DETAILED ACTION
Status of the Claims
The response filed 11/18/24 is entered. Claims 1-20 are pending. Claims 1-8 are elected. Claims 9-20 are withdrawn.
Information Disclosure Statements
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/18/24 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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(a)(1) as being anticipated by Abdollahi, US-20140139407.
In regards to claim 1, Abdollahi discloses an arm (Fig. 1, 2L and 2R outriggers, i.e. arms; Par. 0054 “Outriggers 21L and 21R may have slots or other features (not shown) configured to facilitate attachment of a strap or the like (not shown) to hold goggles 10 in place on a user's head as known in the art.”) of a head-mountable display (Par. 0002 and 0004 HUD for goggles, i.e. HMD), comprising: an enclosure (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses) comprising a first surface (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 25 ribs on opposing sides of the recess; Par. 0055 “ribs 25 protruding into recesses 24L and 24R. Ribs 25 may, for example, bear against the sides of compartments 34 and 32 to hold them in place in recesses 24L and 24R.”), and a second surface opposing the first surface (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 25 ribs on opposing sides of the recess; Par. 0055 “ribs 25 protruding into recesses 24L and 24R. Ribs 25 may, for example, bear against the sides of compartments 34 and 32 to hold them in place in recesses 24L and 24R.”), the enclosure (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses) defining a tip of the arm (Fig. 1, 2L and 2R outriggers, i.e. arms; Par. 0054 “Outriggers 21L and 21R may have slots or other features (not shown) configured to facilitate attachment of a strap or the like (not shown) to hold goggles 10 in place on a user's head as known in the art.”) and an internal volume (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, internal volume of 24L and 24R recesses); a frame (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses comprise structural components, i.e. a frame; Par. 0070 recesses can also include hinged doors, i.e. further frame components; Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments, i.e. chassis, are also frame components) positioned inside the internal volume (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, internal volume of 24L and 24R recesses), the frame comprising a chassis (Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments is placed in recesses) and a hinge connection (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses comprise structural components, i.e. a frame; Par. 0070 recesses can also include hinged doors, i.e. further frame components); and a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the chassis (Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments have electronics components, which are mounted, i.e. PCB).
In regards to claim 2, Abdollahi discloses the enclosure comprises a seamless enclosure (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses are seamless on the exterior side); and the enclosure defines an assembly access (Par. 0055 “ribs 25 protruding into recesses 24L and 24R. Ribs 25 may, for example, bear against the sides of compartments 34 and 32 to hold them in place in recesses 24L and 24R.”) opposite the tip of the arm (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses are opposite the tip of the arm, i.e. strap end of arm).
In regards to claim 3, Abdollahi discloses the frame (Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments, i.e. chassis, are also frame components) is insertable into the internal volume through the assembly access (Par. 0055 “ribs 25 protruding into recesses 24L and 24R. Ribs 25 may, for example, bear against the sides of compartments 34 and 32 to hold them in place in recesses 24L and 24R.”).
In regards to claim 4, Abdollahi discloses the frame is deformable (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses comprise structural components, i.e. a frame; Par. 0070 recesses can also include hinged doors, i.e. further frame components; Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments, i.e. chassis, are also frame components; the elements of the frame are made of material which have their own level of deformability).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 5-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abdollahi, US-20140139407, in view of Ainsworth, US-20170351120.
In regards to claim 5, Abdollahi discloses the frame (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses comprise structural components, i.e. a frame; Par. 0070 recesses can also include hinged doors, i.e. further frame components; Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments, i.e. chassis, are also frame components).
Abdollahi does not disclose expressly the frame further comprising: a first material; and a second material that differs from the first material.
Ainsworth discloses a head-mounted display (Par. 0003 head-mounted eyewear with image display, i.e. HMD) having a frame further comprising: a first material (Par. 0046 “a single housing or frame (e.g., formed from plastic, metal and/or composite material)”); and a second material that differs from the first material (Par. 0046 “a single housing or frame (e.g., formed from plastic, metal and/or composite material)”).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the frame of Abdollahi as defined above can comprise first and second materials as Ainsworth discloses. The motivation for doing so would have been a design choice based on the structural needs of the HMD, without departing from the scope of the invention.
In regards to claim 6, Ainsworth further discloses the first material is a plastic material (Par. 0046 “a single housing or frame (e.g., formed from plastic, metal and/or composite material)”); and the second material is a metal material (Par. 0046 “a single housing or frame (e.g., formed from plastic, metal and/or composite material)”).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the frame of Abdollahi as defined above can comprise first and second materials as Ainsworth discloses. The motivation for doing so would have been a design choice based on the structural needs of the HMD, without departing from the scope of the invention.
In regards to claim 7, Abdollahi discloses the frame (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses comprise structural components, i.e. a frame; Par. 0070 recesses can also include hinged doors, i.e. further frame components; Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments, i.e. chassis, are also frame components).
Abdollahi does not disclose expressly the frame comprises a plastic material.
Ainsworth discloses a head-mounted display (Par. 0003 head-mounted eyewear with image display, i.e. HMD) having a frame; the frame comprises a plastic material (Par. 0046 “a single housing or frame (e.g., formed from plastic, metal and/or composite material)”).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the frame of Abdollahi as defined above can comprise first and second materials as Ainsworth discloses. The motivation for doing so would have been a design choice based on the structural needs of the HMD, without departing from the scope of the invention.
In regards to claim 8, Abdollahi discloses the frame (Fig. 1 and 2A-2B, 24L and 24R recesses comprise structural components, i.e. a frame; Par. 0070 recesses can also include hinged doors, i.e. further frame components; Fig. 1, 32 and 34 electronics compartments, i.e. chassis, are also frame components).
Abdollahi does not disclose expressly the frame comprises a metal material.
Ainsworth discloses a head-mounted display (Par. 0003 head-mounted eyewear with image display, i.e. HMD) having a frame; the frame comprises a metal material (Par. 0046 “a single housing or frame (e.g., formed from plastic, metal and/or composite material)”).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the frame of Abdollahi as defined above can comprise first and second materials as Ainsworth discloses. The motivation for doing so would have been a design choice based on the structural needs of the HMD, without departing from the scope of the invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CORY A ALMEIDA whose telephone number is (571)270-3143. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-730PM.
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/CORY A ALMEIDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2628