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 Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In lines 2-3, “the fourth bending area” should be --a fourth bending area--, and
In lines 3-4, “a first side area and a first cover area, the second side area and the second cover area are connected in sequence” should be --a first side area, a first cover area, a second side area and a second cover area connected in sequence--.
Claim 14 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In line 2, “second connection area” should be --a second connection area--.
Claim 15 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In lines 2-3, line 4, lines 6-7, line 8 and line 10, “the first direction” should be --the first surface--. See allowable claim language below.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In lines 4, 5, 8 and 9, “the first direction” should be --the first surface--. See allowable claim language below.
Claim 17 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In lines 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 13, “the first direction” should be --the first surface--. See allowable claim language below.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the follow informalities:
In line 3, “a second direction that is opposite to the first direction” should be --the second surface that is opposite to the first surface--, and
In lines 5, 6, 8 and 9-10, “the first direction” should be --the first surface--. See allowable claim language below.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 12-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 12 is directed toward a cardboard structure as recited in the preamble. However, the claim recites limitations directed toward a blank structure (e.g., “a first sub-board is configured to be bent to form a first box body” in line 3) and a box structure (e.g., “in a first state, the second box body is located inside the first box body….in a second state, the first receiving part and the second receiving part are respectively connected to an outside of the first plate body” in lines 14-16). Accordingly, it is not clear whether the claims are directed toward a cardboard blank structure or a carboard box structure and thus, the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired cannot be ascertained.
Additionally, claim 12 recites the limitation “the plurality of sidewall areas are configured to be bent at least toward the first direction” in lines 4-7. However, if the first plate area is connected to the plurality of sidewall areas along a first reference direction and a second reference direction, it is not clear how the plurality of sidewall areas can be bent toward the first direction.
For the purpose of examination, the claims will be considered to be directed toward a cardboard blank structure. See allowable claim language below.
Claims 13-18 are rejected as being dependent on, and failing to cure the deficiencies of, claim 12.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-11 are allowable over the prior art.
Claims 12-18 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following claim drafted by the examiner is considered to distinguish patentably over the art of record in this application and overcome the 112(b) rejections applied above:
Claim 12: A cardboard structure, comprising:
a first sub-board configured to be bent to form a first box body, the first sub-board comprising a first surface, a second surface that is opposed to the first surface, a first plate area comprising a first opening, and a plurality of sidewall areas, wherein the first plate area along a first reference direction and a second reference direction is respectively connected to the plurality of the sidewall areas, wherein the plurality of sidewall areas are configured to be bent at least toward the first surface relative to the first plate area to form a first plate body and sidewall parts of the first box body, and wherein the first reference direction and the second reference direction are perpendicular; and
a second sub-board configured to be bent to form a second box body, the second sub-board comprising a first accommodating area and a second accommodating area mutually connected, wherein the first accommodating area is configured to be bent to form a first receiving part of the second box body, and wherein the second accommodating area is configured to be bent to form a second receiving part of the second box body,
wherein in a first state, the second box body formed from the second sub-board is configured to be located inside the first box body formed from the first sub-board and is configured to block the first opening, and wherein in a second state, the first receiving part of the second box formed from the second sub-board and the second receiving part of the second box formed from the second sub-board are configured to be respectively connected to an outside of the first plate body of the first box body formed from the first sub-board such that an inner portion of the first box body formed from the first sub-board is configured to be exposed through the first opening.
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 NINA KAY ATTEL whose telephone number is (571)270-3972. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7AM-4PM EST.
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/NINA K ATTEL/Examiner, Art Unit 3734
/NATHAN J NEWHOUSE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3734