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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, wherein the first molding layer is disposed to overlap the at least one battery on all sides of the battery of claim 3 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 3 recites ‘wherein the first molding layer is disposed to overlap the at least one battery on all sides of the battery’, however it does not appear that element 221 overlaps the battery on the external side of the battery in the instant application. Claim 3 is written to specifically require that the overlap is on all sides of the battery, however the instant application provides support for overlapping in only the internal direction and not the external direction.
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.
Claim 3 is 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 3 recites ‘wherein the first molding layer is disposed to overlap the at least one battery on all sides of the battery’, however it does not appear that element 221 overlaps the external side of the battery in the instant application. This draws doubt on what is meant by ‘all sides’, which is confusing.
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(s) 1-4, 6, 11-13, 16, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Min et al. (US 20210037932 A1, and hereinafter “Min”), in view of Mars et al. (US 12052816 B1, and hereinafter “Mars”), and in further view of Haverinen et al. (US 20180103902 A1, and hereinafter “Haverinen”).
Regarding claim 1, Min teaches a wearable electronic device (Fig. 1, Abstract : wearable device) comprising:
a first housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : cover member 150);
a second housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : outer ring member 110) coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the first housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : outer ring member 110 is coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the cover member 150); and
at least one battery (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : battery 182) disposed between the first housing and the second housing (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : battery 182 is disposed between the cover member 150 and the outer ring member 110),
wherein the second housing comprises:
a second layer (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : outer ring member 110) coupled to the first housing (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : outer ring member 110 is coupled to the cover member 150).
Min does not teach a first molding layer disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery and having a specified compression rate; and
a second molding layer covering the first molding layer and coupled to the first housing,
wherein the first molding layer is positioned between the first housing and the second molding layer so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device, and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery.
Mars teaches a first molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : interior region 124 of lower enclosure 112 which is part of molded material 104) disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59, battery 126); and
a second molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : lower enclosure 112 which is part of molded material 104) covering the first molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : lower enclosure 112 covers the interior region 124) and coupled to the first housing (112 is coupled to 110 col 5 lines 46-48 recite ‘upper enclosure 110 and lower enclosure 112 may be made of metal, ceramics, plastics, combinations thereof, or the like, and may be welded, glued, screwed together’)
wherein the first molding layer (124) is positioned between the first housing (110) and the second molding layer (112) so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device (comparing figs 1a, 1c), and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery (124 covers 126 from the interior while 110 covers the exterior since the battery lays on top of 124 in fig 1c)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate first molding layer and the second molding layer as taught by Mars into Min’s wearable electronic device by adding the interior region between the outer ring member and the cover member. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to provide additional cover and shell for the battery, and allow the battery and the housing to have matching curvature (Col. 5. Lines 29-59 of Mars).
Min as modified by Mars does not teach a first molding layer having a specified compression rate.
However, Haverinen teaches a first molding layer having a specified compression rate (Fig. 1, [0037-0040], [0053-0054] : molded body part 102 can be molded using a molding technique such as compression molding, which would have a specified compression rate).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the molding layer having a specified compression rate as taught by Haverinen into Min and Mars combination’s wearable electronic device by molding the enclosures via compression molding. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to manufacture the wearable electronic device using non-ceramic material. Additionally, interchanging one molding technique with another molding technique is known as evidence by Haverinen ([0053-0054] of Haverinen) such that it would be a mere obvious selection of an art recognized equivalence for the same purpose (MPEP §2144.06).
Regarding claim 2, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery is disposed between the first housing and the second housing (Mars fig 1c) in a shape having a curvature different from a curvature of the first housing (136, fig 1c) and/or a curvature of the second housing (132 is different from 134, fig 1c, col 5 lines 55-59 recite ‘As can be seen in FIG. 1C, curved battery 126 is characterized by a first radius of curvature 132, and enclosure portion 104 is characterized by a second radius of curvature (an interior radius) 134 and a third radius of curvature (an outer radius) 136’).
Regarding claim 3, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first molding layer is disposed to overlap the at least one battery on all sides of the battery (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 of Mars : interior region 124 is disposed to overlap the battery 126 and to cover all of the battery 126).
Regarding claim 4, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery has a curvature corresponding to a curvature of the first housing (Fig. 1B, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 of Mars : inner layer of enclosure portion 104 has a curvature corresponding to a curvature of the outer layer of enclosure portion 104).
