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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/20/2024 and 4/9/2026 were filed on or after the mailing date of the application. The submissions are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
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 2-5 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 2, the recitation of “…wherein the rib of the display unit holder includes a rib projecting toward a back-surface direction,” renders the claim unclear. For example, the recitation of “a rib projecting toward a back-surface direction” is unclear because it is unclear if an additional rib is being discussed or if the recited “rib” is the aforementioned rib of claim 1.
Thus, one skilled in the art would not necessarily have the ability to ascertain the metes and bounds of the particular claim limitation.
Therefore, the claim is indefinite and is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph.
Regarding Claim 5, the recitation of “…wherein the rib of the display unit holder includes a rib provided at a position facing the whole outer periphery of the display unit,” renders the claim unclear. For example, the recitation of “…a rib provided at a position facing the whole outer periphery of the display unit,” is unclear because it is unclear if an additional rib is being discussed or if the recited “rib” is the aforementioned rib of claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 is allowable of prior art.
Claims 2 and 5 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
As per independent Claim 1, the prior art, Katsuhara et al. (US2022/0390303) and Barton et al. (US2015/0163945) does not teach the device as recited, in particular “...wherein: the display unit holder includes a rib provided along a direction where an outer periphery of the display unit extends, the rib projecting in a direction intersecting with the surface of the display unit; and the case has a groove into which the rib is fitted,” when added to the other features claimed in independent Claim 1.
Pertinent Art
Katsuhara et al. (US2022/0390303)
Regarding Claim 1, Katsuhara teaches an air conditioner controller [read 0079; 0211] comprising:
a main body including a display unit [14] disposed on a front surface of the air conditioner controller [0079].
Barton et al. (US2015/0163945)
Regarding Claim 1, Barton teaches an HVAC controller with a display unit [180a; 0149; fig 5] having a display unit holder [180f] configured to hold the display unit [0132],
a case including a holding member [180g] configured to support the display unit holder [0132; fig 5], and a protection member [180i] provided forward of the holding member and configured to cover an end surface of the display unit which end surface connects a front surface of the display unit to a back surface of the display unit [0165; fig 5].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LARRY L FURDGE whose telephone number is (313)446-4895. The examiner can normally be reached M-R 6a-3p; F 6a-10a.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jerry Fletcher can be reached at 571-270-5054. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LARRY L FURDGE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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