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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 13 depends upon a canceled Claim 4. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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, 6-7, 9-10, and 13-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Albrecht et al. (US 8499936 B2; hereinafter Albrecht).
Regarding claims 1 and 7, Albrecht discloses a product packaging system with button lock release comprising an outer box (100; see Fig. 2), wherein the outer box is provided with a first accommodating cavity and an outer box opening (110) in communication with the first accommodating cavity, and a first abutting portion (120) arranged on an inner wall of the outer box (see Figures 6-8); and an inner box (150; Examiner considers element 150 to be an inner box), accommodated in the first accommodating cavity, wherein the inner box is slidable in and out of the first accommodating cavity through the outer box opening, and an elastic protruding portion (154) is arranged on an outer wall of the inner box; when the inner box is accommodated in the first accommodating cavity, the elastic protruding portion abuts against the first abutting portion (see Fig. 6), so that the inner box and the outer box are in a locked state; when the elastic protruding portion is pressed by using an external force, the elastic protruding portion moves to the first accommodating cavity and is staggered with the first abutting portion, so that the inner box and the outer box are in an unlocked state (see Figures 7-8); wherein the outer box comprises an outer box side wall, an inner wall of the outer box side wall is provided with a recessed portion (116), the recessed portion is configured to accommodate the elastic protruding portion, and a side portion of the recessed portion opposite to the elastic protruding portion forms the first abutting portion (120; see Fig. 6); the outer box side wall is provided with a first through hole (122), the first through hole is located in the recessed portion, and when the inner box is accommodated in the first accommodating cavity, a position of the first through hole corresponds to a position of the elastic protruding portion; wherein the outer box further comprises an outer box bottom wall (see Fig. 1 bottom flap foldably attached at fold 18 to side wall 20), and the outer box bottom wall is connected to the outer box side wall; one end of the outer box side wall away from the outer box bottom wall is provided with a notch (22).
Regarding claim 6, Albrecht discloses a packaging wherein the inner box is provided with a second accommodating cavity (152), the packing box further comprises an inner lining accommodated in the second accommodating cavity, the inner lining is provided with an inner cavity, and the inner cavity is configured to accommodate an article (Col 6 lines 35-60).
Regarding claims 9-10 and 13-14, Albrecht discloses a packaging wherein a second abutting portion (118) is further arranged on the inner wall of the outer box side wall (see Figures 6-8), the second abutting portion is closer to the outer box opening than the first abutting portion, and the second abutting portion is configured to abut against the elastic protruding portion, to restrict a movable range of the inner box in a pull-out direction (see Fig. 8).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 5, 8, 11-12, and 15-16 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claim 17 is allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 7-8, filed 10/14/2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-3 and 6-12 under USC 102(a)(1)—in view of Drosos have been fully considered and are persuasive. Drosos lacks the inner and outer box construction as now claimed. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of USC 102(a)(1)-- Albrecht.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER R DEMEREE whose telephone number is (571)270-1982. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NATHAN J NEWHOUSE can be reached at (571)272-4544. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER R DEMEREE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3734