Office Action 3: Non-Final Rejection (2025-06-23)
Rejection types: 102 - Lack of Novelty, 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the claims

Please replace all prior versions and listings of claims in the application with the following listing of claims:

1\. (Currently Amended) A mechanism, comprising:an arm comprising a slot, the slot comprising a straight section that is substantially paral- lel to a length of the arm and an angled section that is at an angle relative to the length of the arm, a hole disposed between an end of the slot and an end of the arm distal from the straight section, and a centre of the hole is offset from a centreline of the straight section;
a rivet pin, at least partially disposed in the slot, the slot is slidable relative to the rivet pin , and the rivet pin is engageable with the angled section; and
a pin shaft, at least partially disposed in the hole, such that the arm is rotatable about the pin shaft;
wherein a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the slot in a plane defined by the arm and the rivet pin is stationary whether the arm moves or is stationary.
2\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a fixed element that is config- ured to fixedly attach to a fixed frame, and to receive the rivet pin.
3\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 2, further comprising a movable element that includes a receptacle configure to receive a first portion of the pin shaft.
4\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 3, wherein the movable element comprises a channel that is offset from the receptacle, and the rivet pin passes through the channel to be received in the fixed element.

5\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the fixed element comprises a projection that is configured to be at least partially received in the channel, and the rivet pin is received in the projection.
6\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a rod, which comprises an aper- ture that is configured to receive the movable element.
7\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the rod is configured to be movably at- tached to the fixed frame.

8\. (Previously Presented) The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a hung sash that is connected to the fixed frame by a hinge, allowing the hung sash to rotate about the hinge, wherein the rod comprises a projection;the hung sash comprises a retainer member; and
the projection and the retainer member are engageable to prevent the hung sash from ro- tating away from the fixed frame.
9\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 8, wherein a handle is disposed on the fixed frame,
and the handle is operatively connected to the rod, such that a rotation of the handle causes the rod to move along the fixed frame.

10\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 9, wherein a movement of the rod comprises a first portion wherein the straight section slides about the rivet pin and causes the projection to disen- gage from the retainer member, and a second portion wherein the angled section engages the riv- et pin such that the arm rotates about the pin shaft.

11\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a slider disposed at one end of the arm distal from the slot, the slider is configured to be installed on the hung sash, and the slid- er is slidable with respect to an upright of the hung sash when the arm rotates.

12\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 11, wherein when the hung sash is fully open, the arm is in a locked position.

13\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the arm is substantially perpendicular to a side of the fixed frame and a side of the hung sash in the locked position.

14\. (Previously Presented) The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a cover member that comprises a groove that a head of the rivet pin is movably received therein, and a receptacle that is configured to receive a second portion of the pin shaft.

15\. (Currently Amended) The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the pin shaft comprises an en- larged portion that comprises a spheroidal surface that is received in the hole, and the hole de- fines a spheroidal inner surface, wherein the spheroidal surface and the spheroidal inner surface cooperate to allow a \[\[ball-\]\]spheroid joint like connection.

16\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the angle is larger than 0 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees.

17\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 16, wherein the angle is between 20 and 70 degrees.

18\. (Original) The mechanism of claim 17, wherein the angle is 45 degrees.

19\. (Original) A covering for an opening in a building, the covering comprising the mecha- nism of claim 1.

