DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 10, “of” is missing between “portion” and “one”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 21, “near” should be “approach” or “become near” or “are adjacent” to make the limitation accurate and clear. Appropriate correction is required.
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 6-8, 12-14, 16-18, 21, and 23-25 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.
Regarding claim 6, line 2, “the z-axis” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to –a z-axis, orthogonal to the zipper axis-- to correct the problem. Or, the dependency of claim 6 should be changed to depend from claim 3 to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 7, line 3, “the rib” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the dependency of claim 7 be changed to depend from claim 2 to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 8, line 3, “the cam surface” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to “the angled cam surface” to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 12, “the two pieces of the two-piece structure” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to –each piece of the two-piece structure—to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 13, it depends from claim 12 and therefore has the same 112 problem as defined in claim 12.
Regarding claim 14, line 2, “the bottom of the internal cavity” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to --a bottom of the first internal cavity—to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 16, line 3, “the center of the spherically shaped wall” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to –a center of the spherically shaped wall—to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 17, line 2, “the z-axis” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to –a z-axis—to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 18, it depends from claim 17 and therefore has the same 112 problem as defined in claim 17.
Regarding claim 21, last line, “the center of the second portion of the first structure” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to –a center of the second portion of the first structure—to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 23, line 1, “the two-pieces of the first structure” lacks antecedence. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to –each piece of the two-piece structure—to correct the antecedence problem.
Regarding claim 24, it depends from any of claims 6-8, 12-14, 16-18, 21, and therefore has the same 112 problem as defined in those claims.
Regarding claim 25, it depends from any of claims 6-8, 12-14, 16-18, 21, and therefore has the same 112 problem as defined in those claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7-11, 15, 19-20, and 22 are allowed. The closest prior art is to CN 112602996 A, reference 1 of the foreign patents cited on the information disclosure form filed on 11/8/2024. However, the prior art fail to disclose a fastening assembly for a zipper having a first slider tape and a second slider tape with each slider tape including a series of interdigitating teeth along a zipper axis. The fastener assembly comprising a first portion defining a first internal cavity and a second portion defining a first alignment zone. The second portion having a first end adjacent the first internal cavity, an upper surface extending from the first end to an upper outer end, a locking notch adjacent the first end, and a lower surface extending from the locking notch to a lower outer end. Wherein, at least a portion one of the upper surface and the lower surface is a curved, concave shape. The fastening assembly comprising a second structure having a spherically shaped wall defining a second internal cavity, a locking tab extending from an outer surface of the spherically shaped wall, the locking tab shaped to mate with the locking notch, a magnet held within one of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity, and a magnetically attractable material held within the other of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity. Wherein, as the first structure and the second structure become adjacent each other, the magnetically attractable material is attracted to the magnet. The spherically shaped wall of the second structure is guided at least partially by at least the curved, concave shaped portion of one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the first structure as they engage each other to align the locking tab with the locking notch.
Claims 6-8, 12-14, 16-18, 21 and 23-25 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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JACK W. LAVINDER
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/JACK W LAVINDER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677