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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 6-10, and 12-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by China Patent CN 103635067 to Zhang.
Zhang teaches
1. An electronic device, comprising: a casing; and a ventilation structure (figures 1-3) located on the casing and having a first opening (4), a second opening (6), and a ventilation channel (Figures 1-3) connected between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the ventilation structure comprises a first barrier (3 upper level), a second barrier (3 middle level), and a third barrier (3 lower level) located in the ventilation channel, the first barrier is adjacent to the second barrier, the second barrier is located between the first barrier and the third barrier, and the first barrier, the second barrier, and the third barrier at least partially overlap in an extending direction of the ventilation channel (as best seen in figure 1 and 2), and wherein a minimum separation distance (B) between the first barrier and the second barrier is greater than or equal to a difference between a width of the ventilation channel and a protruding height of the first barrier (M – A is greater than B, as best seen in figure 3), the protruding height of the first barrier is smaller than the width of the ventilation channel (as best seen in figure 3), and the minimum separation distance, the width, and the protruding height are measured in a common cross-section of the ventilation structure (as best seen in figure 3).
2. wherein the ventilation structure further comprises a first protection member and a second protection member (1, 2), the first protection member and the second protection member at least partially overlap to enclose the ventilation channel, and the first barrier and the third barrier are arranged on one of the first protection member and the second protection member, and the second barrier is arranged on the other one of the first protection member and the second protection member.
3. wherein the first barrier and the third barrier protrude from the one of the first protection member and the second protection member toward the other one of the first protection member and the second protection member (as best seen in figure 1 and 2).
4. wherein the second barrier protrudes from the other one of the first protection member and the second protection member toward the one of the first protection member and the second protection member (as best seen in figures 1-3).
6. wherein the first protection member comprises a cover (2, and unshown sidewalls) and a flat plate (1), the flat plate surrounds a periphery of the cover, and the cover protrudes from the flat plate in a direction away from the casing (as best seen in figure 3).
7. wherein the cover has an open edge that is not connected to the flat plate, and the open edge and an edge of the flat plate define the first opening (4, as best seen in figures 1 and 2).
8. wherein the second protection member comprises a cover (2, and unshown sidewalls) and a flat plate (1), the flat plate of the second protection member surrounds the cover of the second protection member and is attached to the casing, and the cover of the first protection member and the cover of the second protection member are separated from each other to define the ventilation channel.
9. wherein a separation distance from the second barrier to the first barrier is the same as a separation distance from the third barrier to the second barrier (as best seen in figure 3).
10. wherein a protruding height of at least one of the protruding height of the first barrier, a protruding height of the second barrier, and a protruding height of the third barrier is greater than half of the width of the ventilation channel (as best seen in figure 3).
12. wherein the first barrier, the second barrier, and the third barrier are inclined barriers (as best seen in figures 1-3).
13. wherein the casing has a ventilation hole (would align with one of the openings 4,5), and the ventilation structure is arranged corresponding to the ventilation hole.
14. wherein the casing at least comprises a back plate and a side wall, the side wall surrounds a periphery of the back plate to enclose an inner space, and the ventilation structure allows air communication between the inner space and outside (as best seen in figures 1-3).
15. wherein the back plate has a ventilation hole (would align with one of the openings 4,5), and the ventilation structure is arranged corresponding to the ventilation hole.
16. wherein the ventilation channel has a serpentine flow path (as best seen in figures 1-3).
17. wherein a ventilation direction of the first opening is different from a ventilation direction of the second opening (as best seen in figures 1 and 2).
18. wherein the first barrier, the second barrier, and the third barrier alternately protrude from different sides of the ventilation channel toward a center of the ventilation channel (as best seen in figures 1-3).
19. wherein the first opening is exposed outside the casing, and the second opening is located in an inner space of the electronic device enclosed by the casing (IPX6 grade equipment cabinet, Abstract).
20. wherein the protruding height of the first barrier is less than an extending length of the first barrier (abstract and figures 1-3).
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.
Claim(s) 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over China Patent CN 103635067 to Zhang.
Zhang discloses every element as claimed and discussed above except a fourth barrier. Before4 the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the electronic device of Zhang by adding a fourth barrier on the same side of the second barrier to add more blocking and since it has been held that a mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. See MPEP § 2144.04.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 6/09/2025, have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Zhang.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
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/T.M.A/ Examiner, Art Unit 3637 /DANIEL J TROY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3637