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 .
DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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 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.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of restriction requirement in the reply filed on 4/30/26 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that MPEP § 803 and/or arguing the claims and other species are considered in the same application. A portion of the argument is not found persuasive because the listed Inventions are related as combination and subcombination and different Species require a different field of search (e.g., searching different classes /subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search strategies or search queries).
Examiner also consider Applicant’s arguments and re-group and reconsider the inventions as followings:
Claims 11-14, claims 18, 20 are consider as they are the similar invention as elected inventions I.
Examiner also consider Applicant’s arguments and agree to merge the figures as below:
Figures 7-8: Examiner agree to merge as a same group.
Figures 16-19: Examiner agree to merge as a same group.
Figures 22-23: Examiner agree to merge as a same group.
Therefore, Examiner will exam the above elected claims and specie A (Fig 1-6) in the office action.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-5, 11-14, 18, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and/or (a)(2) as being anticipated by Ladouceur (US 20120156907).
With regard claim 1, Ladouceur discloses An accessory device, (abstract, see also fig 1-15) comprising: one or more walls that define a receptacle for an electronic device (at least fig 3-4, one or more walls that define a receptacle for an electronic device, 200), the one or more walls comprising an opening having a first area (compare fig 3 and fig 4, a first area), wherein in response to receiving an object configured to connect to the electronic device (paragraph [48]-[52]), the opening transitions to a second area different from the first area (compare fig 3 and fig 4, a second area).
With regard claim 11, Ladouceur further discloses An accessory device, (abstract, see also fig 1-15) comprising: a bottom wall; and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall (at least fig 3-4, sidewalls extending from the bottom wall, under 210), the sidewalls combining with the bottom wall to define a receptacle (paragraph [48]-[52]), the sidewalls comprise a sidewall that includes an opening (at least fig 3-4, opening near 210), wherein: in response to the receptacle receiving an electronic device, the opening is aligned with a port of the electronic device (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]), and in response to receiving an object, the opening is enables access to the electronic device (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]).
With regard claim 18, Ladouceur further discloses An accessory device, (abstract, see also fig 1-15) comprising: a bottom wall; and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall (at least fig 3-4, sidewalls extending from the bottom wall, under 210), the sidewalls combining with the bottom wall to define a receptacle (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]), the sidewalls comprise a sidewall that includes: a first material; and a second material coupled with the first material (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]), the second material defining an opening (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]), wherein in response to receiving an object at the opening, the second material is configured to move relative to the first material (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]).
With regard claim 2, Ladouceur further discloses in response to the object being removed, the opening transitions to the first area (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]).
With regard claim 3, Ladouceur further discloses the second area is greater than the first area (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]).
With regard claim 4, Ladouceur further discloses the opening is configured to expand, to the second area, along a first dimension and a second dimension (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52]).
With regard claim 5, Ladouceur further discloses further comprising a material that surrounds the opening, the material configured to compress based on contact with the object (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52], [61-64]).
With regard claim 12, Ladouceur further discloses in response to removing the object, the opening is configured to contract (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52], [61-64 ]).
With regard claim 13, Ladouceur further discloses the opening includes a size and shape to: receive a connector of the object, and expand in response to engaging a boot of the cable assembly (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52], [61-64 ]).
With regard claim 14, Ladouceur further discloses a first material that forms, in part, the wall; and a second material that surrounds the opening, the second material different from the first material (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52], [61-64 ]).
With regard claim 20, Ladouceur further discloses in response to receiving the cable assembly, the opening is configured to expand (at least fig 3-4, see also paragraph [48]-[52], [61-64 ]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERRY WU whose telephone number is (571)270-5420. The examiner can normally be reached on PHP: M-Th: 8:30-12:30; 2:30-8:30pm.
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, Imani Hayman can be reached on 571.270.5528. 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.
/JERRY WU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
Prosecution Insights