20\. (Original) The covering of claim 19, wherein the covering is a window or a door.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This Office Action is in response to the claims filed on 05/19/2025.
Claims 1-20 are currently pending and have been examined below.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection.  Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.  Applicant's submission filed on 05/19/2025 has been entered.
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 1-20 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 written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 1
Recitations such as “wherein a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the slot” on lines 11-12 discloses New Matter. Examiner notes that the recitations on lines 11-12 is not completely true. In the annotated figure 4 below, the distance between the rivet pin and pin shaft that meets the conditional phrase “in a direction perpendicular to a length of the slot” of claim 1 remains constant.
However, in the annotated figure 5 below, the distance between the rivet pin and pin shaft that meets the conditional phrase “in a direction perpendicular to a length of the slot” does not remain constant since the pin shaft is mounted to the movable element 8 which is intended to move vertically (i.e., in the same direction as the direction of the distance between the rivet pin and pin shaft in annotated figure 5) thus the pin shaft must also move along with the movable element hence the distance between the pin shaft 4 and rivet pin 6 at least leading to the arm position shown in annotated figure 5 below does not remain constant. Since the amendments on lines 11-12 were partially correct while also discloses new matter, examiner notes that the scope of applicant’s amendments on lines 11-12 is broader than what applicant believes such that they include a scope that discloses new matter.
Note that further clarification on the original disclosure could lead to the withdrawal of these new matter issues.
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Annotated figure 4
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All claims depending from a rejected claim are rejected for including the 112 issues of the claim from which it depends.
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.
Claims 1-3, 14-16, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schmock (EP 2116680).
Claim 1
(Schmock discloses) A mechanism (figures 1-5), comprising:
an arm (22) comprising a slot (24), the slot comprising a straight section (Annotated figure 1 below) that is substantially parallel to a length of the arm (Annotated figure 1 below) and an angled section (Annotated figure 1 below) that is at an angle relative to the length of the arm (Annotated figure 1 below), a hole (hole on arm 22 receiving 21) disposed between an end of the slot and an end of the arm (23) distal from the straight section (Annotated figure 1 below), and a centre of the hole is offset from a centreline of the straight section (see hole is offset relative to the straight section in Annotated figure 1 below);
a rivet pin (26), at least partially disposed in the slot, the slot is slidable relative to the rivet pin, and the rivet pin is engageable with the angled section (figure 2 and Excerpt 3 from page 7 below); and
a pin shaft (21), at least partially disposed in the hole, such that the arm is rotatable about the pin shaft (figures 2-4);
wherein a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the slot in a plane defined by the arm (Annotated figure 3 below; note that Excerpt 1 from page 9 and Excerpt 2 from page 7 discusses the rivet pin is fixed to the fixed element 2 which is fixed to the frame 39) and the rivet pin is stationary whether the arm moves or is stationary (Excerpt 1 and Excerpt 2; figures 2-4; see underlined section of Excerpt 3 below also discussing the slot 24 moves along the rivet pin 26 since the rivet pin is stationary).
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Annotated figure 1
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Excerpt 1
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Excerpt 2
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Claim 2
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a fixed element (2) that is configured to fixedly attach to a fixed frame (39), and to receive the rivet pin (figure 3).
Claim 3
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 2, further comprising a movable element (4) that includes a receptacle (receptacle of 19 receiving pin shaft 21; figure 1) configure to receive a first portion of the pin shaft (figure 1).
Claim 14
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a cover member (2) that comprises a groove (the groove for receiving 26) that a head of the rivet pin is movably received therein (figure 1), and a receptacle (17) that is configured to receive a second portion of the pin shaft (figure 1).
Claim 15
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the pin shaft comprises an enlarged portion (the portion of the pin shaft 21 received by the spherical hole of 22) that comprises a spheroidal surface that is received in the hole, and the hole defines a spheroidal inner surface (figure 1), wherein the spheroidal surface and the spheroidal inner surface cooperate to allow a spheroid joint like connection (figures 2-5).
Claim 16
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the angle is larger than 0 degrees and
smaller than 90 degrees (Annotated figure 1 above).
Claim 19
(Schmock discloses) A covering (40; figure 1) for an opening in a building, the covering comprising the mechanism of claim 1 (see rejection in claim 1 above).
Claim 20
(Schmock discloses) The covering of claim 19, wherein the covering is a window or a door (abstract discussing a leaf of a window or door).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 4-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Schmock, as applied to claims 1-3, 14-16, and 19-20 above, in view of Tremblay (US 6431620).
Claim 4
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 3.
Schmock fails to disclose wherein the movable element comprises a channel that is offset from the receptacle, and the rivet pin passes through the channel to be received in the fixed element.
(However, Tremblay teaches) a movable shield element (20; Tremblay figures 5-8) comprises a channel (channel defined by the two 38; Tremblay figure 8) that is offset from a receptacle (42), and a rivet pin (54) passes through the channel to be received in a fixed element (56; Tremblay figure 7).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to provide the mechanism of Schmock with the movable shield element of Tremblay, with a reasonable expectation of success, to cover the parts of the mechanism thus protecting them from the environment and reducing the chances of dust or debris from building up which could break the mechanism.
Claim 5
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 4.
Modified Schmock fails to disclose wherein the fixed element comprises a projection that is configured to be at least partially received in the channel, and the rivet pin is received in the projection.
