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 .
DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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 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.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of election of species in the reply filed on 1/7/26 is acknowledged. Therefore, Examiner will exam elected claims and embodiment.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and dependent claims are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 1, “ the first housing portion further including a retention mechanism disposed on the first housing portion proximate the rim and spaced from the first hinge member”, “wherein the second hinge member is configured to mate with the first hinge member when positioned in a space between the first hinge member and the retention mechanism, and wherein the retention mechanism is retractable and push-activated to allow the second hinge member to pass over the retention mechanism such that the retention mechanism releasably holds the second hinge member in the space” are not supported by SPEC/drawing. The limitation lacks antecedent basis and/or is not supported by SPEC/drawings. Further clarification is required. Examiner request Applicant to clarify the difference between the “hinge retention mechanism” and “retention mechanism” in the SPEC and claims. Also, Examiner request Applicants to clearly point out, on the drawing, how the “retractable”, “push-activated”, “pass over” etc.
The Examiner respectfully requests that the Applicant(s) review all claims for any such similar issues.
Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the limitations, rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, and/or discussed in the above claim objections (See above objection) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 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.
(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.
Claims 1-6, 8, 10, 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and/or (a)(2) as being anticipated by Tenney (US 6354461).
With regard claim 1, Tenney discloses An electronic device housing (abstract, see also fig 1-15) comprising: a first housing portion including at least a first hinge member disposed on the first housing portion (at least fig 9, fig 15, 64, with 72, 74) proximate a rim of the first housing portion (at least fig 9, fig 15, the rim on the outer side of 64), the first housing portion further including a retention mechanism (at least fig 9, fig 15, at least the parts 74, 67, 80, or 68 Examiner consider as retention mechanism) disposed on the first housing portion proximate the rim and spaced from the first hinge member (at least fig 9, fig 15, the rim on the outer side of 64); and a second housing portion including at least a second hinge member (at least fig 9, fig 15, 82, 86) disposed on the second housing portion proximate a rim of the second housing portion (at least fig 9, fig 15, the rim on the outer side of 62), wherein the second hinge member is configured to mate with the first hinge member when positioned in a space (at least fig 9, fig 15) between the first hinge member and the retention mechanism, and wherein the retention mechanism is retractable and push-activated (compare fig 9, fig 12, fig 15, the retention mechanism is retractable and push-activated) to allow the second hinge member to pass over the retention mechanism (compare fig 9, fig 12, fig 15, e second hinge member to pass over the retention mechanism, at least left/right direction) such that the retention mechanism releasably holds the second hinge member in the space (at least fig 9, fig 15, fig 3-4).
With regard claim 2, Tenney further discloses the first housing portion is a lid, and the second housing portion is a base (at least fig 8).
With regard claim 3, Tenney further discloses the first housing portion and the second housing portion are both configured to house electronic components (at least fig 8, abstract).
With regard claim 4, Tenney further discloses the first hinge member defines a hinge aperture (at least fig 15, aperture on 74 for pin 86), and wherein the second hinge member includes a hinge pin configured to be received in the hinge aperture (at least fig 15, aperture on 74 for pin 86).
With regard claim 5, Tenney further discloses the first housing portion includes a third hinge member disposed on the first housing portion proximate the rim of the first housing portion, and wherein the second housing portion includes a fourth hinge member disposed on the second housing portion proximate a rim of the second housing portion, wherein the fourth hinge member is configured to mate with the third hinge member when the first and second housing portions are hingedly coupled (at least fig 8, abstract; see the other pair of hinge members on the other side of the housings).
With regard claim 6, Tenney further discloses the retention mechanism is spring-loaded (at least fig 8, abstract).
With regard claim 8, Tenney further discloses the retention mechanism includes a catch member movable between an extended position and a depressed position (at least fig 7, the catch member movable between an extended position and a depressed position; Examiner consider before and after the screw was fixed) and a biasing element for biasing the catch member to the extended position (before screw in), wherein the catch member holds the second hinge member in the space (at least fig 7-8, abstract).
With regard claim 10, Tenney further discloses the retention mechanism further includes at least one post extending from the catch member (at least fig 7, the screw), and wherein the biasing element is a spring. (at least fig 7-8, abstract).
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 JERRY WU whose telephone number is (571)270-5420. The examiner can normally be reached on PHP: M-Th: 8:30-12:30; 2:30-8:30pm.
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, Imani Hayman can be reached on 571.270.5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JERRY WU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841