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 .
This is a final Office action responsive to the reply filed on 04/20/2026.
Claims 1-15 have been amended.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Claim Objections
Claims 2, 9 and 14 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 2, line 9 “a second sleeve ,” should be - - a second sleeve, - -.
Claim 9, line 3 “the object” should be - - an object - -.
Claim 14, line 1 “the second interlocking component” should be - - a second interlocking component - -.
Claim 14, line 3 “a Velcro component” should be - - a hook and loop fastener component - -.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chiang (US Patent No. 8,083,040).
Regarding claim 1, Chiang discloses an interlocking device configured to couple to an object, the interlocking device comprising:
a track (see annotated Fig. 4) including:
a sleeve formed of a material configured to couple securely to the object (3) by conforming to an external shape of the object (3) upon application of heat (see annotated Fig. 4),
a gap extending longitudinally along a first side of the sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4),
an interlocking component connected to, and extending longitudinally along, a second side of the sleeve, the second side being opposite the first side (see annotated Fig. 4).
The recitation limitation “upon application of heat” is directed to a product-by-process claim wherein the process relied upon is “application of heat”. This limitation is not given a patentable weight since the structural limitations of the claimed product are met.
Regarding claim 2, Chiang discloses, wherein:
the track is a first track (see annotated Fig. 4);
the sleeve is a first sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4);
the gap is a first gap (see annotated Fig. 4);
the interlocking component is a first interlocking component (see annotated Fig. 4); and
the interlocking device further comprises:
a second track that is engageable with the first track (see annotated Fig. 4), the second track including:
a second sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4),
a second gap extending longitudinally along a first side of the second sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4), and
a second interlocking component extending longitudinally along a second side of the second sleeve, the second side of the second sleeve being opposite the first side of the second sleeve, and the second interlocking component configured to engage with the first interlocking component (see annotated Fig. 4).
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Regarding claim 5, Chiang discloses, wherein the interlocking component and the second side of the sleeve are spatially separated and interconnected via a strip of material that extends an entire length of the interlocking component (see annotated Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 8, Chiang discloses, wherein the interlocking component is one of a row of teeth, a continuous interlocking structure, a hook and loop fastener component, magnets, buttons, or clasps (see annotated Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 9, Chiang discloses an interlocking system comprising:
a track (see annotated Fig. 4) including:
a sleeve formed of a material configured to couple securely to the object (3) by conforming to an external shape of the object (3) upon deforming the sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4),
a gap extending longitudinally along a first side of the sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4),
a first edge of a strip of material connected to a second side of the sleeve and extending longitudinally along the second side of the sleeve, the second side of the sleeve being opposite the first side of the sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4), and
an interlocking component connected to a second edge of the strip of material and extending longitudinally along the second edge of the strip of material (see annotated Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 10, Chiang discloses, wherein:
the track is a first track (see annotated Fig. 4);
the sleeve is a first sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4);
the gap is a first gap (see annotated Fig. 4);
the strip of material is a first strip of material (see annotated Fig. 4);
the interlocking component is a first interlocking component (see annotated Fig. 4); and
the interlocking system further comprises:
a second track that is engageable with the first track (see annotated Fig. 4), the second track including:
a second sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4),
a second gap extending longitudinally along a first side of the second sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4),
a first edge of a second strip of material adhered to a second side of the second sleeve and extending longitudinally along the second side of the second sleeve, the second side of the second sleeve being opposite the first side of the second sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4), and
a second interlocking component adhered to a second edge of the second strip of material and extending longitudinally along the second edge of the second strip of material, the second interlocking component configured to engage with the first interlocking component (see annotated Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 14, Chiang discloses, wherein the second interlocking component is one of a row of teeth, a continuous interlocking structure, a Velcro component, magnets, buttons, clasps, or other suitable fastener (see annotated Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 15, Chiang discloses wherein the interlocking component is configured to engage with a second interlocking component upon longitudinal manipulation of a sliding joiner piece (see annotated Fig. 4).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chiang (US Patent No. 8,083,040), in view of Ishii (US Patent No. 4,492,006).