(However, Tremblay teaches) a fixed element comprises a projection (Annotated figure 7 below) that is configured to be at least partially received in the channel (channel defined by the two 38; Tremblay figure 8), and a rivet pin (Annotated figure 7 below) is received in the projection.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to provide the fixed element of the mechanism of modified Schmock with the projection that is partially received to the channel and receiving the rivet pin as taught by Tremblay, with a reasonable expectation of success, to provide further bolstering to the rivet pin improving its attachment to the fixed element.
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Claim 6
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 3.
Schmock is silent regarding further comprising a rod, which comprises an aperture that is configured to receive the movable element.
(However, Tremblay teaches) further comprising a rod (20; Tremblay figures 5-8), which comprises an aperture (aperture defined by the two 38) that is configured to receive a movable element (the aperture provides adequate space for a movable element).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to provide the mechanism of Schmock with the rod with an aperture of Tremblay, with a reasonable expectation of success, for translating the movement of the movable element. In addition, the rod with the aperture also covers the parts of the mechanism thus protecting them from the environment and reducing the chances of dust or debris from building up which could break the mechanism.
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) the rod, which comprises the aperture that is configured to receive the movable element (this is inevitable via the combination above).
Claim 7
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the rod is configured to be movably attached to the fixed frame (this is inevitable via the combination above).
Claim 8
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a hung sash (40; figure 1) that is connected to the fixed frame by a hinge (not shown but the pivoting movement of the sash 40 in figure 1 must inherently disclose a hinge), allowing the hung sash to rotate about the hinge (figure 1).
Modified Schmock fails to disclose:
the rod comprises a projection;
the hung sash comprises a retainer member; and
the projection and the retainer member are engageable to prevent the hung sash from rotating away from the fixed frame.
(However, Tremblay teaches)
wherein a rod (20) comprises a projection (160; figure 11);
a hung sash (12) comprises a retainer member (162; figure 10; lines 11-14 of col. 16); and
the projection and the retainer member are engageable to prevent the hung sash from rotating away from the fixed frame (lines 11-14 of col. 16).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to provide the rod and hung sash of modified Schmock with the projection and retainer member, respectively, of Tremblay, with a reasonable expectation of success, for providing a locking mechanism to the hung sash therefore it would not open accidentally or unattentively.
Claim 9
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 8.
Modified Schmock is silent regarding wherein a handle is disposed on the fixed frame, and the handle is operatively connected to the rod, such that a rotation of the handle causes the rod to move along the fixed frame.
(However, Tremblay teaches) wherein a handle (134; figures 3-5) is disposed on a fixed frame (figure 1), and the handle is operatively connected to a rod (20), such that a rotation of the handle causes the rod to move along the fixed frame (figures 3-5; also see directional indicators 106 and 108).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to provide the mechanism of modified Schmock with the handle of Tremblay, with a reasonable expectation of success, for the ease of moving the hung sash and the handle also acts as an actuating means for opening/closing the hung sash.
Claim 10
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 9, wherein a movement of the rod comprises a first portion (movement portion of the rod associated to a movement of the straight section along the rivet pin) wherein the straight section slides about the rivet pin (figures 4-5) and causes the projection to disengage from the retainer member (this would be inevitable via the combination above), and a second portion (movement portion of the rod associated to an engagement of the angled section along the rivet pin) wherein the angled section engages the rivet pin such that the arm rotates about the pin shaft (figures 2-3; Excerpt 3 from page 7 above discussing the operation of the mechanism of modified Schmock).
Claim 11
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a slider (14) disposed at one end of the arm distal from the slot (14 is near the end of the arm 22 distal from the slot), the slider is configured to be installed on the hung sash (figure 1), and the slider is slidable with respect to an upright of the hung sash (vertical frame of the hung sash) when the arm rotates.
Claim 12
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 11, wherein when the hung sash is fully open, the arm is in a locked position (figure 1).
Claim 13
(Schmock, as modified above, discloses) The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the arm (for this claim, the arm was interpreted as arms 11 and 22) is substantially perpendicular to a side of the fixed frame and a side of the hung sash in the locked position (arm 11 is ‘substantially perpendicular’ to a vertical side of the fixed frame and hung sash; note that ‘substantially’ was broadly interpreted as -- Considerable in importance, value, degree, amount-- such that the claim only requires the arm to be ‘considerably’ perpendicular; note that if the claims were amended to remove the term ‘substantially’, it would overcome the prior art).
Claims 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Schmock, as applied to claims 1-3, 14-16, and 19-20 above.
Claims 17 and 18
(Schmock discloses) The mechanism of claim 16.
Schmock is silent regarding:
“wherein the angle is between 20 and 70 degrees” (claim 17);
“wherein the angle is 45 degrees” (claim 18).
However, one of ordinary skill in the art is expected to routinely experiment with parameters so as to ascertain the optimum or workable ranges for a particular use.  Accordingly, it would have been no more than an obvious matter of engineering design choice, as determined through routine experimentation and optimization, for one of ordinary skill to modify the angle of the angled section relative to the length of the arm to 45°, with a reasonable expectation of success, for optimizing the pivoting movement of the levers and arms of the mechanism of Schmock therefore the opening/closing of the hung sash is smoother.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments directed to the drawing and specification objections have been considered.
Applicant’s arguments directed to the 112(b) have been considered and have been accepted. Note that the amendments introduced new 112 issues - see above.
