Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-04-25)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMSThis listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings of claims in the application:

1 (Currently Amended): A sealing device for sealing an edge joint between cladding of drywall and an adjacent floor, wall, or ceiling, the sealing device comprising:
a one-piece sealing profile comprising a bearing web which is opposite a circumferential side of the cladding,
a fastening web running parallel to the bearing web that fastens the sealing profile to a holding rail of the drywall, and
an outer supporting web, viewed in cross section, covering the edge joint at least in portions,
wherein the outer supporting web is adjacent to and supports the bearing web and via which the bearing web is connected to the fastening web,
wherein the sealing profile has a connecting web via which the fastening web is connected to the outer supporting web.

2 (Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening web, viewed in cross section, runs on a side remote from the outer supporting web further outward than the bearing web and forms a portion of the sealing profile that extends furthest outward on the side remote from the outer supporting web.

3 (Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing profile has an inner supporting web which extends perpendicular to the bearing web up to the fastening web.

(Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the outer supporting web and the inner supporting web extend from opposite ends of the bearing web, viewed in cross section.
(Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the outer supporting web runs perpendicular to the bearing web.
(Canceled):
(Currently Amended): The sealing device according to claim \[\[6\]\] 1, wherein the connecting web, viewed in cross section, extends obliquely away from the fastening web from a plane formed by the fastening web up to the outer supporting web, wherein a sealing strip is arranged on an outside of the connecting web in order to close a gap between the plane and the connecting web.
(Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein a functional element made of an intumescent and/or sound-absorbing material is arranged in an interior of the sealing profile and is fastened to the sealing profile.
(Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing profile is covered on an outside, at least on the bearing web or completely, with a resilient sealing layer.

10 (Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing profile is formed from a metal or a plastic material.

11 (Previously Presented): The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing profile is an extrusion profile.

12 (Previously Presented): Drywall, comprising:
a holding rail, cladding, and
the sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the cladding presses with the circumferential side against the bearing web and the fastening web is held in a gap between the holding rail and the adjacent floor, wall, or ceiling.

13 (Previously Presented): The drywall according to claim 12, wherein the drywall has a second sealing device comprising a second one-piece sealing profile comprising a second bearing web which is opposite the circumferential side of the cladding,
a second fastening web running parallel to the second bearing web that fastens the second sealing profile to the holding rail of the drywall, and
a second outer supporting web, viewed in cross section, covering the edge joint at least in portions,
wherein the second outer supporting web is adjacent to and supports the second bearing web and via which the second bearing web is connected to the second fastening web,
wherein the cladding is double-layer cladding with a first cladding part and a second cladding part, the first cladding part pressing with a circumferential side against the bearing

web of the first sealing profile and the second cladding part pressing with a circumferential side against the second bearing web of the second sealing profile, andwherein the second fastening web of the second sealing profile is arranged in a gap between the first sealing profile and the adjacent floor, wall, or ceiling.

14 (Previously Presented): The drywall according to : The drywall according to
wherein the sealing profile of the sealing device has a connecting web via which the fastening web is connected to the outer supporting web,
wherein the connecting web, viewed in cross section, extends obliquely away from the fastening web from a plane formed by the fastening web up to the outer supporting web, wherein a sealing strip is arranged on an outside of the connecting web in order to close a gap between the plane and the connecting web,
wherein, between the floor, wall, or ceiling and the fastening web which is opposite and inclined, the sealing strip is arranged on the outside of the connecting web in order to close a gap between the floor, wall, or ceiling and the fastening web.

15 (Previously Presented): A method for producing drywall having a holding rail, cladding, and a sealing device according to claim 1, the method comprising:
attaching the holding rail to the floor, wall, and/or, ceiling,
driving the fastening web into a gap between the holding rail and the adjacent floor, wall, or ceiling, so that the fastening web is clamped between the holding rail and the adjacent floor, wall, or ceiling, and
fastening the cladding to a stand construction of the drywall, wherein the cladding rests with the circumferential side against the bearing web. 4 5 6 7 8 9

OFFICE ACTION:
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 and 7-15 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the closest prior art of record fails to teach or adequately suggest the combination of characteristics specified in the independent claim, especially the requirement of a substance concerning, the sealing profile has a connecting web via which the fastening web is connected to the outer supporting web hence there is no cogent reasoning that is unequivocally independent of hindsight that would have led one of ordinary skill in the art at the time.
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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Refer to attached NOTICE OF REFERENCE CITED.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSApplicants wish to thank Examiner Demuren for indicating allowability of Claims 6- 7, 9 and 13-14 if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.Anticipation Rejection The rejection of Claims 1-2, 5, 10-12 and 15 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Douglas Aitken (U. S. Patent No. 10,487,497 B1) is moot in view of the amendment of Claim 1. The limitations of allowable Claim 6 were included in Claim 1.Obviousness Rejection The rejection of Claims 3 and 4 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Douglas Aitken (U. S. Patent No. 10,487,497 B1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Porter et al. (E. P. Publication No. 3 584 381 Al) is moot in view of the amendment of Claim 1. The limitations of allowable Claim 6 were included in Claim 1.In addition, the rejection of Claims 3 and 4 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Douglas Aitken (U. S. Patent No. 10,487,497 B1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Donald A. Pilz (U. S. Publication No. 2017/0175386 Al) is moot in view of the amendment of Claim 1. The limitations of allowable Claim 6 were included in Claim 1.This application presents allowable subject matter, and the Examiner is kindly requested to pass it to issue. Should the Examiner have any questions regarding the claims or otherwise wish to discuss this case, the Examiner is kindly invited to contact Applicants' below-signed representative, who would be happy to provide any assistance deemed necessary in speeding this application to allowance.Respectfully Submitted, GRUNEBERG AND MYERS PLLCCustomer Number
/Kirsten Grueneberg/ 151 167
Dr. Kirsten Grueneberg Phone: (571) 458-7790
Attorney of Record Fax: (571) 458-7789
Registration No. 47,297