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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/12/2026 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/2/2026 has been considered by the examiner.
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) 1-2, 5-6, 10-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim KR 101956481 (provided in the IDS) in view of Laubacher US Patent 5421616
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches,
A cover (figures 1-4, element 10) for an electronic device (element 1, mobile phone), the cover comprising:
a first cover member (figure 1, one of element 30) and a second cover member (figure 1, the other one of element 30) that are spaced apart (as seen in figure 1-3) at an interval (figures 1-4, at an interval similar to present application), the first cover member and the second cover member are configured to be folded and unfolded with a folding axis therebetween (open and closed between the folding axis, figures 2 and 4);
an inner cover (element 50) comprising a first region (region close to one of element 51 which is secured to the H part of first cover member 30) coupled to a first inner surface of the first cover member, a second region coupled (region close to one of element 51 which is secured to the H part of second cover member 30) to a second inner surface of the second cover member, and a third region (the middle part of element 50, which is exposed, similar to element 233 of present application) extending across the interval while connecting the first region and the second region (figures 1-4), the third region being flexible and overlapping (as seen in figures 3-4, the third region of 50 is flexible and overlaps the deformation portion/hinge housing (element S, figure 4) of the portable device (1)) with a hinge housing (element S of figure 4) of the electronic device (1), while the cover is mounted to the electronic device and folded (figure 4).
Kim does not teach a ring coupled directly to the third region of the inner cover.
Laubacher in similar field of cover with a holder teaches a ring (figure 2-9, ring shown in figure 3) coupled to the inner cover (as seen in figure 4-9, the ring 4 is coupled directly to the cover (2), such that this is coupled directly in the folding region of the cover), wherein the ring is directly coupled to the third region (as seen in figure 4-9, the male fastener 9 is attached to the female fastener 18 on the region where 9 and 18 is provided, which is the third region), through a coupling portion (the coupling portion being element 18) which surrounds a part of the ring (surround at least part of element 9 which is part of the ring; in other words the office takes the position that the male fastener 9 is part of the ring, which is surrounded by the female fastener 18 of the third region, figure 3-4).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to use the ring of Laubacher such that the ring is coupled directly to the to the third region/folding region of the inner cover of Kim and the ring is directly coupled to the third region through a coupling portion of the third region which surrounds a part of the ring of Kim, such modification will ensure the device of Kim as modified will render the user to have proper health since cramp will not be develop in the user’s hand (Col. 6, lines 50-52) and ensure the proper attachment between the third region and the ring.
Regarding claim 2, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
wherein the first region and the second region are formed as a plane in each of a folded state and an unfolded state (as seen between figures 2-4 the two regions are formed as a plane), and wherein the third region comprises a flexible region whose shape is deformed (as seen in the operation between figures 3-4 the third region, middle of 50, is flexible region and deforms as the first and second cover member are folded or unfolded) when the first cover member and the second cover member are folded or unfolded.
Regarding claim 5, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Wherein the third region extends in a direction towards the first cover member and the second cover member substantially perpendicular to the folding axis (figure 1, the middle of 50 extending in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis and towards the two cover members).
Regarding claim 6, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
wherein a first side wall (figure 1, the side wall that is adjacent to element H; alternative interpretation figure 1, the side walls of element 30, such that the side wall extends from edge of 30 to adjacent to element 32, which contact the edge of 50) formed on the first inner surface of the first cover member (figure 1) and contacting at least a portion of an edge of the first region of the inner cover and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis is formed on the first inner surface (figure 1), and wherein a second side wall (figure 1, the side wall that is adjacent to element H; alternative interpretation figure 1, the side walls of element 30, such that the side wall extends from edge of 30 to adjacent to element 32, which contact the edge of 50) formed on the second inner surface of the second cover member (figure 1) and contacting at least a portion of an edge of the second region of the inner cover and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis is formed on the second inner surface (fig 1-2).
Regarding claim 10, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Wherein the first cover member is provided with its first edge adjacent to the folding axis is opened (figure 1-2, first cover 30 opened), wherein the first side wall is formed adjacent to the first edge (figure 1-2, the edge adjacent to where element 32/H is indicated is first edge)),
Wherein the second cover member is provided with its second edge adjacent to the folding axis is opened (figure 1,second cover 30 opened), wherein the second side wall is formed adjacent to the second edge (figure 1-2, the edge adjacent to where element 32/H is indicated is second edge)).