Applicant's arguments filed on 05/19/2025 have been fully considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on the reference applied in the prior rejection of record, for at least the independent claim, specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: ARGUMENTS / REMARKSApplicant thanks the Examiner for reviewing the application.These remarks are filed in response to the Office Action of June 23, 2025, a response to which is due by Sept. 23, 2025. Accordingly, the Applicants respectfully submit that no extension of time fees fall due in connection with the filing of this paper. If the Applicant is incorrect, the Commissioner is hereby authorized to deduct any necessary fees from our Deposit Ac- count No. 604391.Claim Status Claims 1, 2, and 5-20 are currently pending. Claim 1 is an independent claim, and claims 2, and 5-18 depend, directly or indirectly, from claim 1.Claim 19 is an independent claim, and claim 20 depends from claim 19.Claim 1 has been amended to incorporate the subject matter of claims 3 and 4, which have now been cancelled.35 USC 112 1.    Claims 1-20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.Claim 1 has been amended to incorporate the subject matter of claims 3 and 4, which have now been cancelled.Claim 1 has also been amended to recite, inter alia, "a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the channel in a plane de- fined by the receptacle and the channel". This amendment finds support at least in FIGs. 4-5, which show that distance between the receptacle 801 that receives the first portion of the pin shaft and the channel 803 that the rivet pin passes through is constant in the direction perpen- dicular to the length of the channel.35 USC 102 2.    Claims 1-3, 14-16, and 19-20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schmock (EP 2116680).Schmock is in German. As such, the following discussion is based on the machine translation thereof obtained from the EPO website.Claim 1 has been amended to incorporate the subject matter of claims 3 and 4, which have now been cancelled.Claim 4 was not objected to for being anticipated by Schmock, suggesting that it is not antic- ipated by Schmock. By incorporating the subject matter of claim 4, claim 1 as amended is also not anticipated.Schmock discloses a curved slot, rather than the straight and angled sections as recited in instant claim 1. Schmock describes that the "first control lever 22 has a first guide slot 24 which is designed as an arcuate slot 25". According to Merriam-Webster, arcuate means "curved like a bow", suggesting that the slot is curved, in contrast to "a straight section ...and an angled section ..." as recited in instant claim 1.Consequently, Schmock does not disclose "a hole disposed between an end of the slot and an end of the arm distal from the straight section, and a centre of the hole is offset from a centreline of the straight section" as recited in instant claim 1.Schmock does disclose "a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the channel in a plane defined by the receptacle and the channel".* Paragraph 0026 of Schmock discloses that the guide element 19 of the drive element 4 is connected to the first control lever 22 vial the pivot bearing 21. Paragraph 0028 of Schmock discloses that figure 3 shows the drive element 4 has been moved in the direction of the extended end 18. Therefore, the drive element 4 moves, the pivot bearing 21 that is connected to the drive element 4 also moves, such that the distance between the pivot bearing 21 and the stationary guide projection 26 changes.* The Office Action admits that Schmock does not disclose a channel. Therefore, Schmock cannot disclose a constant distance relationship defined in part by a channel.For at least these reasons, claim 1 as amended is not anticipated by Schmock. Claims 2 and 14-16 are also not anticipated by Schmock at least because they depend, directly or indirectly, from claim 1 as amended.Claim 19 is also not anticipated at least because it recites the mechanism of claim 1. Claim 20 is not anticipated at least because it depends from claim 19.35 USC 103 3.    Claims 4-13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Schmock, as applied to claims 1-3, 14-16, and 19-20 above, in view of Tremblay (US 6431620).4.    Claims 17-18 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Schmock, as applied to claims 1-3, 14-16, and 19-20 above.Applicant respectfully traverses and submits that claim 1 as amended is unobvious over Schmock in view of Tremblay.a.    The combination does not teach or suggest the feature "a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the channel in a plane defined by the receptacle and the channel" as recited in amended claim 1.As discussed above, Schmock's pivot bearing (21) moves relative to its guide projection (26).Adding Tremblay's channel defined by the two 38s, which is part of an actuating rod (20) that moves, would not alter this fundamental relationship. The distance between these points in Schmock's mechanism is variable, not constant as required by claim 1. The Office Action provides no reasoning for how this combination would result in the constant distance as re- cited in instant claim 1.Therefore, for argument's sake without conceding on this point, even if the channel defined by the two 38s is equivalent to the channel as recited in instant claim 1, the combination of Schmock and Tremblay does not teach "a distance between the rivet pin and the pin shaft remains constant in a direction perpendicular to a length of the channel in a plane defined by the receptacle and the channel".b.    The functions of the channels are fundamentally different.As alleged in the Office Action, the function of the channel is "to cover the parts of the mechanism thus protecting them from the environment and reducing the chances of dust or debris from building up which could break the mechanism, which is not part of the function of opening and closing the window.In contrast, the channel as recited in instant claim 1 is an integral part of the movable ele- ment that is directly involved in the opening/closing function.c.    The proposed combination would alter the principle of operation As shown in the figures of Schmock, the mechanism of Schmock requires the interplay among lever 22, lever 31, and the arm 11 to function. To add the channel defined by the two 38s, which is a part of the actuating rod 20 of Tremblay, a linearly moving component (see, e.g., column 12 lines 47 to column 13 line 11 of the description), to the mechanism of Schmock would require a significant redesign of the mechanism of Schmock. It would also require changing the mechanism of Tremblay, which discloses that the actuating rod 20 is moved by the handle lever 140 (see, e.g., column 15 line 53 to column 16 line 3), which is of a structure significantly different from the levers 22, 31, and arm 11 of Schmock.-'For at least these reasons, it is respectfully submitted that claim 1 as amended is unobvious over Schmock in view of Tremblay. Claims 2 and 5-18 are also unobvious Claim 19 is not obvious at least because it recites the mechanism of claim 1. Claim 20 is not obvious at least because it depends from claim 19.It is believed that the Applicant's remarks with respect to the rejections contained in the Of- fice Action are sufficient to address the rejections. It is respectfully submitted that the Appli- cant's silence with respect to any parts of the Office Action does not constitute an admission by the Applicant to the correctness of such parts and hereby reserve the right to analyze and dispute such parts in the future in this application, related applications and otherwise as needed.Favorable reconsideration and allowance of this application are respectfully requested. If the Examiner believes that additional amendments to the claims may be required to secure al- lowance of this application; the Examiner is invited to phone the undersigned at the below- noted number to facilitate the prosecution of subject application.Respectfully submitted, /Lei Gao/ Lei Gao, Reg. #79042 Date: September 04, 2025 Customer No. 171784 18 King St E, Suite 1400 Toronto, ON M5C 1C4 Canada Phone: 4168009757

