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 .
Drawings
The drawings were received on 04/22/2025. These drawings are unacceptable.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the enclosure including enclosure cutouts aligning with the at least two slot openings as recited in claim 6, in combination with the limitations of claims 1 and 5 from which claim 6 depends, the reflector including one or more slot openings that correspond to the enclosure cutouts of the enclosure as recited in claim 7, in combination with the limitations of claims 1, 5, and 6, from which claim 7 depends, the floor of the enclosure as recited in claim 11, in combination with the limitations of claims 1, 5, 6 and 8, from which claim 11 depends, the enclosure comprising enclosure cutouts aligning with the at least two slot openings as recited in claim 16, in combination with the limitations of claim 15 from which claim 16 depends, the reflector including one or more slot openings that correspond to the enclosure cutouts of the enclosure as recited in claim 18, in combination with the limitations of claims 15 and 16, from which claim 18 depends, and the dot openings and slot openings of the reflector and light guide panel and the light guide panel lens array as recited in claim 20, in combination with the limitations of claim 19, from which claim 20 depends must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 6-8, 10, 11, 16-18 and 20 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.
In regard to claim 6, the Specification and Drawings do not adequately describe
the enclosure including enclosure cutouts aligning with the at least two slot openings, in combination with the limitations of claims 1 and 5, from which claim 6 depends.
In regard to claim 7, the Specification and Drawings do not adequately describe the reflector including one or more slot openings that correspond to enclosure cutouts, in combination with the limitations of claims 1, 5 and 6, from which claim 7 depends.
In regard to claim 11, the Specification and Drawings do not adequately describe the enclosure including edge walls forming a sharp angle with a floor of the enclosure to allow illumination of the periphery of the key to be driven by reflections from the floor of the enclosure, in combination with the limitations claims 1, 5, 6 and 8, from which claim 11 depends.
In regard to claim 16, the Specification and Drawings do not adequately describe the enclosure comprising enclosure cutouts aligning with the at least two slot openings, in combination with the limitations of claim 15, from which claim 16 depends.
In regard to claim 18, the Specification and Drawings do not adequately describe the reflector including one or more slot openings that correspond to enclosure cutouts, in combination with the limitations of claims 15 and 16, from which claim 18 depends.
In regard to claim 20, the Specification and Drawings do not adequately describe dot openings and slot of openings of the reflector and light guide plate and the light guide plate lens array, in combination with the limitations of claim 19, from which claim 20 depends.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 12, 14, 15 and 19 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/22/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The amendments to the drawings do not adequately address the objections to the drawings or the rejection of claims 6-8, 10, 11, 16-18 and 20 under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as detailed above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LHEIREN MAE A CAROC whose telephone number is (571)272-2730. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.
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, Renee Luebke can be reached at 571-272-2009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LHEIREN MAE A CAROC/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833
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