Regarding claim 6, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first housing and/or the second housing has an annular shape (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] of Min : cover member 150 and/or outer ring member 110 have an annular shape).
Regarding claim 11, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, comprising a substrate (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170) disposed between the first housing and the second housing (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170 is disposed between the cover member 150 and the outer ring member 110) and including at least one electronic element (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : sensor unit 171, power unit 180, communication module 181, switch 183, and control unit 185) disposed thereon (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : sensor unit 171, power unit 180, communication module 181, switch 183, and control unit 185 are disposed on the circuit unit 170),
wherein the substrate is spaced apart from the at least one battery (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170 is spaced apart from the battery 182).
Regarding claim 12, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170 comprises flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)).
Regarding claim 13, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, comprising a substrate (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170) disposed between the first housing and the second housing (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170 is disposed between the cover member 150 and the outer ring member 110) and comprises at least one electronic element (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : sensor unit 171, power unit 180, communication module 181, switch 183, and control unit 185) disposed thereon (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : sensor unit 171, power unit 180, communication module 181, switch 183, and control unit 185 are disposed on the circuit unit 170),
wherein the substrate is disposed between at least a portion of the battery and the first housing (Fig. 2, [0065] of Min : circuit unit 170 is disposed between at least a portion of the battery 182 and the cover member 150).
Regarding claim 16, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first molding layer comprises a flame-retardant material (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 of Mars : enclosure 104 which includes the lower enclosure 112 can be made of silicone).
Regarding claim 19, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second molding layer comprises epoxy (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 of Mars : enclosure 104 which includes the lower enclosure 112 can be made of epoxy).
Regarding claim 20, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second housing comprises an annular opening at a center thereof (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] of Min : outer ring member 110 comprises an annular opening at a center thereof), and
wherein the wearable electronic device is configured to be worn on a finger through the annular opening (Fig. 2, [0044-0046] of Min : outer ring member 110 of ring-type wearable device 100 has a diameter sufficient to be fitted to the finger of the user).
Claim(s) 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Min, Mars, and Haverinen combination as applied above, in view of Howard et al. (US 20230327255 A1, and hereinafter “Howard”).
Regarding claim 5, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1.
Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen does not teach wherein the at least one battery is attached to at least a portion of the first housing via an adhesive member.
However, Howard teaches wherein the at least one battery is attached to at least a portion of the first housing via an adhesive member (Fig. 2, [0042] : battery cell 204 attaches to the housing 206 via adhesive 210).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the adhesive as taught by Howard into Min, Mars, and Haverinen combination’s wearable electronic device by attaching the battery to the enclosure via an adhesive. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to improve the stability of the electronic device, and ensure the battery stays in place.
Claim(s) 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Min, Mars, and Haverinen combination as applied above, in view of Gui et al. (CN 216250941 U, employing the previously provided machine translation, and hereinafter “Gui”).
Regarding claim 17, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1.
Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen does not teach wherein the compression rate is in a range of 10 % to 50 %.
However, Gui teaches wherein the compression rate is in a range of 10 % to 50 % (Fig. 2, Lines 62-75 : control film 2 has a compression rate of 10% - 80%, and can be in rage of 10% - 50%).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate compression rate as taught by Gui into Min, Mars, and Haverinen combination’s wearable electronic device by using the control film as the interior region. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to provide support for the battery, and limit the traversing of the battery without damaging the battery through compression (Lines 76-92 of Gui).
Claim(s) 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Min, Mars, and Haverinen combination as applied above, in view of Burke (US 20230078486 A1, and hereinafter “Burke”).
Regarding claim 18, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1.
Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen does not teach wherein the first molding layer comprises polyurethane foam.
However, Burke teaches wherein the first molding layer (Fig. 2, [0021], [0040] : plastic member 30 of battery housing 1) comprises polyurethane foam (Fig. 2, [0021], [0040] : plastic member 30 can include or consist of polyurethane foam).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate polyurethane foam as taught by Burke into Min, Mars, and Haverinen combination’s wearable electronic device by adding polyurethane foam to the enclosure. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to provide insulation near the battery, and ensure the different structural elements are embedded in the plastic member ([0019-0021], [0047] of Burke). Additionally, interchanging plastic with a polyurethane foam is known as evidence by Burke ([0021] of Burke) such that it would be a mere obvious selection of an art recognized equivalence for the same purpose (MPEP §2144.06).
Claim(s) 1, 7, and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Min et al. (US 20210037932 A1, and hereinafter “Min”), in view of Mars et al. (US 12052816 B1, and hereinafter “Mars”), and in further view of Haverinen et al. (US 20180103902 A1, and hereinafter “Haverinen”).
