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 . Claims 1-5 are pending.
Drawings
Figures 1-3B 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 § 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) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Frasl (US Publication No. 2003/0112995 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Frasl teaches a speaker (1) apparatus comprising: an edge (21, external area) provided around a diaphragm (15, membrane); a frame (2, housing) configured to support the diaphragm via the edge; and a reinforcement part (22, pleats area) provided on the edge, the reinforcement part including a linear portion and two end portions (38-40, V-shaped pleats), wherein the linear portion of the reinforcement part extends in a circumferential direction of the edge, and the two end portions of the reinforcement part are connected to the frame (fig. 4, wherein the V-shaped pleats extends to the frame).
Regarding claim 2, Frasl teaches the speaker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge includes a long axis portion and a short axis portion, and the two end portions are connected to the frame at the long axis portion (fig 4, wherein the edge portions have length and width).
Regarding claim 3, Frasl teaches the speaker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a material of the reinforcement part has higher rigidity than a material of the edge.
Regarding claim 4, Frasl teaches the speaker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear portion is a rib (32-40, pleats).
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) 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Frasl in view of Watanabe (US Publication No. 20110194724 A1).
Regarding claim 5, Frasl fails to teach the speaker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear portion is a step.
Watanabe teaches a step (fig. 3a, apex) as an alternate embodiment for the linear portion of a reinforced edge.
It would have been obvious matter of design choice to allow the linear portion to form aa step since Applicant's has not disclosed that having the parts solve any stated problem or is for any particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with the teachings of Watanabe in the invention of Frasl [In re Kuhle, 526 F.2d 553, 188 USPQ 7 (CCPA 1975)].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHYLESHA DABNEY whose telephone number is (571)272-7494. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Wednesday and Friday 10:30-4:30PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Fan Tsang can be reached at 5712727547. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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April 18, 2026
/PHYLESHA DABNEY/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2694
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