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This Office Action is in response to the claims filed on 09/20/2025.
Claims 1-2 and 5-20 are currently pending and have been examined below. Claims 3-4 have been cancelled.
Quayle Action
This application is in condition for allowance except for the following formal matters:
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 2 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In line 10 of claim 1, “configure to receive” should read -- configured to receive --.
In line 13 of claim 1, “the fixed element” should read --a fixed element--.
In line 1 of claim 2, “further comprising a fixed element that is” should read --wherein the fixed element is--
Appropriate correction is required. Above provides non-limiting examples, the applicant(s) must find and correct all issues similar to those discussed above.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Applicant’s amendments directed to the new matter issues in the previous Office Action have been considered and the rejection was withdrawn.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2 and 5-20 are allowed.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with.  See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art Schmock (EP 2116680) seems to disclose most of the limitations of claim 1.
However, claim 1 was amended to recite:
(i) “a movable element that includes a receptacle configure to receive a first portion of the pin shaft such that the pin shaft moves with the movable element, the movable element comprises a channel that is offset from the receptacle”; and
(ii) “the rivet pin passes through the channel to be received in the fixed element”.
Regarding (i), Schmock does disclose a movable element (4) with a receptacle (part of 2 that receives the pin shaft 21), however it does not have a channel that is offset from the receptacle. Interpreting part 2 as the movable element as it has a receptacle and a channel (17) would be unreasonable because Schmock discloses element 2 as fixed to the frame 39 (see page 7 of Schmock below) also the receptacle would not be offset to the channel as shown in figures 2-3.
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page 7 of Schmock
Regarding (ii), the interpreted rivet pin 26 is fixed to the fixed element 2, but fails to pass through a channel. Examiner notes that interpreting the rivet pin as other pins (e.g., 14 or 28) would be unreasonable as claim 1 requires the rivet pin to be stationary (see lines 12-13 of claim 1).
Additionally, examiner also considered interpreting the rivet pin as part 21 such that it passes through the channel 17 to be received in the fixed element 4, however ultimately decided that this interpretation was unreasonable as part 4 is not fixed nor does pin 21 is stationary.
Therefore, examiner has concluded that the mechanism of Schmock has a completely different arrangement/design than applicant’s invention such that Schmock fails to meet all limitations required by claim 1.
Independent claim 19 recites a covering which incorporates the mechanism of claim 1 as such the prior art also fails to meet the limitations of claim 19 for the same reasons above.
Examiner also cites Pacini (US 9518416) and Balbo Di Vinadio (US 9512658) for having similar constructions as the covering of applicant’s invention. However, both prior art do not disclose an arm with a slot.
Further modifications such that any of the prior art mentioned above meets the claim limitations would require hindsight and/or a piece-meal rejection such that examiner finds them unreasonable to apply.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Prosecution on the merits is closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213, (Comm’r Pat. 1935).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this action is set to expire TWO (2) MONTHS from the mailing date of this letter. Extensions of time may be granted under  37 CFR 1.136 but in no case can any extension carry the date for reply to this Office action beyond the maximum period of SIX MONTHS set by statute (35 U.S.C. 133).