Regarding claim 1, Min teaches a wearable electronic device (Fig. 1, Abstract : wearable device) comprising:
a first housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : cover member 150);
a second housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : outer ring member 110 and inner ring member 130) coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the first housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : outer ring member 110 is coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the cover member 150); and
at least one battery (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : battery 182) disposed between the first housing and the second housing (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : battery 182 is disposed between the cover member 150 and the outer ring member 110),
wherein the second housing comprises:
a second molding layer (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : inner ring member 130) coupled to the first housing (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : inner ring member 130 is coupled to the cover member 150).
Min does not teach a first molding layer disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery and having a specified compression rate; and
a second molding layer covering the first molding layer,
wherein the first molding layer is positioned between the first housing and the second molding layer so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device, and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery.
Mars teaches a first molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : interior region 124 of lower enclosure 112 which is part of molded material 104) disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59, battery 126); and
a second molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : lower enclosure 112 which is part of molded material 104) covering the first molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : lower enclosure 112 covers the interior region 124) and coupled to the first housing (112 is coupled to 110 col 5 lines 46-48 recite ‘upper enclosure 110 and lower enclosure 112 may be made of metal, ceramics, plastics, combinations thereof, or the like, and may be welded, glued, screwed together’)
wherein the first molding layer (124) is positioned between the first housing (110) and the second molding layer (112) so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device (comparing figs 1a, 1c), and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery (124 covers 126 from the interior while 110 covers the exterior since the battery lays on top of 124 in fig 1c)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate first molding layer and the second molding layer as taught by Mars into Min’s wearable electronic device by adding the interior region between the outer ring member and the cover member. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to provide additional cover and shell for the battery, and allow the battery and the housing to have matching curvature (Col. 5. Lines 29-59 of Mars).
Min as modified by Mars does not teach a first molding layer having a specified compression rate.
However, Haverinen teaches a first molding layer having a specified compression rate (Fig. 1, [0037-0040], [0053-0054] : molded body part 102 can be molded using a molding technique such as compression molding, which would have a specified compression rate).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the molding layer having a specified compression rate as taught by Haverinen into Min and Mars combination’s wearable electronic device by molding the enclosures via compression molding. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to manufacture the wearable electronic device using non-ceramic material. Additionally, interchanging one molding technique with another molding technique is known as evidence by Haverinen ([0053-0054] of Haverinen) such that it would be a mere obvious selection of an art recognized equivalence for the same purpose (MPEP §2144.06).
Regarding claim 7, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, comprising a support member (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] of Min : outer ring member 110) disposed between the at least one battery and the second molding layer (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] of Min : outer ring member 110 is disposed between the battery 182 and the inner ring member 130).
Regarding claim 9, Min as modified by Mars and Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the support member (Min 110, fig 2) is disposed between the first molding layer and the second molding layer (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] of Min, and Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 of Mars : outer ring member 110 will be disposed between the lower surface of interior region 124 and the inner ring member 130) and is attached to an outer surface of the first molding layer (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] of Min, and Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 of Mars : outer ring member 110 will be attached to the outer surface of the interior region 124).
Claim(s) 1, and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Min et al. (US 20210037932 A1, and hereinafter “Min”), in view of Mars, further in view of Haverinen et al. (US 20180103902 A1, and hereinafter “Haverinen”).
Regarding claim 1, Min teaches a wearable electronic device (Fig. 1, Abstract : wearable device) comprising:
a first housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : cover member 150);
a second housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : outer ring member 110 and inner ring member 130) coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the first housing (Fig. 2, [0044-0045] : outer ring member 110 is coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the cover member 150); and
at least one battery (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : battery 182) disposed between the first housing and the second housing (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : battery 182 is disposed between the cover member 150 and the outer ring member 110),
wherein the second housing comprises:
a first layer (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : outer ring member 110) disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : outer ring member 110 is disposed to be at least partially in contact with at least one battery 182); and
a second layer (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : inner ring member 130) covering the first layer (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : inner ring member 130 covers the outer ring member 110) and coupled to the first housing (Fig. 2, [0049-0052] : outer ring member 110, and inner ring member 130 are coupled to the cover member 150).
Min does not teach a first molding layer disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery and having a specified compression rate; and
a second molding layer covering the first molding layer and coupled to the first housing,
wherein the first molding layer is positioned between the first housing and the second molding layer so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device, and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery.
