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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(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.
Claim(s) 21-28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by U.S. Pub. 2023/0191244 by Hu.
Regarding claim 21, Hu discloses a video game system controller comprising: a controller body (see at least para. 7 and gamepad); and a controller control stick movably coupled to the controller body and having a handle (fig. 2, 8 – see stick and handle), wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable relative to the controller body and rotating the controller control stick or the handle causes height of the handle to change with respect to the controller body (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion), wherein rotation of the controller control stick or the handle when the handle is at a first height causes the handle to change to a second height different from the first height (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 22, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable 360-degrees with respect to the controller body (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 23, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable in a first direction to change the height of the handle from a most retracted position to an intermediate position to a most extended position (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 24, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable in a first direction to change the height of the handle from a most retracted position to an intermediate position to a most extended position to the most retracted position (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 25, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable in a first direction to change the height of the handle from a most extended position to a most retracted position (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 26, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction to change the height of the handle with respect to the controller body (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 27, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable in a first direction to increase the height of the handle with respect to the controller body and in a second direction opposite the first direction to decrease the height of the handle with respect to the controller body (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Regarding claim 28, Hu discloses the video game system controller of claim 21, wherein the controller control stick or the handle is rotatable in a first direction to increase the height of the handle with respect to the controller body and further rotation in the first direction causes the height of the handle to decrease with respect to the controller body (para. 34-37 – see adjustment of the height through the threaded portion).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The new amendments to claims 1, 13 and 19 overcome prior art by clarifying the engagement of the of the indent during rotation, the prior art of record requires disengagement of the indentation during rotation and adjustment.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 PETER J IANNUZZI whose telephone number is (571)272-5793. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM EST.
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, Kang Hu can be reached at 571-270-1344. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PETER J IANNUZZI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
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