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 .
2. 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.
3. Claims 5 and 18-20 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.
In claim 5, lines 1-2, the use of the language “the guide shaft is threaded into the guide slot” is misdescriptive. Please note that the guide shaft is threaded into a shaft sleeve and the shaft sleeve is placed into the guide sleeve.
In claim 18, lines 12 and 14, and claim 19, lines 1-2, the use of the language “the rib” is vague and indefinite. It is unclear to the examiner whether the above-mentioned language is referring to the rib of the reflector, recited in claim 18, line 1 or one of the plurality of ribs articulated with the chassis of claim 18, line 3. Thus, the metes and bounds of the claim is unclear.
Claim 20 is inherently indefinite due to its dependency.
4. 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.
(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.
5. Claim(s) 1-4, 6, 7, 14, 15, 17 and 18, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zeng (CN 214041968).
To the extent the claims are definite, Zeng discloses a reflector comprising a rib (20), a reflective, fabric/cloth (30, i.e., reflective soft box) and a chuck assembly (10), see figures 1, 3 and 6), wherein the chuck assembly comprises a chassis (121) configured to bear a plurality of ribs (20) articulated with the chassis (see figures 5-7); a slip ring (122) fixedly arranged on the chassis (see figures 5-7 and 9), the slip ring comprising an annular sidewall and at least one guide rail (1221, 1222) arranged on the annular sidewall (see figures 5 and 9); and each guide rail extending circumferentially along the annular sidewall (see figures 5 and 9); and a top plate (13) rotatably sleeved on the slip ring (see figures 5-7 and 10), the top plate being fixedly provided with a guide shaft (130) facing the slip ring (see figures 5, 8d and 10), and the guide shaft being movably arranged on the at least one guide rail (see figures 5, 8d and 10); wherein the top plate rotates circumferentially along the slip ring (see paragraph 0048 along with figures 5 and 8a-8d), the guide shaft moves along the at least one guide rail (see figures 5-8d and 9), and the top plate lifts axially along the slip ring (see figures 5-9); and the top plate moves up and down to hold down an articulated end of the plurality of ribs to rotate (see figures 7-8d), note figures 1-10 along with the associated description thereof, wherein each guide rail extends helically along the annular sidewall (see figures 5, 8d, 9 and 10), wherein the at least one guide rail (1221, 1222) comprises a plurality of guide rails (see figures 5 and 9), and the plurality of guide rails are distributed on the annular sidewall of the slip ring at intervals (see figures 5 and 9), wherein the at least one guide rail is a guide slot (see figures 5 and 9), wherein each guide rail comprises a first end and a second end (see figures 5 and 9), the at least one guide rail gradually extending downward from the first end to the second end (see figures 5 and 9), and the first end or the second end being provided with a flat section (see figures 5 and 9), , the flat section being located on a same circumference of the slip ring (see figures 5 and 9), wherein a top surface of the top plate is provided with a boss (i.e., the portion of the top plate which includes an aperture (a guide shaft hole) for receiving the guide shaft 130), wherein the boss is provided with a guide shaft hole along a radial direction of the top plate, and the guide shaft is fixedly received in the guide shaft hole (see figures 5, 7, 8d and 10), wherein the chuck assembly further comprises a bayonet (11) for connecting a photography device (a camera not shown), the bayonet being detachably connected to the chassis (see figures 5 and 8a), wherein outer sides of the top plate and the chassis each are provided with at least one auxiliary hole site (see figures 5, 9 and 10) and wherein the at least one auxiliary hole site comprises a plurality of auxiliary hole sites on the top plate and a plurality of auxiliary hole sites on the top plate on the chassis (see figures 5, 9 and 10). Note figures 1-10 along with the associated description thereof.
6. Claims 5, 19 and 20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the 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.
7. Claims 8-13 and 16 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.
8. References CN111474806 and CN306615712 to Zeng, cited by applicant on the Information Disclosure Statement filed on 12/19/2023, are also considered relevant and should be considered when making any amendment(s) to the present application.
9. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RICKY D SHAFER whose telephone number is (571)272-2320. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 11:00-7:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Stephone B. Allen can be reached at (571) 272-2434. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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RDS
December 13, 2025
/RICKY D SHAFER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872