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref EP1710379A1: Claims:
A frame member for a sash suitable for use with tilting windows and doors having a wing which can be pivoted around a vertical axis or tilted around a horizontal axis, comprising an actuation mechanism for actuating a scissor-type mechanism which interconnects a frame mounting plate (19) and a sash characterized in that the upper cross-member of the window frame comprises; an intermediate element (13) having a straight section at the end (71) of which it is pivotally coupled to said frame mounting plate (19) and a curvilinear section along which a curvilinear guide (21) is located and a coupling peg (12) guides a scissor element (20), a first bridge element (17) located in between said scissor element (20) and a second bridge element (42) which is mounted on the frame mounting plate (19), said first bridge element (17) being movable at one end in a linear guide (35) on said second bridge element (42) and coupled at the other end to two separate curved guides (16, 18), one of which being located on said scissor element (20) and the other on said second bridge element (42), an actuation rod (25) moving back and forth with respect to the positioning of a window handle, said actuation rod comprising at least one linear guide through which at least one coupling peg is displaceably connecting said actuation rod (25) to said frame mounting plate (19) and further comprising at least one coupling hole (45) by means of which at least one coupling peg (36) is fixedly attaching said bridge element (17) to said actuation rod (25).
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said scissor element (20) comprises two linear absorption guides (26, 68), connecting a first part (30) of said scissor element (20) to a second part (31) of the same in a manner that the displacement of the scissor element (20) during opening and closing in tilting positions is absorbed along said absorption guides (26, 68).
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said coupling peg (36) passes through said linear guide (35) on said second bridge element (42) and through a linear guide (38) located on the frame mounting plate (19) in a manner that said linear guides (35, 38) are superposed.
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said coupling peg (36) is fixedly connected to said bridge element (17) so as to advance the latter towards the said intermediate element (13) and thereby trigger motion within the guides (16, 18) in a manner that the displaceable coupling pegs (15, 34) resting within the linear sections of the guides (16, 18) in the direct opening and closed positions, and being not allowed to move in a direction perpendicular to the window frame due to the longitudinal sides of said guides (16, 18) restricting any movement perpendicular to direction of the guide cavity, advances to the outermost limits of the curved portions of the guides (16, 18).
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 1 wherein at least one locking stop (23) releasing the locking element located on the opposite side on the support plate, moves in its entirety to slide said locking stop (23) in the event that said actuation rod (25) is actuated by said window handle.
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said linear guide (26) accommodates two pegs (28, 29) that are movable along said guide (26).
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 6 wherein said peg (29) has radially protruding edges at its uppermost portion along its lateral surface letting it move only along a limited trajectory corresponding to its protruding edges within said guide (26).
A frame member for a sash as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said linear guide (68) accommodates a coupling peg (27) that is displaceable along said guide (68).
Ref EP2116680A1: [content unavailable]
Ref EP3059367A1: Claims:
An actuating mechanism (14) for opening and closing of turn-only and tilt&turn door or window frames (9), comprising: - a swivel arm (20), pivotable about a hinge (18) by a first junction (20a), and hingeable to a leaf (11) of the frame (9) by a second junction (20b); - a slidable rod (22), connectable to movement transmission means (16) actuated by an operating device (12), said sliding rod being mounted along an upper horizontal edge of the leaf (11); - a grooved lever (24), hingeable to the leaf (11) by a third joint (24a) and connected to the swivel arm (20) by a first pin (24b), said grooved lever (24) having a first shaped groove (25) in which a second pin (30), carried by the slide (22), is slidable, said first shaped groove (25) having at least one straight portion (25a), extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever (24), and an inclined portion (25b), consecutive with respect to said straight portion (25a); and - a connecting rod (28), by which the swivel arm (20) is further connectable to the leaf (11), said connecting rod (28) being hingeable to the leaf (11) by means of a fourth junction (28a) and connected to the swivel arm (20) via a fourth pin (28b); characterized in that the grooved lever (24) and the connecting rod (28), in a condition of divergence between the swivel arm (20) and the leaf (11), rotate around the respective third and fourth junctions (24a, 28a) in a convergent manner, the respective first and fourth pin (24b, 28b) approaching in the direction of the length of the swivel arm (20).
- a swivel arm (20), pivotable about a hinge (18) by a first junction (20a), and hingeable to a leaf (11) of the frame (9) by a second junction (20b);
- a slidable rod (22), connectable to movement transmission means (16) actuated by an operating device (12), said sliding rod being mounted along an upper horizontal edge of the leaf (11);
- a grooved lever (24), hingeable to the leaf (11) by a third joint (24a) and connected to the swivel arm (20) by a first pin (24b), said grooved lever (24) having a first shaped groove (25) in which a second pin (30), carried by the slide (22), is slidable, said first shaped groove (25) having at least one straight portion (25a), extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever (24), and an inclined portion (25b), consecutive with respect to said straight portion (25a); and
- a connecting rod (28), by which the swivel arm (20) is further connectable to the leaf (11), said connecting rod (28) being hingeable to the leaf (11) by means of a fourth junction (28a) and connected to the swivel arm (20) via a fourth pin (28b);
