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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-15 are rejected. Claims 2-11, 13, and 15 are rejected because claims 1, 12 and 14 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.
Claims 1 and 12 recites “the distal end” lacking antecedent basis.
Claim 14 recites “and/or” which is not clear as to how the element can be metal and plastic.
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.
Claim(s) 1-13, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2013/0152500 to Engstrom.
Regarding claim 1, Engstrom discloses a set of panels (1, 2) and a panel connection element (54), the panels have a core (where 2 points) enclosed by flat, parallel upper and lower surfaces (see top and bottom layers, fig. 1a), with four panel side surfaces (see 13-18 and opposing sides on panel 2) at two opposing side surfaces and complimentary coupling elements (bottom of 32 and channel 16) in the form of upper coupling element (32) and lower coupling element (portion of 16 where bottom of 32 contacts) to enable coupling by movement towards each other, the lower coupling element has a latching receptacle (space of 16) and the upper coupling element (32) has a locking element (protrusion of 32) engaging in the latching receptacle in the coupled state forming a first coupling section, the lower coupling element (area of 16) comprises a groove (along length) adjacent to the receptacle (see groove adjacent, fig. 1c), the panel connection element having a first part and second part with web (see marked figure below), the first part in the groove and the second part pivotable relative to the first (see bend as in fig. 1b to 1c), the second part comprises an upper section (upper half of second part) with a latching element and a lower section (bottom half of second part), the latching element has a bulge (tip) at the distal end, the locking element (32) has a contact surface (35) abutting the lever and the locking element has a latching receptacle (gap at 34) which compliments the latch and the bulge engages it in the coupled state (as in fig. 1c), so the bulge forms a second coupling section with the latching receptacle (space of 34)
Regarding claim 2, the lower coupling element has a second locking element (12) at its distal end and the upper coupling element (32)has a second latching receptacle (space adjacent 31), into which the second locking element engages to form a third coupling section.
Regarding claim 3, the lower coupling element has a protrusion (to the right of where 18 points) adjacent the groove and (where 16 points) and a second contact surface (front top right edge of panel 1) and the upper coupling element (32) has a third contact surface (top left edge of panel 2) adjacent to the latching receptacle (space of 34), and the second contact surface (top right edge of panel 1) and the third contact surface abut flat against one another (see as in fig. 1c) in the coupled state.
Regarding claim 4, the panel connection element (marked figure below)is stationary in the groove (as seen in fig. 1c).
Regarding claim 5, the latching element (see marked figure) has a rear formation.
Regarding claim 6, the protrusion has a mating surface where the rear formation abuts (as in fig. 1c, rear formation abuts the edge).
Regarding claim 7, the panels are flush at the upper surfaces (fig. 1c: see flat flush top).
Regarding claim 8, the first part of the connection element comprises a base element and spaced support elements on the lower side of the base element (see marked figure).
Regarding claim 9, the web is a film hinge (see marked figure).
Regarding claim 10, the panel connection element is one piece.
Regarding claim 11, the lower end of the lever projects into the receptacle (channel/groove of 16 as seen in fig. 1c).
Regarding claim 12, Engstrom discloses a panel connection element with first and second parts connected via a web, the second part pivotable about the web and the second part comprises an upper section having a latching element with a bulge at a distal end (as recited in the rejection above and seen in the marked figure below).
Regarding claim 13, the first part has a base element and a plurality of spaced support elements on the lower side of the base element to support in a vertical direction (as recited in the rejection above and seen in the figure below).
Regarding claim 15, the method is disclosed for connecting the panels as they are shown connected in fig. 1c.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2013/0152500 to Engstrom.
Regarding claim 14, Engstrom does not disclose the material from which the panel connection element is made but discloses the use of plastic for parts of the panel [0034]. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Engstrom by using plastic for the connection element since plastic is already used and would not damage the core and offer repeatability.
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Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Basil Katcheves whose telephone number is (571)272-6846. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am to 6:30pm EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Glessner can be reached on (571)272-6754. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/BASIL S KATCHEVES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3633 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BASIL S KATCHEVES whose telephone number is (571)272-6846. The examiner can normally be reached 7-4.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Glessner can be reached at 571-272-6754. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/BASIL S KATCHEVES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3633
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