Detailed Office Action
The communication dated 3/22/2024 has been entered and fully considered. Claims 1-20 are pending.
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 .
Drawings
Figures 1a and 1b should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g). Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. 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 10 and 13-20 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.
Claim 10 recites the limitation of “a support” in line 2. Claim 1 recites the limitation of “one support” in line 2. Therefore, it is not clear that the limitation in claim 10 is the same as the limitation in claim 1 or a different support. For the purpose of examination, the Examiner interprets both as the same support.
Claim 13 recites the limitation of “a support” in line 2. Claim 1 recites the limitation of “one support” in line 2. Note that claim 13 depends on claim 11 that depends on claim 1. Therefore, it is not clear that the limitation in claim 13 is the same as the limitation in claim 1 or a different support. For the purpose of examination, the Examiner interprets both as the same support.
Claim 14 recites the limitations "the buckle assembly" in line 13 and “the housing in line 13/14. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim. Claims 15-20 are dependent on claim 14 and are rejected as well
Claim 15 recites the limitation of “a support” in line 2. Claim 1 recites the limitation of “one support” in line 2. Note that claim 15 depends on claim 14 that depends on claim 1. Therefore, it is not clear that the limitation in claim 15 is the same as the limitation in claim 1 or a different support. For the purpose of examination, the Examiner interprets both as the same support.
Claim 20 recites the limitations of “a female jig core” in line 4, “a male jig core” in line 4, and “an internal cavity” in line 5. Claim 14 already recites these limitations. Note that claim 20 depends on claim 19 that depends on claim 14. Therefore, it is not clear that the aforementioned limitations in claim 20 are the same as those limitations in claim 14 or different ones. For the purpose of examination, the Examiner interprets them as the same.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 and 11-12 are allowed.
The closest prior art to the independent claim 1 was WANG (CN-105682395-A, of record, English translation provided by the Examiner), hereinafter WANG.
WANG discloses a buckle assembly, comprising a plurality of buckle structures, one plastic frame structure; wherein an outer contour of the plastic frame structure is matched with an outer contour of a housing of an electronic product; the plastic frame structure is provided with a plurality of openings, and each buckle structure is embedded into one of the openings {[FIG. 2] 23 is the frame of an electronic device or a mobile phone and 4 are the plurality of buckle structures that are embedded in the openings of the frame 23}.
WANG, however, fails to disclose that the buckle assembly comprises of one support, and that the support is disposed in an annular area defined by the plastic frame structure; the support is divided into a plurality of branches each having a first end and a second end, first ends of different branches are connected, while the second end of each branch is connected to one of the buckle structures; and the plurality of buckle structures, the plastic frame structure and the support form an integral structure by injection molding.
These additional structures are not obvious modifications to the buckle assembly of WANG. Claims 2-9 and 11-12 are dependent on claim 1 and are allowed as well.
Claims 10 and 13-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to S. BEHROOZ GHORISHI whose telephone number is (571)272-1373. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-(alt Fri) 7:30-5:00.
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/S. BEHROOZ GHORISHI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1748