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 . This action is in response to Application #19/452,308 filed on 18 January 2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 6-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. Claims 6-10 describe the “link element” (400 in the Specification) as interfacing the trigger, or a trigger interface surface. However, element 400, the “link element” according to the Specification, is located away from the trigger 300 (see fig.14). The claims read as though the link element 400 directly interacts with the trigger 300, yet it appears the link element 400 interacts with the trigger bar 320. It is unknown how the link element 400 can interact with the trigger directly, and such operation is not enabled by the Specification. For this examination, the Examiner will interpret the link element to interact with the trigger bar instead of the trigger. Appropriate clarification and/or correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-18, as best understood, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) based upon a public use or sale or other public availability of the invention. NPL, YouTube video “Taurus TX22 Disconnector Swap”, 03 September 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiIpJUUhdto&t=263s
Regarding Claims 1-18, the Specification discloses the instant invention is “…a replacement for the factory disconnector of the Taurus TX22 disconnector…” (paragraph 6). See figure 1 below for the replacement disconnector used in the NPL, appearing to be identical to the disconnector of Fig. 11 of the application. Since NPL teaches the same model Taurus TX22 pistol, and what appears to be an identical disconnector, the NPL is considered to clearly anticipate all claims.
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Figure 1
Claim(s) 1-7, 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent 11,959,712 issued to Canny.
Regarding Claim 1, Canny discloses a pistol comprising a frame (62), slide (64), trigger (4), a link element pivotally connected to the frame (36);
the link element operably responsive to movement of the slide from the battery position to the recoil position to move the trigger from the firing position to the rest position (at least column 8 lines 32-59).
Regarding Claim 2, see figs. 11-12.
Regarding Claim 3, see upper surface at 30.
Regarding Claim 4, see acute angle of element 36 proximate 30 (fig.6).
Regarding Claim 5, see 30 movement from fig.5 to fig.6, downward.
Regarding Claim 6, as best understood, see lower lobe 40 interfacing trigger bar at 14.
Regarding Claim 7, see at least column 8 lines 53-56.
Regarding Claim 9, see fig. 5 element 40 where it meets 14, appears to meet the angular limitation.
Regarding Claim 10, see fig. 5 element 40 where it meets 14, appears to meet the angular limitation.
Regarding Claim 11, see at least column 9 lines 3-10.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please see attached PTO-892 for pertinent art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN D COOPER whose telephone number is (571)270-3998. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 7:30 - 4:30 MST.
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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/JOHN COOPER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3641
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