Continued Prosecution Application
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04/16/2026 has been entered.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Eggum et al. (2020/0343117; hereinafter Eggum).
As to claim 1, Eggum discloses an assembly (Figs. 1 & 4-6) comprising a substrate container (100, 102, 104), the substrate container including an aperture (110, 128; Fig. 1) formed in the substrate container, the aperture configured to receive a module (400; 500; 600), one or more tabs (each tab disposed between two apertures/gaps 606; see Fig. 6 below) with each tab extending inwards into the aperture over a portion of a perimeter of the aperture, the one or more tabs defining one or more apertures/gaps (606; Fig. 6); a module (412; 508; Fig. 6) and a module retainer (400-422; 500-528; 600, 608) attached to the module, the module retainer including a retainer body (402-422; 504-528; 600) having an inner surface surrounding a portion of the module, the module retainer further including one or more engagement features (408; 520; 608), the engagement features are configured to be inserted through a corresponding one or more gaps (Fig. 6) when in a first portion and to engage with the one or more tabs when in a second position ([0044]; [0049]; [0052]), the module retainer configured to be rotatable between the first position and the second position when the module retainer is inserted into the aperture.
As to claim 2, Eggum discloses the module retainer comprises a detent (410, [0044] line 15; 522, [0049] line 17; [0052] lines 16-17) configured to contact one of the one or more gaps between the one or more tabs so as to resist rotation of the module retainer from the second position to the first position.
As to claim 3, Eggum discloses the module is selected from the group consisting of a purge module, a vent purge module, a getter module, and a sensor module (400; 500; 600).
As to claim 4, Eggum further discloses the one or more tabs comprises at least three tabs, and the one or more engagement features comprises at least three engagement features.
As to claims 5-7, see Fig. 4; 5; 6.
As to claim 8, Eggum discloses the one or more tabs are provided on the bottom plate (602; Fig. 6).
As to claims 9 and 10, Eggum discloses the module retainer includes one or more tooling interfaces (418; 528) on an outward facing surface of the module retainer and the tooling interfaces are distributed around a central opening formed in the outward facing surface of the module retainer.
As to claim 11, Eggum discloses a method of installing the module into the substrate container as above comprising the step of inserting the module including the module container into the aperture formed in the substrate container, the module retainer including a retainer body, and the step of rotating the module retainer into the second position as claimed.
As to claim 12, see claim 3 above.
As to claim 13, see Fig. 4; 5; or 6.
As to claim 14, Eggum discloses that attaching the module to the module retainer includes forming a snap-fit as claimed [0060].
As to claims 15-16, see Fig. 1.
As to claims 17-18, Eggum discloses that rotating the module retainer includes inserting a tool into one or more tooling interfaces (418, [0044]; 528, [0049]; [0052]) provided in the module retainer and the tool is inherently capable of being manipulated by automation.
As to claim 19, see [0044] or [0049].
As to claim 20, Eggum discloses when the module is installed in the aperture and the module retainer is in the second position, the aperture is sealed.
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Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to all pending claims have been considered but are deemed to be moot in view of the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUAN K BUI whose telephone number is (571)272-4552. The examiner can normally be reached Generally M-F, 7-4.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Orlando E. Avilés can be reached on 571-270-5531 or orlando.aviles-bosques@uspto.gov. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LUAN K BUI/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736
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