulling the first loop handle (fig 1).
Regarding claim 4, Vidal discloses the first cord is one of a rope, a cord (para 0018), a string, a band, a belt, and a ribbon; and the looped sleeve includes at least one of a fabric (para 0024) or a plastic, wherein the at least one of the fabric or the plastic is at least one of woven, extruded, bonded (i.e. hot melt, para 0024), or blown.
Regarding claim 5, Vidal discloses at least a part of the first loop handle includes a material that is stretchable (i.e. elastic, para 0018).
Regarding claim 8, Vidal discloses the drawstring assembly is an integral part of a garment and adapted to be worn around a part of a body (fig 1).
Regarding claim 9, Vidal discloses the first cord has a first cord end and a second cord end (members 18 and 20).
Regarding claim 10, Vidal discloses the first cord end emerges from the looped sleeve, and wherein the first cord end is configured to tighten the first cord when pulled in a third direction (figs 1-2).
Regarding claim 11, Vidal discloses the second cord end emerges from the looped sleeve, and wherein the second cord end is configured to tighten the first cord when pulled in a fourth direction (figs 1-2, para 0019).
Regarding claim 12, Vidal discloses the first cord is attached to the looped sleeve at a sleeve connection point (figs 1-2).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments, date 06-08-2026, with respect to the rejections of claims under 35 U.S.C §103 have been fully considered, but they are not persuasive.
Argument 1: applicant argues that “there is not mid-cord accessible outside of the sleeve”; however, the examiner respectfully disagrees since the claims do not have any requirement for a mid-cord part as analyzed above.
Argument 2: applicant argues that “no element is configure to untighten the cord when pulled”; however, the examiner respectfully disagree since Vidal does teach the limitations as analyzed above.
Argument 3: applicant argues that “Vidal's anti-back-off mechanism is mechanical cord locks, not cord friction; however, the examiner respectfully disagrees since Vidal structure does provide friction because any structure must provide some degree of friction as contacting each other.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BAO-THIEU L NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-0476. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7am-3pm.
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, KHOA D. HUYNH can be reached at (571)272-4888. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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BAO-THIEU L. NGUYEN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3732
/BAO-THIEU L NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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