Regarding claim 3, Chiang further discloses, comprising:
a sleeve engagement piece, the sleeve engagement piece configured to couple with the sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4).
Chiang does not disclose a third track, the third track including:
a third interlocking component that is configured to engage with at least one of the first interlocking component or the second interlocking component; and
a surface anchor component, wherein a first side of the surface anchor component is coupled to the third interlocking component and the second side of the surface anchor component is couplable to a surface, the second side of the surface anchor component being opposite the first side of the surface anchor component.
However, Ishii teaches a third track, the third track comprising:
a third interlocking component that is configured to engage with at least one of the first interlocking component or the second interlocking component; and
a surface anchor component, wherein a first side of the surface anchor component is coupled to the third interlocking component and the second side of the surface anchor component is couplable to a surface, the second side of the surface anchor component being opposite the first side of the surface anchor component (see annotated Fig. 1).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the third track from Ishii with the first track from Chiang for a bag-shaped article with the three-tape type zipper.
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Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (US Patent No. 8,083,040), in view of Ishii (US Patent No. 4,492,006) as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Voit (US Patent No. 3,456,305).
Regarding claim 4, Chiang as modified by Ishii does not disclose the surface anchor component is couplable to the surface utilizing at least one of adhesion, magnetism, suction, tension, pressure, or force.
However, Voit teaches the surface anchor component is coupled to the surface with adhesion (33) (see Fig 8).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use adhesive from Voit with the surface anchor component from Chiang in order to quick couple the surface anchor component to the surface.
Claims 6, 7 and 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chiang (US Patent No. 8,083,040), in view of Cheng (US Publication No. 2008/0007940).
Regarding claim 6, Chiang discloses the claimed invention except for the strip of material contains part of a circuit.
However, Cheng teaches the strip of material contains part of a circuit (see Fig. 3 and abstract).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the luminescent zipper device (as shown in Cheng) with the strip of material (as shown in Chiang) to emit the luminescence through receiving a power source with a principle of transforming electricity into luminescence, thereby being convenient to use, and having a high safety feature.
Regarding claim 7, the combination of Chiang in view of Cheng discloses wherein the part of the circuit is one of one or more optical fibers or one or more electrical conductors (21) (see Fig. 3 and abstract).
Regarding claim 11, Chiang discloses the claimed invention except for the strip of material contains part of a circuit.
However, Cheng teaches the strip of material contains part of a circuit (see Fig. 3 and abstract).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the luminescent zipper device (as shown in Cheng) with the strip of material (as shown in Chiang) to emit the luminescence through receiving a power source with a principle of transforming electricity into luminescence, thereby being convenient to use, and having a high safety feature.
Regarding claim 12, the combination of Chiang in view of Cheng discloses wherein the part of the circuit is one of one or more optical fibers or one or more electrical conductors (21) (see Fig. 3 and abstract).
Regarding claim 13, the combination of Chiang in view of Cheng discloses wherein the part of the circuit is configured to couple with one or more circuit interaction components (22) (see Fig. 3 and abstract).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments, see pages 10-14, filed 04/20/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claim 1, broadly discloses a sleeve formed of a material configured to couple securely to the object (3) by conforming to an external shape of the object (3) upon application of heat (see annotated Fig. 4). The recitation limitation “upon application of heat” is directed to a product-by-process claim wherein the process relied upon is “application of heat”. This limitation is not given a patentable weight since the structural limitations of the claimed product are met.
Regarding claim 9, broadly discloses a sleeve formed of a material configured to couple securely to the object (3) by conforming to an external shape of the object (3) upon deforming the sleeve (see annotated Fig. 4). Applicant's arguments are more limiting than the claimed invention.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 LOUIS A MERCADO whose telephone number is (571)270-5388. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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/LOUIS A. MERCADO/
Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/JASON W SAN/SPE, Art Unit 3677
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