Regarding claim 11, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Wherein the ring comprises a curved section (Figures 4, ring 4 where element at least the curvature is either where element 14 is indicated or 8) and a straight section (figure 4 of Laubacher, the region where element 10 is indicated and in figures 5-9 the region where 30/40/50 is bonding to the cover), and wherein the coupling portion (the fastener as described in claim 1) extends through the interval in a direction away from the electronic device (figure 3-4 of Laubacher such that the fastener extends towards the fastener of the ring away from the inner side of the cover/third region, thus meeting the limitation of extending away from the electronic device in the combination) to at least partially surround the straight section (as mentioned in claim 1 the modified structure such that partially surrounding the straight section, since the straight section has the corresponding fastener of the ring).
Regarding claim 12, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
wherein a folded state (figure 4, element 1) in which a first housing (element 1)and a second housing (element 1) of the electronic device face each other and an unfolded state (figure 3) in which the first housing and the second housing are arranged side by side are included (figure 3),
wherein the first cover member is configured to be coupled to the first housing, wherein the second cover member is configured to be coupled to the second housing and is spaced apart from the first cover member at a predetermined interval (as seen in at least figures 3-4, the first cover and the second cover coupling the respective housings of the electronic device 1 and the spaced apart feature as well, figure 4, element S), wherein the first region of the inner cover is positioned between the first housing and the first cover member (figure 3-4, first region of inner cover 50 provided between the first housing and the first cover member 30), wherein the second region of the inner cover is positioned between the second housing and the second cover member (figure 3-4, second region of inner cover 50 provided between the second housing and the second cover member 30), and wherein the third region of the inner cover comprises a flexible region configured to change a shape depending on the folded state or the unfolded state (as seen in figures 3-4 middle of element 50, which changes shape based on the folding or unfolded state).
Regarding claim 13, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
the hinge housing (figure 4, the bending area of element 1 is the hinge housing of the electronic device) is disposed between the first housing and the second housing; and wherein in the folded state, the third region of the inner cover and the hinge housing are configured to face each other (as seen in figure 4).
Regarding claim 14, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches wherein the ring and at least a portion of the flexible region are positioned toward a back surface of the electronic device through a gap between the first cover member and the second cover member (the modified structure as described in claim 1 such that the ring of Laubacher is provided in the third region such that when in the configuration of Figure 3 or figure 4 of Kim, the ring and portion of the flexible region of the third region towards a back surface of the electronic device through a gap between the two cover members 30s; for illustration purpose the render would be like present application, however to give prior art US patent 7948753 element 40 extending in the rear between two housing)).
Regarding claim 15, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
wherein the first cover member (one of element 30 as described in claim 1) includes:
a first inner surface (inner surface of element 30) at least partially in contact with the first region of the inner cover (figure 1-2, element 50, specifically the edge 51 contacting the inner surface), and
a first side wall (the side wall where the edge adjacent to element H) supporting an edge (edge of element 30, where H is indicated supporting the edge of the first region of the inner cover 50) of the first region of the inner cover is-formed on the first inner surface (figure 1-2),
wherein the second cover member ((one of element 30 as described in claim 1) includes:
a second inner surface (inner surface of element 30) at least partially in contact with the second region of the inner cover (figure 1-2, element 50, specifically the edge 51 contacting the inner surface), and
a second side wall (the side wall where the edge adjacent to element H) supporting an edge (edge of element 30, where H is indicated supporting the edge of the first region of the inner cover 50) of the second region of the inner cover is-formed on the second inner surface,
wherein the first side wall is formed at an edge adjacent to the second cover member among edges of the first cover member (figure 1, Kim), and
wherein the second side wall is formed at an edge adjacent to the first cover member among edges of the second cover member (figure 1, Kim).
Regarding claim 16, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Wherein the flexible region includes planar regions (figure 4 of Laubacher, such that element 6 to the left and right of element 18 is the planar region which is connected to the coupling region, which is the region of element 18, and the planar region overlap with each other at least from the side view) connected to the coupling portion and overlapped with each other.
Regarding claim 17, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
wherein the first cover member and the second cover member are configured to be folded and unfolded with a folding axis therebetween (as seen between figures 2-4 of Kim), and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are parallel to the folding axis (the side walls being the side wall adjacent to element H figure 1 of Kim).
Regarding claim 18, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Wherein each of the first side wall and the second side wall comprises a partially open region (figure 1-2, the spacing between the two cover members thus partially open region provided).
Regarding claim 19, Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches,
Wherein the third region extends through the partially open region (figures 1-4 shows the third region extending through the open region).
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim KR 101956481 (provided in the IDS) in view of Laubacher US Patent 5421616 further in view of Kim et al. KR20210047585 (provided in the IDS; for translation and citation purpose using US equivalent US Pub 2022/0240637, hereinafter Kim'7585).
Regarding claim 3,
Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches the third region (as described in claim 1).
Kim as modified by Laubacher does not teach wherein the third region further comprises a first rigid region connected to the first region and a second rigid region connected to the second region, and wherein the flexible region is formed between the first rigid region and the second rigid region. However, providing desired level of rigidness and/or flexibility is not new in the art.
