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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The Examiner notes, this application has a related applications EP24195133 and CN202322465047. ‘133 includes a European search report citing relevant prior art. Applicant is reminded each individual associated with the filing and prosecution of a patent application has a duty of candor and good faith in dealing with the Office, which includes a duty to disclose to the Office all information known to that individual to be material to patentability as defined in 37 CFR 1.56.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “side wall of the accommodation chamber (Claim 1, line 4),” “outer wall of the electric shaft (Claim 1, line 5),” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "61" and "63" have both been used to designate “the interior of the sliding groove.” Reference character “63” should designate the “reset spring.”
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). 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 Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1 (lines 6-7) should recite “
Regarding claim 4, the phrase should recite “wherein Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Regarding claim 1 (line 4), the phrase “a side wall of the accommodation chamber is rotatably connected to an electric shaft” was not disclosed in a way to reasonably convey that one had possession at the time of filing the invention. Para [0022] discloses “An end of the hair clipper housing 1 is provided with an accommodation chamber 2, an interior of the accommodation chamber 2 is configured to install a blade, a side wall of the accommodation chamber is rotatably connected to an electronic shaft.” There are no details as to how the side wall of the chamber (which appears to be a static structure) is rotatably connected to a shaft. The specification is devoid what permits the side wall to rotatably connect to the electronic shaft and how the side wall is rotatably connected to the electronic shaft. Does the shaft extend through a hole in the side wall?
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 1-8 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 1 (line 13), the phrase “and the through hole is rotatably connected with a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is penetrated and fixedly connected to a surface of a circular plate, a side wall of the circular plate is fixedly connected with a blade” is indefinite. Lines 16-17 set forth the rotating shaft is fixedly connected with a second bevel gear which meshes with a first bevel gear; however, it is unclear what the nexus (or structural relationship) between the circular plate and the protective strip are. In other words, if the fixed frame is inserted in the installation groove, is the circular plate in this groove as well? What is the structural relationship between the circular plate and the blade. What is the relationship between the clipper and the blade? The claim further sets forth an electric shaft, a first bevel gear, and a second bevel gear, but does not disclose a structure imparting any motion of the electric shaft or bevel gears. In other words, there is no motor driving any of the corresponding structures.
Note, the claim sets forth several structures, but has not established a nexus between the structures with respect to the overall structure (and function) of the hair clipper. In other words, the claim defines a housing, an electric shaft, a chamber, a frame with a heat dissipation component inserted into the chamber, the frame having a protective strip with a groove, a rotating shaft, a first and a second bevel gear, and a blade, but has not set forth clear details regarding the structural relationship between the structures (and a little function as to how the structures work together).
Regarding claim 4, the phrase “wherein there are a plurality of sets of blades that are distributed on the side wall of the circular plate in an array is indefinite. Claim 1 sets forth a side wall of the circular blade is fixedly connected with a blade. Therefore, it is unclear how the side wall of the circular plate has both a plurality of blades and is fixedly connected to the blade. Is one side of the wall fixed to the blade and another side fixed to the blade? It is further unclear if the plurality of blades includes or are the same blade as set forth in claim 1 or a different blade.
Claims 2, 3, and 5-8 dependent from claim 1 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being dependent from a rejected parent claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(a), first paragraph and 35 U.S.C. 112(b), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
It is suggested Applicant further define (and reword) the claim the define the components of the fixed frame. For instance, the heat dissipation unit includes: a fixed frame (51), a baffle (52), a top and bottom surface of the fixed frame are fixedly connected with a protective strip provided with a ventilation groove. Para 0022 sets forth all the structures included in the fixed frame and Figure 3 appears to be the most comprehensive figure with respect to the claimed invention. The Examiner welcomes the Attorney to establish contact to further discuss the claim language.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Darwinkel (WO 2017153548) teaches a skin treatment device having an accommodation chamber. The flow generating unit, which includes a fan, works in conjunction with a fluid reservoir to define a cold evaporation system. The systems work to cool the skin.
Hyeon (KR 20170002835) teaches a hair clipper having a heat dissipation component to aid is cooling the motor. The heat dissipation unit engages a drive gear of the motor for rotation to aid in cooling the motor.
Buras et al. (US 4106190) teaches a hair clipper having a fan which rotates with the motor shaft to provide air to the cutters to dissipate heat generated by friction between the upper and lower cutters.
The prior art does not teach or suggest a hair clipper having a heat dissipation unit with a fixed frame having a protective strip with a ventilation groove connected with a rotary shaft, in combination with the other claimed elements. The scope of the allowable subject matter is best commensurate with Figure 3.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. KR 20130104496 teaches a cutting unit having a wing portion which when rotated imparts movement to the reciprocating blade of the clipper to cut hair. US Patent Application No. 200500608893 teaches a clipper having a fan to cool the motor. US Patent No. 5,653,025 teaches a shaver having a fan disposed in an installation groove.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER S MATTHEWS whose telephone number is (571)270-5843. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm.
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/JENNIFER S MATTHEWS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724