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the grooved lever (24) has a second shaped groove (32) in which is slidable a third pin (34) carried by the slide (22), said second shaped groove (32) having at least one straight portion (32a), extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever (24), and an inclined portion (32b), consecutive with respect to said straight portion (25a).
A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said swivel arm (20) has at least a first rectilinear groove (20d) extending along the length of the swivel arm (20), and the first pin (24b), connecting the grooved lever (24) to the swivel arm (20), is slidable in said respective first rectilinear groove (20d) of the swivel arm (20).
A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inclined portion (25b) of the first shaped groove (25) extends from the straight portion (25a) of said first shaped groove (25) towards the leaf (11).
A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inclined portion (25b) has a terminal stop edge (25c), against which the second pin (30) abuts.
A turn-only or tilt&turn door or window frame (9), comprising: - a rectangular shaped frame (11a) with a horizontal upper side, a horizontal lower side and two vertical sides that connect the upper and lower sides; - an operating device (12), mounted on the horizontal lower side or on one of the two vertical sides in proximity of the horizontal lower side of the frame (11a); - an actuating mechanism (14) according to one of the preceding claims; and - movement transmission means (16) connected to the operating device (12) and to the actuating mechanism (14).
- a rectangular shaped frame (11a) with a horizontal upper side, a horizontal lower side and two vertical sides that connect the upper and lower sides;
- an operating device (12), mounted on the horizontal lower side or on one of the two vertical sides in proximity of the horizontal lower side of the frame (11a);
- an actuating mechanism (14) according to one of the preceding claims; and
- movement transmission means (16) connected to the operating device (12) and to the actuating mechanism (14).
Ref WO2025012015A1: Claims:
Carriage arrangement (3) for a sliding leaf (2) of a sliding door or a sliding window, with a carriage (5) guided on a guide rail (4) and with a shear bar (7) for connecting the carriage (5) to the sliding leaf (2) and for supporting the sliding leaf (2) in a parked position and in a closed position, with a parked arm (8) and a control arm (9) of the shear bar (7) mounted on the parked arm (8), with a link (11) in the carriage (5) for guiding a control pin (10) of the control arm (9), with a control block (12) of the guide rail (4) for supporting a locking pin (14) arranged on the control arm (9), characterized in that the carriage (5) has a spring-elastically prestressed locking slide (16) and that the locking slide (16) is opposite the locking pin (14) in the parked position.
Carriage arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the control block (12) has a stop surface (20) for supporting the locking slide (16).
Carriage arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control block (12) has a pocket (13) for receiving the locking pin (14) and that the locking slide (16) covers an opening (15) of the pocket (13).
Carriage arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking slide (16) has a ramp (22) in its region projecting beyond the opening (15) of the pocket (13).
Carriage arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking slide (16) is guided in a recess (27) of the carriage (5) so as to be longitudinally displaceable and that the recess (27) supports a spring element (21) for pre-tensioning the locking slide (16).
Carriage arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the recess (27) is closed by a slide cover (17) connected to the carriage (5).
Carriage arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carriage (5) has a carriage housing (23) for supporting the rollers (24) and for receiving the locking slide (16).
Carriage arrangement according to at least one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the slide cover (17) is arranged in line with the rollers (24) and has a groove (18) for receiving a cleaning brush (19).
Carriage arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking pin (14) is manufactured in one piece with the control pin (10).
Carriage arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control pin (10) is fastened at one end to the control arm (9) and holds the locking pin (14) at the other end and that the locking pin (14) has a larger diameter than the control pin (10).
Carriage arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control arm (9) has a bend (28) near the control pin (10) and that in a pivoted position of the extension scissors (7) the control arm (9) lies above the extension arm (8).
Ref EP2116680: Claims:
characterized in that the depositing device (5) has a sliding mechanism (9) as the transmission (6).
characterized in that the slide mechanism (9) has a double slide guide (10).
characterized in that the depositing device (5) has a Abstellarm (11) having the attack point (8) in an end region (12) or the attack point (8) is assigned.
characterized in that the depositing device (5) has a base substrate (2) on which the one end region (13) of the Abstellarms (11) is mounted pivotably and substantially linearly displaceable.
characterized in that the drive element (4) is guided in a substantially linearly displaceable manner movably on the base substrate (2) with an approximately constant displacement speed.
characterized in that the Abstellarm (11) and the drive element (4) are each guided in a longitudinal slot of the base substrate (2).
characterized in that the Abstellarm (11) and the drive element (4) in the same longitudinal slot (17) of the base substrate (2) are guided.
characterized in that the longitudinal slot (17) of the base substrate (2) has a linear course.
characterized in that the slide mechanism (9) has a first guide projection (26), a first guide slot (24), a second guide projection (28) and a second guide slot (30), wherein the first guide projection ( 26) in the first guide slot (24) and the second guide projection (28) in the second guide slot (30) is guided.
characterized in that the first guide slot (24) is a curved slot (25).
characterized in that the second guide slot (30) has a linear region (32) and an adjoining arc region (33).
characterized in that the first guide projection (26) on the base substrate (2) is arranged.