Kim'7585 in similar field of cover for an electronic device teaches a cover (figure 10a-c, element 200), the cover comprising a third region (from portion of 310 on left side to portion of 310 on right side, figure 6, which includes 303-305 in between), wherein the third region further comprises a first rigid region (the portion of element 310 on the left, left of D1) connected to the first region (far left of 310) and a second rigid region (the portion of element 310 on the right, right of D2) connected to the second region (far right of 310), and wherein the flexible region is formed between the first rigid region and the second rigid region (figures 10a-c).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to use the teaching of Kim'7585 such that the third region comprises first rigid region and a second rigid region and the flexible region provided between the rigid regions such modification can be used in Kim as modified by Laubacher’s third region such that the modification will provide the desired bendability and shape (paragraph 122 of Kim,'7585) in the third region thus protecting the cover.
Claim(s) 4 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim KR 101956481 (provided in the IDS) in view of Laubacher US Patent 5421616 further in view Kim US Pub 2020/0412401.
Regarding claim 4,
Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches the first region, second region and third region as described in claim 1.
Kim as modified by Laubacher does not teach the specific width as described, more specifically, Wherein the first region and the second region have a first width measured in a direction of the folding axis,
Wherein the third region has a second width measured in the direction of the folding axis, and
Wherein the second width is smaller than the first width.
Kim'2401 in similar field teaches inner cover (400, figure 3) teaches
Wherein a region (where element 410 is indicated) has a first width measured in a direction of the folding axis,
Wherein the third region has a second width (the middle part of element 400, having second width) measured in the direction of the folding axis, and
Wherein the second width is smaller than the first width (figure 3, the second width is smaller than the first width).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to use the teaching of Kim'2401 of having the region at the end of the cover having a greater width than the middle (i.e. the third region) region having such that the inner cover of Kim as modified by Laubacher is such that the first region and the second region have a first width measured in a direction of the folding axis, the third region has a second width measured in the direction of the folding axis, and the second width is smaller than the first width, such modification will ensure the inner cover has restricted sliding movement and stable sliding movement such that the inner cover stays within the first and second cover members.
Regarding claim 20,
Kim as modified by Laubacher teaches the first region, second region and third region as described in claim 1.
Kim as modified by Laubacher does not teach the specific width as described, more specifically, Wherein the first region and the second region have a first width measured in a direction of the folding axis,
Wherein the third region has a second width measured in the direction of the folding axis, and
Wherein the second width is smaller than the first width.
Kim'2401 in similar field teaches inner cover (400, figure 3) teaches
Wherein a region (where element 410 is indicated) has a first width measured in a direction of the folding axis,
Wherein the third region has a second width (the middle part of element 400, having second width) measured in the direction of the folding axis, and
Wherein the second width is smaller than the first width (figure 3, the second width is smaller than the first width).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to use the teaching of Kim'2401 of having the region at the end of the cover having a greater width than the middle (i.e. the third region) region having such that the inner cover of Kim as modified by Laubacher is such that the first region and the second region have a first width measured in a direction of the folding axis, the third region has a second width measured in the direction of the folding axis, and the second width is smaller than the first width, such modification will ensure the inner cover has restricted sliding movement and stable sliding movement such that the inner cover stays within the first and second cover members.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 7 and claims (8 and 9) dependent thereupon 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.
Primary reason for allowance is claim 7 and intervening claims is not taught by the prior arts cited in this office action and the previous office action(s). Furthermore, claims 8 and 9 are indicated as allowable due to being dependent on claim 7.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 1-20 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant provides the newly amended limitation is not taught by Kim in view of Laubacher. The office respectfully disagrees. As provided in the rejection above, under 35USC§103 Kim in of Laubacher teaches the newly amended limitation, specifically Laubacher teaches the limitation of the coupling portion of the third region which surrounds a part of the ring and the ring directly coupled to the third region.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Urimoto US Pub 2019/0033921, Figures 5a-b – teaches foldable device such that a ring holder is provided in between two rigid structure (i.e. in the bending region).
Lee et al US Pub 2022/0416832 – figure 3e, teaches similar cover and ring configuration. However, this is commonly owned and qualified under 35USC102(a)(2).
Myung et al. US D987616 – teaches similar cover and ring configuration. However, this is commonly owned and qualified under 35USC102(a)(2).
Altschul et al. US Patent 10694837 – figure 13 teaches a cover with a ring such that the cover comprises two different widths, similar to present application.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ABHISHEK M RATHOD whose telephone number is (571)270-3947. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30AM-5:00PM ET.
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ABHISHEK M. RATHOD
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2841
/ABHISHEK M RATHOD/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841