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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/17/2025 has been entered. Claims 1-7 and 15-20 remain withdrawn from consideration.
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.
Claims 8-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sueoka et al. (US 9,409,702).
Regarding claim 8, Sueoka discloses a corner piece (at 100 in Fig. 5) for a module, comprising: a protrusion (protrusion extending upward from surface 82 in Fig. 5 – See Fig. 5 labeled below) that extends in a first direction (upward direction in Fig. 5 - See Fig. 5 labeled below) that is perpendicular to a surface (surface at 82 in Fig. 5) from which it extends and in a second direction (See Fig. 5 labeled below) for an entire length of the surface from which it extends and that is configured to engage a groove of a first neighboring corner piece (as shown in Fig. 8); and a groove (groove at 80/90 in Fig. 5 - See Fig. 5 labeled below) coupled to the protrusion (the protrusion and groove are considered coupled since they are parts of a single unit 100) and configured to engage a protrusion of a second neighboring corner piece (as shown in Fig. 8) that extends in the first direction that is perpendicular to a surface from which it extends, the groove extending in a third direction (direction extending from top to bottom in Fig. 5) opposite to the first direction.
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Regarding claim 9, Sueoka discloses the protrusion is capable of moving along the groove of the first neighboring corner piece in the second direction.
Regarding claim 10, Sueoka discloses the groove is capable of constraining movement of the second neighboring corner piece to the direction of the groove.
Regarding claim 11, Sueoka discloses an L-shaped region (cavity between 12 and 14 in Fig. 5) that accommodates the corner of a frame of the module.
Regarding claim 12, Sueoka discloses sidewalls (at 20 and 18 in Fig. 5) that is capable of restricting movement of the frame.
Regarding claim 13, Sueoka discloses a ridge (at 41 in Fig. 5) that is capable of restricting movement of the frame.
Regarding claim 14, the device of Sueoka is capable of accommodating a solar panel module.
Response to Arguments
In view of Applicant's amendment, the search has been updated, and new prior art has been identified and applied. Applicant's arguments have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN A REYNOLDS whose telephone number is (571)272-9959. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-5pm.
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/STEVEN A. REYNOLDS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3735