Mars teaches a first molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : interior region 124 of lower enclosure 112 which is part of molded material 104) disposed to be at least partially in contact with the at least one battery (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59, battery 126); and
a second molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : lower enclosure 112 which is part of molded material 104) covering the first molding layer (Fig. 1C, Col. 5, Lines 29-59 : lower enclosure 112 covers the interior region 124) and coupled to the first housing (112 is coupled to 110 col 5 lines 46-48 recite ‘upper enclosure 110 and lower enclosure 112 may be made of metal, ceramics, plastics, combinations thereof, or the like, and may be welded, glued, screwed together’)
wherein the first molding layer (124) is positioned between the first housing (110) and the second molding layer (112) so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device (comparing figs 1a, 1c), and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery (124 covers 126 from the interior while 110 covers the exterior since the battery lays on top of 124 in fig 1c)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate first molding layer and the second molding layer as taught by Mars into Min’s wearable electronic device by adding the interior region between the outer ring member and the cover member. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to provide additional cover and shell for the battery, and allow the battery and the housing to have matching curvature (Col. 5. Lines 29-59 of Mars).
Min and Mars do not teach a first molding layer having a specified compression rate;
However, Haverinen teaches a first molding layer (Fig. 1, [0037-0040], [0053-0054] : molded body part 102 made of moldable ceramic material and non-ceramic material) having a specified compression rate (Fig. 1, [0037-0040], [0053-0054] : molded body part 102 can be molded using a molding technique such as compression molding, which would have a specified compression rate); and
a second molding layer (Fig. 1, [0037-0040], [0053-0054] : molded body part 102 made of moldable ceramic material and non-ceramic material).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the molding layer having a specified compression rate as taught by Haverinen into Min and Mars combination’s wearable electronic device by molding the enclosures via compression molding. The suggestion / motivation for doing so would be to manufacture the wearable electronic device using non-ceramic material. Additionally, interchanging one molding technique with another molding technique is known as evidence by Haverinen ([0053-0054] of Haverinen) such that it would be a mere obvious selection of an art recognized equivalence for the same purpose (MPEP §2144.06).
Regarding claim 10, Min as modified by Haverinen teaches the wearable electronic device of claim 1, comprising at least one cavity (Fig. 2, [0049], [0058] of Min : openings 112a-c, openings 132a-c) provided between the first molding layer and the second molding layer (Fig. 2, [0049], [0058] of Min : openings 112a-c, openings 132a-c are between the outer ring member 110 and inner ring member 130).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8, 14-15 allowed.
With respect to claim 8, the allowability resides in the overall structure of the device as recited in independent claim 8 and at least in part because of claimed limitations:
wherein the support member includes a plate-shaped metal material disposed inside the first molding layer
The aforementioned limitations in combination with all remaining limitations of claim 8 are believed to render said claim 8 and all claims dependent therefrom patentable over the art of record.
With respect to claims 14-15, the allowability resides in the overall structure of the device as recited in independent claim 14 and at least in part because of claimed limitations:
wherein the first molding layer comprises a first soft molding layer disposed between the at least one battery and the substrate, and a second soft molding layer disposed between the at least one battery and the second housing
The aforementioned limitations in combination with all remaining limitations of claim 14 are believed to render said claim 14 and all claims dependent therefrom patentable over the art of record.
3. None of the cited references teach nor suggest the above noted limitations of claims 8, 14 in combination with the remaining limitations.
The closest prior arts of recorded were provided in the office action(s). In examiners opinion the pertinent prior art, when taken alone, or, in combination, cannot be reasonably construed as adequately teaching or suggesting all of the elements and features of the claimed inventions as arranged, disposed or provided in the manner as claimed by the applicant.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not found persuasive. Applicant argues in response to claim 1:
‘However, as shown in Fig. 1C of Mars, Mars does not disclose a layer "positioned between the first housing and the second molding layer so as not to be visible from the outside of the wearable electronic device, and the first molding layer is disposed to cover all perimeter edges of the at least one battery."’
Mars do teach these limitations as shown in the rejections above. Looking at Applicants figures and specification shows that element 221 covers the battery from the inner surface of the device, but not the external surface. Mars element 124 covers the battery from the inner surface of the device.
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 DOUGLAS R BURTNER whose telephone number is (571)272-0966. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Allen Parker can be reached on 303-297-4722. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DOUGLAS R BURTNER/ Examiner, Art Unit 2841 /ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
Prosecution Insights