characterized in that the first guide projection (26) is in extension of the longitudinal extent of the longitudinal slot (17) on the base substrate (2).
characterized in that the first guide slot (24) on a first control lever (22) is formed, which is arranged in an end region (23) pivotally mounted on the drive element (4).
characterized in that the second guide projection (28) on the first control lever (22) is arranged.
characterized in that the second guide projection (28) located laterally adjacent to the curved slot (25) on the first control lever (22).
characterized in that the second guide slot (30) is formed on a second control lever (31) which is pivotally mounted on the base substrate (2) in one end region (34) and in the other end region (36). is pivotally connected to the Abstellarm (11).
characterized in that between the two pivot bearing points (35) and (37) of the second control lever (31) of the second guide slot (30) is arranged.
characterized in that the second control lever (31) between the pivot bearing (14) of the Abstellarms (11) on the base substrate (2) and the point (8) with the Abstellarm (11) is pivotally connected.
characterized in that the base substrate (2) is a base plate (3).
characterized in that the drive element (4) has an internal thread (20) into which a drive threaded spindle is screwed, wherein the drive element (4) and drive threaded spindle form a screw drive.
Ref US6431620: Claims:
1. A mechanism for selectively operating and locking a pivotable window, said window being pivotally attached to a window frame so as to pivot between a window open configuration and a window closed configuration about a window pivotal axis, said mechanism comprising:
an actuating rod, said actuating rod having an elongated configuration defining a rod first end, a rod second end and a rod longitudinal axis;
a rod mounting means for slidably mounting said actuating rod on said window frame so as to allow said actuating rod to slide relative to said window frame along said rod longitudinal axis;
a guiding arm, said guiding arm defining a guiding arm first end and a guiding arm second end;
a guiding arm-to-window frame attachment means extending between said guiding arm and said window frame for pivotally attaching said guiding arm adjacent said guiding arm first end to said window frame adjacent said actuating rod, said guiding arm-to-window frame attachment means allowing said guiding arm to pivot relative to said window frame about a guiding arm pivotal axis;
an actuating arm, said actuating arm defining an actuating arm first end, an actuating arm second end and an actuating arm longitudinal axis;
an actuating arm-to-actuating rod attachment means extending between said actuating arm and said actuating rod for pivotally attaching said actuating arm adjacent said actuating arm first end to said actuating rod, said actuating arm-to-actuating rod attachment means allowing said actuating arm to pivot relative to said actuating rod about an actuating arm pivotal axis
an actuating arm-to-window attachment means extending from said actuating arm adjacent said actuating arm second end for attaching said actuating arm to said window;
a linking means extending between said guiding and actuating arms for linking said guiding arm adjacent said guiding arm second end to said actuating arm intermediate said actuating arm first and second ends, said linking means being configured so as to selectively allow and prevent pivotal movement between said guiding and actuating arms about a linking pivotal axis depending upon the distance between said guiding arm-to-window frame attachment means and said actuating arm-to-actuating rod attachment means;
whereby
slidable movement of said actuating rod relative to said window frame along said rod longitudinal axis in a rod first direction causes the distance between said guiding arm-to-window frame attachment means and said actuating arm-to-actuating rod attachment means to decrease causing said linking means to assume an unlocked configuration and eventually causing said actuating arm to push said window towards said window open configuration;
slidable movement of said actuating rod relative to said window frame along said rod longitudinal axis in a rod second direction opposite to said rod first direction causes the distance between said guiding arm-to-window frame attachment means and said actuating arm-to-actuating rod attachment means to increase causing said actuating arm to pull said window towards said window closed configuration and eventually causing said linking means to assume a locked configuration.
2. A mechanism as recited in claim 1 wherein said linking means includes a linking slot and a linking pin inserted in said linking slot, said linking slot defining a linking slot pivotal section allowing relative pivotal movement between said actuating and guiding arms, said linking slot also defining an integrally extending linking slot locking section preventing relative pivotal movement between said actuating and guiding arms.
3. A mechanism as recited in claim 2 wherein said actuating arm-to-window attachment means includes a connecting tongue extending from said actuating arm second end, said connecting tongue being reversibly bendable between a tongue rectilinear configuration wherein said connecting tongue extends in a generally parallel configuration with said actuating arm longitudinal axis and a tongue bent configuration wherein said connecting tongue has a distal section thereof laterally bent in a direction leading away from said actuating rod and leading towards said window, said connecting tongue being attached to said window by a tongue-to-window attachment means allowing said connecting tongue to be slidably attached to said window, whereby the bendable nature of said connecting tongue allows said actuating arm-to-window attachment means to compensate for the angular displacement of said window as said window pivots between said window open and closed configurations.
4. A mechanism as recited in claim 3 wherein said tongue-to-window attachment means includes a guiding rail mounted on said window and a roller component attached to a distal end of said connecting tongue, said roller component being configured and sized so as to be inserted in said guiding rail, whereby said roller component is retained and guided by said guiding rail as said window pivots between said window open and closed configurations.
5. A mechanism as recited in claim 2 wherein said linking pin and said linking slot are configured and sized so as to prevent the slidable insertion of said linkin
[Truncated to input limit]