CTNF 18/824,169 CTNF 89575 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. 2. This office action is responsive to the application Nº 18/824,169 filed on September 4 th , 2024 in which claims 1-16 are pending and ready for examination. Information Disclosure Statement 3. Acknowledgment is made of Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) form PTO-1449. These IDS have been considered. Priority 02-26 AIA 4. Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Drawings 5. The examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 09/04/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 6. 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 7. 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA 8. Claim s 1-8 and 12-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 ( a) (1 ) as being anticipated by Nobuoka et al. (US Pub. Nº 2008/0063430) . 9. Regarding independent claim 1: Nobuoka et al. disclosed a lock mechanism (Fig. 5A) that locks a door part ([0025], line 1; also see Fig. 2, reference 17) being openable (Fig. 2 shows the cover 17 in an open state) and closable with respect to a device body in a closed state of being closed with respect to the device body (Fig. 1 shows the cover 17 in a closed state), the lock mechanism comprising: a first member (Fig. 5A, reference 120) including an engagement part being engageable with the device body ([0055], line 5; also see Fig. 5A, reference 126); a first biasing member configured to bias the first member toward an engagement direction in which the engagement part engages with the device body ([0055], line 2; also see Fig. 5A, reference 125); a second member configured to displace the first member such that the engagement part shifts from an engaged state to a disengaged state with respect to the device body against a biasing force by the first biasing member ([0058], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 10A reference 144 which moves member 120 to shifts from an engaged state to a disengaged state with respect to the device body. Fig. 6A also provides more clarifications); and a second biasing member configured to bias the second member ([0060], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 6A, reference 150), wherein a biasing force of the second biasing member does not resist the biasing force by the first biasing member (Fig. 5A shows spring 125 exerting a biasing force in the vertical direction while Fig. 6A shows spring 150 exerting a biasing force in the horizontal direction, that does not resist the biasing force of spring 125). 10. Regarding claim 2: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second biasing member is a linear member including a first end part attached to the door part, and a second end part located opposite the first end part and abutting on the second member (Fig. 6A, spring 150 is linear with one end attached to the door 17, and the other end abutting the moving member 144). 11. Regarding claim 3: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second end part is slidable with respect to the second member (see Fig. 6A). 12. Regarding claim 4: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the second end part includes a bent part abutting on the second member (Fig. 6A, the L-shaped, bent part of spring 150). 13. Regarding claim 5: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second biasing member includes a restricted part restricted from moving in a direction intersecting an extension direction of the second biasing member, in a region between the first end part and the second end part (Fig. 6A, the straight part leading to the attachment point between cover 17 and the first end of spring 150 is restricted from moving in a direction intersecting an extension direction of spring 150). 14. Regarding claim 6: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second biasing member includes a deformation part in which the linear member is deformed, in a region between the first end part and the second end part (Fig. 6A, the wavy part of spring 150). 15. Regarding claim 7: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first member includes a plurality of the engagement parts (Fig. 9A, references 126 on the left and right sides of the apparatus main body) and a shaft part attached with the plurality of engagement parts (Fig. Fig. 9A, references 124 on the left and right sides of the apparatus main body). 16. Regarding claim 8: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the first member includes a first abutment part on which the first biasing member abuts (Fig. 9A, the front-end portion of member 120 on which the spring 125 abuts). 17. Regarding claim 12: Nobuoka et al. disclosed a housing mechanism (Fig. 1, reference 10) comprising: the lock mechanism according to claim 1 (see the rejection of claim 1); the device body (Fig. 1, reference 12); and the door part (Figs. 1 and 2, reference 17), wherein the second member is an operation part for opening and closing the door part (see Figs. 6A, 10A and 10B, references 144), and the door part includes a second abutment part on which the second member is configured to abut (Fig. 6A, reference 21). 18. Regarding claim 13: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the housing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein when the second member is abutting on the second abutment part, the operation part is flush with an outer surface of the door part (Fig. 6A, reference 21 is flush with an outer surface of the door 17). 19. Regarding claim 14: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the housing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the second biasing member overlaps the second member as viewed in a direction intersecting an outer surface of the door part (see Fig. 6A). 20. Regarding claim 15: Nobuoka et al. disclosed a medium conveyance device comprising: the housing mechanism according to claim 11 (Fig. 1, reference 10); and a conveyance unit configured to convey a medium ([0029], lines 2-3), wherein the door part forms at least a part of a conveyance path through which a medium is conveyed by the conveyance unit ([0029], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 1, reference 25). 21. Regarding claim 16: Nobuoka et al. disclosed a medium conveyance device comprising: the housing mechanism according to claim 12 (Fig. 1, reference 10); and a conveyance unit configured to convey a medium ([0029], lines 2-3), wherein the door part forms at least a part of a conveyance path through which a medium is conveyed by the conveyance unit ([0029], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 1, reference 25) . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 22. 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. 07-20-aia AIA 23. 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 of this title, 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. 07-21-aia AIA 24. Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nobuoka et al. (US Pub. Nº 2008/0063430), in view of Yamada (US Pub. Nº 2022/0234857) . 25. Regarding claim 9: Nobuoka et al. disclosed the lock mechanism according to claim 8. Nobuoka et al. are silent about wherein the door part is openable and closable about a pivot shaft along a vertical direction, the shaft part extends along a vertical direction, and the first abutment part is provided between a plurality of the engagement parts in a vertical direction. Yamada disclosed an apparatus body (Fig. 2, reference 10), comprising a door (Fig. 2, reference 30), including a lock mechanism ([0120], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 100), wherein the door part is openable and closable about a pivot shaft along a vertical direction, the shaft part extends along a vertical direction (see Fig. 2), and a first abutment part of a biasing member is provided between a plurality of the engagement parts in a vertical direction (Fig. 7, an abutment part of biasing member 122 to the engagement part (lever 102) is provided between a plurality of engagement parts (at least between the guide portion 65 and the lever 102)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Yamada with those of Nobuoka et al. by making the door openable or closable about a vertical pivot shaft in order to facilitate access to internal components of the device during maintenance . 07-21-aia AIA 26. Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nobuoka et al. (US Pub. Nº 2008/0063430), in view of Ao (JP 2019-158971) . 27. Regarding claim 11: Nobuoka et al. disclosed a housing mechanism comprising: the lock mechanism according to claim 2 (see the rejection of claim 2); the device body (Fig. 1, reference 12); and the door part (Figs. 1 and 2, reference 17). Nobuoka et al. are silent about wherein the door part includes a screw receiver and a second restricting part configured to restrict rotation of the first end part, the first end part is attached to the door part by being inserted into the screw receiver, and the second restricting part is configured to restrict rotation of the first end part inserted into the screw receiver. Ao disclosed a device body (see Fig. 1), comprising a door part (Fig. 5, reference 15), and a lock mechanism (see Fig. 5), wherein the door part includes a screw receiver configured to restrict rotation of s first end part of a biasing member, the first end part being attached to the door part by being inserted into the screw receiver, and a second restricting configured to restrict rotation of the first end part inserted into the screw receiver ([0075], lines 1-3). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Ao with those of Nobuoka et al. by securing an end of the biasing member with a screw in order to render the lock mechanism sturdy and prevent loosening of the mechanism . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 28. Claim 10 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion 29. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YAOVI M. AMEH whose telephone number is (571)272-4578. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. 30. 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. 31. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, RICARDO MAGALLANES can be reached at (571)272-5960. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 32. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /YAOVI M AMEH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 2 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 3 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 4 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 5 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 6 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 7 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/824,169 Page 8 Art Unit: 2853
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