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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 1-9 is 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.
Re: claim 1, the recited limitation “a lid that openably close the receiving port” is unclear as to the relation of the lid to the receiving port. The lid cannot be open and closed at the same time. Claims 2-9 depend on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 are allowed pending overcoming the 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejection.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Re: claim 1, the cited prior art whether in full or in combination fails to teach or reasonably suggest at the very least the locking member being rotatable about a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis of the pivoting part between a lock position in which the locking member is engaged with the engagement portion and an unlock position in which the locking member is disengaged from the engagement portion when the arm is in the retracted position. The closest cited prior art, Kaneko et al. (WO 2021075166 A1), teaches the locking member (70) being rotatable about a rotation axis extending along a rotation axis of the pivoting part (See Figs. 14 & 18) between a lock position (Fig. 14 – S0) in which the locking member is engaged with the engagement portion (44) and an unlock position (S2) in which the locking member is disengaged from the engagement portion (See Fig. 3), but fails to teach the limitation when the arm is in the retracted position. It would be unreasonable to modify this art such that the locking member has a locked and an unlocked position that would keep the arm in the retracted position. Claims 2-9 depend on claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Tanaka (US 2022/0134874 A1) discloses a similar lid opening/closing device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHILIP C ADAMS whose telephone number is (571)272-3421. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 7:30 - 4:00 CT.
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/PHILIP C ADAMS/Examiner, Art Unit 3612
/AMY R WEISBERG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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