DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-9 are pending in the current application.
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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because FIG. 7 does not appear to illustrate an “insertion part” comprising a “smooth and untapped” surface (see, e.g., Claim 3, the 2nd to the last line).
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, 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 Objections
Regarding Claim 1, line 2, the language “PCB” should be defined in the claim language (and the term “board” subsequently removed).
Regarding Claim 1, line 6, perhaps the term “bottom” should be changed to “top.”
Regarding Claim 4, the 2nd to the last line, perhaps the term “on” should be changed to “onto.”
Regarding Claim 8, line 2, the language “USB-C” should be defined in the claim language.
Regarding Claim 8, the last line, perhaps the term “board” should be changed to “board,.”
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.
Claims 1-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Specifically, regarding each of Claims 1-9, line 1, it is not clear what is meant by the language “floating trampoline-style.”
Regarding Claim 1, line 9, it is not clear if the “gap” is present on each of the “PCB board” and “keyboard panel” or if the gap is between the “PCB board” and “keyboard panel.”
Regarding Claim 1, the 3rd to the last line, there is no antecedent basis for the language “axial direction.”
Regarding Claim 2, there is no antecedent basis for each of the terms “diameters” and “diameter.”
Regarding Claim 3, line 6, there is no antecedent basis for the term “diameter.”
Regarding Claim 3, lines 8 and 9, there is no antecedent basis for each instance of the term “surface.”
Regarding Claim 4, line 3, there is no antecedent basis for the language “switch shaft.”
Regarding Claim 4, line 4, there is no antecedent basis for the language “switch shaft hole.”
Regarding Claim 6, the last line, it is not clear if the term “opening” refers to that recited in Claim 1, line 8.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Suda (U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2003/0179540 A1) discloses a keyboard utilizing a PCB, a keyboard bottom case, limiting screws, and first and second avoidance holes, but does not disclose the claimed second gap, sequential insertion, and first and second elastic bodies, as recited in Claim 1. Pounds (U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,966) discloses a keyboard utilizing a bottom case, a threaded stud utilizing a gasket, and an avoidance hole, but does not disclose the claimed first gap, as recited in Claim 1. The references fail to teach, disclose, or suggest, either alone or in combination, a reason to combine the teachings of Pounds with those of Suda. For example, utilizing the gasket of Pounds with the teachings of Suda would result in a spacing between 4 and 5 (see, e.g., Fig. 6) which would lead to deformation or destruction of 5 itself (e.g., at outer edges of the avoidance holes where the holes meet with the gasket) and increase a depression distance required by 5a for actuation (see, e.g., Fig. 6) such that actuation would be at least difficult.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY R. JIMENEZ whose telephone number is 313-446-6518. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 1030am - 9pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Renee Luebke, can be reached at (571) 272-2009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANTHONY R JIMENEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833
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