Office Action 4: Notice of Allowance (2025-06-30)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior revisions, and listings, of claims in the application.

Listing of Claims:

1\. - 18. (Cancelled)217

19\. (Original) A deck clip, comprising:a grip configured to be received, when installed, between a top groove face and a bottom groove face of a first groove positioned on a side surface of a first deck board and between a top groove face and a bottom groove face of a second groove positioned on a side surface of a second deck board facing the first groove of the first deck board;
a spacer comprising:
a central member having a first end and a second end;
a first arm member extending vertically from the first end of the central member;
a second arm member extending vertically from the second end of the central member, wherein at least a portion of the first arm member and at least a portion of the second arm member are separated by a channel that is configured to receive the grip therein;
a first cantilever member extending from the first arm member toward the second arm member and ending in a first face, and a second cantilever member extending from the second arm member toward the first arm member and ending in a second face,
wherein at least a portion of the first face of the first cantilever member and at least a portion of the second face of the second cantilever member comprise planar surfaces that

are parallel with one another and are separated by a space narrower than the channel and configured to fit a fastener therebetween;
and a first extension that extends outwardly with respect to at least one of a front surface or a rear surface of the spacer, wherein at least a portion of the first extension is configured to bend and, when installed, to press against one of the top groove face or the bottom groove face of the first groove and not to press against both the top groove face and the bottom groove face of the second groove;wherein the at least portion of the first extension that is configured to bend is inclined with respect to the first arm member, wherein the vertical thickness of the inclined portion of the first extension is smaller at a region that is configured to contact the groove compared to a region of the inclined portion that is not configured to contact any groove when installed, wherein the region of the inclined portion that is not configured to contact any groove when installed is immediately adjacent the region of the inclined portion that is configured to contact the groove;
wherein the first extension is configured so that, when it is received within the groove, the first extension bends toward a plane aligned with the grip and an expansive force is applied by the combination of the grip and the first extension contacting respective faces of the groove.

20\. (New) The deck clip of claim 19, further comprising a second extension that extends outwardly with respect to at least one of a front surface or a rear surface of the spacer, wherein at least a portion of the second extension is configured to bend and, when installed, to press against

one of the top groove face or the bottom groove face of the first groove and not to press against both the top groove face and the bottom groove face of the second groove.

21\. (New) The deck clip of claim 20, wherein the at least portion of the second extension that is configured to bend is inclined with respect to the second arm member, wherein the vertical thickness of the inclined portion of the second extension is smaller at a region that is configured to contact the groove compared to a region of the inclined portion that is not configured to contact any groove when installed, wherein the region of the inclined portion that is not configured to contact any groove when installed is immediately adjacent the region of the inclined portion that is configured to contact the groove.

22\. (New) The deck clip of claim 21, wherein the second extension is configured so that, when it is received within the groove, the second extension bends toward a plane aligned with the grip and an expansive force is applied by the combination of the grip and the second extension contacting respective faces of the groove 23. (New ) The deck clip of claim 19, wherein the first extension is at least partially positioned above the grip.

24\. (New) The deck clip of claim 19, wherein the first cantilever member extends to a sharp corner with the first face such that there is no radius between the first cantilever member and the first face, and the second cantilever member extends to a sharp corner with the second face such that there is no radius between the second cantilever member and the second face.

25\. (New ) The deck clip of claim 19, wherein the central member includes at least one fastening hole configured to receive the fastener.

26\. (New) The deck clip of claim 19, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first extension lies at an angle to at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the spacer, and wherein said

angle is approximately between 100 degrees and 110 degrees when the first extension is not acted on by external forces.

OFFICE 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 .
Terminal Disclaimer
The terminal disclaimer filed on 05/21/2025 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US Application # 18638384 and 17974755 has been reviewed and is accepted.  The terminal disclaimer has been recorded.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claims 19-26 are allowable for the reasons set forth on page 8 of the Non-Final Rejection dated 02/27/2025.
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

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS/ARGUMENTSStatus of the Claims Claims 1-19 are pending in the instant application, and claims 1-18 stand rejected.Although Applicant respectfully disagrees with the Examiner's rejections, in the interests of compact prosecution, claims 1-18 have been cancelled. Applicant thanks the Examiner for noting the allowability of claim 19. Applicant has added various dependent claims that depend from claim 19. No new matter has been added. Applicant believes that all claims are in condition for allowance.Double Patenting Rejections Applicant files herewith a terminal disclaimer in view of US Application Nos. 18/638384 and 17/974755.Conclusion In view of the claim amendments and remarks provided above, favorable reconsideration and allowance of all pending claims is respectfully requested. If any issue regarding the allowability of any of the pending claims in the present application could be readily resolved, or if other action could be taken to further advance this application such as an Examiner's amendment, or if the Examiner should have any questions regarding the present amendment, it is respectfully requested that the Examiner please telephone Applicant's undersigned attorney in this regard.Respectfully submitted, Date:  May 21, 2025