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
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.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ohashi et al. (US 2009/0102106).
In Re claim 1, Ohashi et al. disclose a spring (fig. 5) comprising: an upper support plate (upper 2b) with a central passing hole (see unlabeled through hole); a lower support plate (lower 4b) with a central passing hole (see unlabeled through hole); and a rotation force absorption ring (center plate 2b/4b); a first clockwise (CW) spiral spring portion (2c); and a second counter clockwise (CCW) spiral spring portion (4c), wherein the rotation force absorption ring is disposed fixed between the two spiral spring portions, and the two spiral spring portions are fixed to said respective upper and lower support plates.
In Re claims 2-5, see first and second spiral portions (2c and 2c; 4c and 4c). Further see figs. 5, which show that the spring is symmetrical.
In Re claims 6-10, Ohashi et al. disclose the use of the spring in a fluid pumping apparatus with a push-down button (par. 0005).
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hofbauer et al. (US 2018/0259023).
In Re claim 1, Hofbauer et al. disclose a spring (figs. 5 and 7) comprising: an upper support plate (316, 344) with a central passing hole (see unlabeled through hole); a lower support plate (314, 346) with a central passing hole (see unlabeled through hole); and a rotation force absorption ring (center plate 318, 348); a first clockwise (CW) spiral spring portion (340); and a second counter clockwise (CCW) spiral spring portion (342), wherein the rotation force absorption ring is disposed fixed between the two spiral spring portions, and the two spiral spring portions are fixed to said respective upper and lower support plates.
In Re claims 2-5, see par. 0022, which discloses that each spiral spring portion includes two spring portions (starts). Further see figs. 5 and 7, which show that the spring is symmetrical.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS W IRVIN whose telephone number is (571)270-3095. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.
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, Robert Siconolfi can be reached at 571-272-7124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/THOMAS W IRVIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3616