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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species 1, Figures 1-7, claims 1-8 in the reply filed on 7/17/26 is acknowledged.
However, during the examination, the examiner found that claims 3-8 do not read on the species 1, Figures 1-7, because the limitation of “restricting structure “7" do not refer to figures 1-7 of the elected species 1, but belong to figures 8-10 of the species 2. Therefore, in the instant application, claims 1-2 have been examined and claims 3-8 have been further withdrawn from consideration.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show the reference number “301” as described in the specification. Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). 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 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 1-2 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.
The term “capable of” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “capable of” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
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 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Dong Gu et al. (CN 210516637 U).
Regarding claim 1, Gu discloses a relay comprising:
a fixed base (see the drawing below);
a contact lead-out end (10) fixed to the fixed base (see the drawing below), provided with a stationary contact (see the drawing below), provided being at least two contact lead-out ends (10);
a push rod assembly (see the drawing below);
a movable spring sheet (11), provided with a movable contact (see the drawing below) corresponding to the stationary contact (see the drawing below),
the movable spring sheet (11) being movably provided, in a direction parallel to a sliding direction of the push rod assembly (see the drawing below), with respect to the push rod assembly;
a first magnetically guiding sheet (13), movably provided on a side of the movable spring sheet (11) facing the stationary contact (see the drawing below); and
a second magnetically guiding sheet (14), provided on a side of the movable spring sheet (11) away from the stationary contact, capable of forming a magnetic loop with the first magnetically guiding sheet (13),
wherein the first magnetically guiding sheet (13) moves in a direction facing the second magnetically guiding sheet (14) and in parallel to a movement of the movable spring sheet (11) within a preset travel,
when the push rod assembly (see the drawing below) drives the movable spring sheet (11)to actuate the movable contact (see the drawing below) of the movable spring sheet (11) to contact the stationary contact (see the drawing below) of the contact lead-out end (10) and the push rod assembly (see the drawing below) continues to actuate to achieve overtravel (12).
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (1st magnetically guiding sheet)][AltContent: textbox (2nd magnetically guiding sheet)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Stationary contact)][AltContent: textbox (Movable contact)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Push rod assembly)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Fixed base)][AltContent: arrow]
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Regarding claim 2, Gu discloses:
an overtravel elastic member (12), applying to the movable spring sheet (11) with an overtravel elastic force facing the stationary contact (see the drawing above) when the push rod assembly (see the drawing above) achieves an overtravel (12).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Lisa Homza whose telephone number is (571) 272-3592.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Shawki Ismail can be reached on (571) 272-3985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Lisa Nhung Homza/
Patent Examiner - Art Unit 2837
October 14, 2026
/SHAWKI S ISMAIL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Prosecution Insights