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 .
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “comprises”, “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
Claim Objections
Claims 19-21 are objected to because the limitation “the first operating structure includes a first operating member and a first activating member” in lines 2-3 of claim 19 are redundant. 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 3, 7, 9, and 14-18 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 3 recites the limitation "the second operating member" in line 2.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the second operating member" in line 3.
Claim 9 recites the limitations “the second operating member” in line 2 and “the second activating member” in line 3.
Claim 14 recites the limitations “the second operating member” in line 2 and “the second activating member” in line 4.
There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 4-6, 8, 10-13, and 22-28 are allowed. Claims 3, 7, 9, and 14-19 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the objections and 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
In regard to claim 1, in combination with other limitations, a first operating structure movably arranged with respect to the base to activate the first electric switch as the first operating structure moves from a first rest position to a first intermediate position and to activate the third electric switch as the first operating structure moves from the first intermediate position to a first operating position, and a second operating structure movably arranged with respect to the base to activate the second electric switch as the second operating structure moves from a second rest position to a second intermediate position and to activate the third electric switch as the second operating structure moves from the second intermediate position to a second operating position is neither disclosed nor suggested by the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Chiya et al. [US 20205/003374] and Kosaka et al. [US 2025/0162681] disclose similar operating devices.
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/LHEIREN MAE A CAROC/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833