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 .
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s amendment filed on December 19, 2025 has been entered. Claim 1 has been amended. No claims have been added. No claims have been cancelled. Claims 1-8 are still pending in this application with claims 1, 5, and 7 being independent.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
In regards to claims 1, 5, and 7, Ogawa discloses an audio-visual system and a method of attaching a soundbar to a video display (See pg. 1, paragraph [0001]), comprising: a video display (i.e., TV) having a top surface and a bottom surface spaced apart along a height axis, a screen and a back panel spaced apart along a thickness axis, and a width axis (See pg. 1, paragraph [0010] and pg. 3, paragraph [0032]); a plurality of fasteners (e.g., engaging frame parts 2, 3, and 4, See pg. 1, paragraph [0014]) attached to the bottom surface of the video display and spaced apart along the width axis (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]); a soundbar (i.e., speaker, e.g., speaker 6) having a top panel and a bottom panel spaced apart along a soundbar height axis, plurality of elongated channels spaced apart from one another along a soundbar length axis, and a plurality of biasing elements (e.g., supporting parts 51), wherein when the soundbar is in an uninstalled condition, each of the biasing elements is biased into engagement with a respective retaining surface defined by the top panel of the soundbar (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]), and when the soundbar is in an installed condition, a portion of each of the fasteners (e.g., engaging frame parts 2, 3, and 4) is located between a respective one of the biasing elements and a respective one of the retaining surfaces and biased into engagement with the respective one of the retaining surfaces (See pg. 3, paragraph [0036]).
In regards to claim 2, Ogawa discloses the audio-visual system, wherein the biasing elements in the plurality of biasing elements are spring-biased caps (See pg. 3, paragraph [0037]).
In regards to claim 3, Ogawa discloses the audio-visual system, wherein each of the elongated channels in the plurality of channels extends along a thickness axis of the soundbar, and each retaining surface is defined in a lower surface of the top panel adjacent an end of a respective one of the one of the channels in the plurality of channels (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]).
In regards to claim 4, Ogawa discloses the audio-visual system, wherein the top panel of the soundbar includes a plurality of cut-away portions, each cut-away portion being located proximate a respective one of the channels for restraining the movement of the soundbar along the video display thickness axis when the soundbar is installed on the video display (See pg. 3, paragraph [0036]).
In regards to claim 6, Ogawa discloses the audio-visual system, wherein the video display comprises a top surface and a bottom surface spaced apart along a video display height axis and at least two fasteners attached to the bottom surface and spaced apart along a width axis of the video display, and the soundbar comprises a top panel having at least two channels spaced apart along a length axis of the soundbar, and at least two biasing elements, each of the biasing elements being located in a respective one of the channels, wherein each of the at least two biasing elements is spring-biased toward the top panel of the soundbar (See pg. 3, paragraph [0036]).
In regards to claim 8, Ogawa discloses the method, further comprising: releasing the soundbar, whereby the two biasing elements bias the at least two fasteners into engagement with a respective retaining surface defined by the top panel of the soundbar such that the portion of each of the at least two fasteners is located between a respective one of the at least two biasing elements and a respective one of the retaining surfaces (See pg. 3, paragraph [0037]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/19/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to Applicant’s argument that Ogawa does not teach a video display, comprising: a video display having a top surface and a bottom surface spaced apart along a height axis, a screen and a back panel spaced apart along a thickness axis, and a width axis; a plurality of fasteners attached to the bottom surface of the video display and spaced apart along the width axis, Examiner respectfully disagrees. Ogawa does teach a video display (See pg. 1, paragraph [0001]), comprising: a video display (i.e., TV) having a top surface and a bottom surface spaced apart along a height axis, a screen and a back panel spaced apart along a thickness axis, and a width axis (See pg. 1, paragraph [0010] and pg. 3, paragraph [0032]); a plurality of fasteners (e.g., engaging frame parts 2, 3, and 4, See pg. 1, paragraph [0014]) attached to the bottom surface of the video display and spaced apart along the width axis (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]).
In response to Applicant’s argument that Ogawa does not teach a soundbar having a top panel and a bottom panel spaced apart along a soundbar height axis, plurality of elongated channels spaced apart from one another along a soundbar length axis, and a plurality of biasing elements, wherein when the soundbar is in an uninstalled condition, each of the biasing elements is biased into engagement with a respective retaining surface defined by the top panel of the soundbar, and when the soundbar is in an installed condition, a portion of each of the fasteners is located between a respective one of the biasing elements and a respective one of the retaining surfaces and biased into engagement with the respective one of the retaining surfaces, Examiner respectfully disagrees. Ogawa does teach a soundbar (i.e., speaker, e.g., speaker 6) having a top panel and a bottom panel spaced apart along a soundbar height axis, plurality of elongated channels spaced apart from one another along a soundbar length axis, and a plurality of biasing elements (e.g., supporting parts 51), wherein when the soundbar is in an uninstalled condition, each of the biasing elements is biased into engagement with a respective retaining surface defined by the top panel of the soundbar (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]), and when the soundbar is in an installed condition, a portion of each of the fasteners (e.g., engaging frame parts 2, 3, and 4) is located between a respective one of the biasing elements and a respective one of the retaining surfaces and biased into engagement with the respective one of the retaining surfaces (See pg. 3, paragraph [0036]).
In response to Applicant’s argument that Ogawa does not teach a soundbar configured to snap-fittingly engage the video display, Examiner respectfully disagrees. Ogawa does teach a soundbar (i.e., speaker, e.g., speaker 6) configured to snap-fittingly engage (via engaging frame parts 2, 3, and 4, See pg. 1, paragraph [0014]) the video display (i.e., TV, See pg. 1, paragraph [0001]) (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]).
In response to Applicant’s argument that Ogawa does not teach two fasteners attached to the video display with a respective channel and does not teach moving the soundbar along the thickness axis of the video display, Examiner respectfully disagrees. Ogawa does teach two fasteners (e.g., engaging frame parts 2, 3, and 4, See pg. 1, paragraph [0014]) attached to the video display (i.e., TV) (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]) and does teach moving the soundbar (i.e., speaker, e.g., speaker 6) along the thickness axis of the video display (via e.g., supporting parts 51) (See pg. 3, paragraph [0033]).
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 THJUAN KNOWLIN ADDY whose telephone number is (571)272-7486. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM - 5:00PM Mon-Fri.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ahmad Matar can be reached at (571) 272-7488. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THJUAN K ADDY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2693