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 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 5-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wilkins et al. (U.S. 2021/0097791).
As to claim 5, Wilkins discloses an expansion component, para-0092+, comprising:
a case (301 or 401, para-0138+), comprising a bottom plate (300), a top plate (not label, but the top plate is formed on top of the openings 310, 418), and a first to fourth side edges (side walls 302) that are sequentially connected, wherein the first to fourth side edges (302) are respectively connected to the bottom plate (300) and the top plate to form an accommodating space;
two openings (310, 418), running through the top plate and located on the first side edge, wherein the two openings are respectively adjacent to the second side edge and the fourth side edge;
a partition (divider 406), arranged in the accommodating space and parallel to the bottom plate (300), wherein the partition (406) divides the accommodating space into an upper compartment and a lower compartment; and
a plurality of electronic components (204-218, 252-262), arranged in the accommodating space and scattered in the upper compartment and the lower compartment.
As to claim 6, Wilkins further comprising two assembly grooves (the grooves within the openings 310, 418), respectively corresponding to the two openings (310, 418), wherein the two assembly grooves are connected to the top plate and are recessed toward the bottom plate (300).
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) 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
unpatentable over Wilkins in view of Degner et al. (U.S. 2013/0327507).
Regarding claims 7, Wilkins discloses all of the limitations except for two
fans, respectively assembled in the two assembly grooves.
Degner teaches a portable electronic device (100) as shown in figure 1
comprising two fans (102, 104), respectively assembled in the two assembly grooves.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the
effective filling date to have a teaching of Degner employed in the assembly of
Wilkins in order to provide excellent heat dissipation structure.
Regarding claims 8, Wilkins as modified by Degner teaches two heat
dissipation pipe grooves (106) are recessed on a side of the top plate away from the
bottom plate, and the two heat dissipation pipe grooves respectively extend from the
third side edge to the two corresponding openings.
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
over Wilkins in view of Oberpriller et al. (U.S. 20120170203).
Regarding claims 12, Nakajima discloses two [[waterproof]] cover plates
(143), correspondingly covering the two openings (138), except for the cover plate acts
as a waterproof.
Oberpriller teaches a quick mount system for computer terminal (100) as shown
in figures 14-15 comprising the waterproof cover (1430) covering the opening of the
housing (103).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the
effective filling date to have a teaching of Oberpriller employed in the expansion
component of Wilkins in order to prevent water and dust entering into the component.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9-11, and 13-14 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.
Claims 1, 4, and 15-20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
For claims 1, 4:
In response to remarks and claimed amendments made in Applicant’s Amendment filed on 01/16/2026, applicant’s arguments are persuasive. Amended claims have been considered and upon conclusion of a comprehensive search of the prior arts. The Office indicates that the claim, as amended, are allowable.
For claims 15-20:
Neither the references cited nor the cited references teach, suggest, or in combination of an expansion component having a first circuit board, accommodated in the upper compartment; a second circuit board, accommodated in the lower compartment; at least one battery, accommodated in the lower compartment and electrically connected to the second circuit board; and a connector, penetrating the partition and electrically connected to the first circuit board and the second circuit board.
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.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1,4-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUAN T DINH whose telephone number is (571)272-1929. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm, M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Timothy Dole can be reached at 571-272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TUAN T DINH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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