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 .
Claims 1-13 are pending.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. For example, claim 1 recites “first attachment means provided on the charger housing….” This uses the “means” plus step language. Accordingly, this claim is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) in the manner discussed above. Claim 4 recites “attachment means”, so it is also invokes 35 U.S.C. 112(f) and is interpreted in this manner.
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Miller, et al. (US 2020/0259368, herein Miller).1 Regarding claims 1 and 4, Miller teaches a portable power charger for powering and/or recharging at least one of: a small 12V appliance, and an electronic device having a rechargeable internal battery (paragraph 0056: rechargeable battery unit 14), said portable power charger unit comprising: a charger housing internally storing a rechargeable battery, said charger housing having a generally planar first surface having a first area, and first and second sidewalls orthogonally positioned to the first surface (paragraph 0056: charger housing 12); a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the rechargeable battery capable of wireless transmitting a power to an electronic device attached thereto, said wireless transmitter defining a wireless transmission area (paragraph 0060: wireless transmitter 26); and first attachment means2 provided on the charger housing for attaching the charger housing (paragraph 0062) to the one of: the small 12V appliance, and the electronic device (paragraph 0056: rechargeable battery unit 14), wherein said first attachment means comprise at least one of: grooves and outwardly-directed projections formed in one or more of: the planar first surface, and each of the first and second sidewalls (paragraph 0068). Regarding claim 2, Miller teaches at least one power connection interface operatively connected to the rechargeable battery capable of operating as at least one of a power input and a power output, wherein when said at least one power connection interface operates as a power input, an electrical charge current is provided from an external power source to the portable power charger for recharging the rechargeable battery when the portable power charger is connected to said external power source via said at least one power connection interface (paragraph 0086), and wherein when the said at least one power connection interface operates as a power output, a charge is provided from the rechargeable battery of the portable power charger to the small 12V appliance or the electronic device to recharge the rechargeable battery of said small 12V appliance or electronic device when said small 12V appliance or electronic device is connected to the portable power charger via said at least one power connection interface (paragraph 0086). Regarding claims 3 and 7, Miller teaches said at least one power connection interface comprises at least one of a power connection port and a power connection cable operatively connected to the rechargeable battery (paragraph 0057). Regarding claim 5, Miller teaches t least one magnet positioned on or near the first surface of the charger housing at a predetermined location relative to the wireless transmission area and adapted for interaction with at least one of: a reciprocal magnet and a metallic piece, so positioned on the independent device such that when said independent device is attached to the portable charger via 1) the magnet in the portable charger, and 2) the reciprocal magnet or metallic piece in the independent device, a wireless receiver in said independent device is aligned with the wireless transmitter in the portable charger (paragraph 0068). Regarding claim 6, Miller teaches the attachment means comprise at least one of: grooves and outwardly-directed projections (paragraph 0068). Regarding claim 8, Miller teaches a display configured to indicate a charge level of the rechargeable battery (paragraph 0099). Regarding claim 9, Miller teaches the display is at least one LED light (paragraph 0099). Regarding claim 10, Miller teaches the charger housing defines a storage space configured to contain at least one connection cable (paragraph 0091). Regarding claim 11, Miller teaches a portable power charger configured to power an independent device, the portable power charger comprising: a rechargeable battery (paragraph 0056: rechargeable battery unit 14); a housing internally storing the rechargeable battery, the housing having a generally planar first surface and linking structures (paragraph 0056: charger housing 12), wherein the linking structures are configured to removably attach the housing to the independent device, and the linking structures are adapted to engage complementary features of the independent device when attached (paragraph 0068); and a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the rechargeable battery, the wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power to a wireless receiver of the independent device when the independent device is attached to the housing (paragraph 0060: wireless transmitter 26). Regarding claim 12, Miller teaches the wireless transmitter defines a wireless transmission area proximate the first surface of the housing (paragraph 0060). Regarding claim 13, Miller teaches the wireless transmitter is further configured to wirelessly transmit power to a wireless receiver of an unattached device when the unattached device is placed on the wireless transmission area (paragraph 0060).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW MIKELS whose telephone number is (571)270-5470. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Thursday 7:30 AM ET - 5:00 PM ET, Friday 7:30 AM ET - 9:30 AM ET, the Examiner is on central time.3
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, Thomas K Pham can be reached at 571-272-3689. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MATTHEW MIKELS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
1 In addition to the cited paragraphs, please see also the associated figures.
2 See Claim Interpretation section above.
3 The Examiner can also be reached at matthew.mikels@uspto.gov.
Prosecution Insights