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 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 1-20 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.
Claim 1 requires “the optical-electrical assembly comprising: a slide component including a cantilever mechanism.” The claim further requires that “an optical-electrical assembly enclosed by the upper housing and the lower housing.” However, the claim is inconsistent with the specification, and thus specification fails to provide an adequate explanation.
Clearly, “an optical-electrical assembly enclosed by the upper housing and the lower housing” means the "optical-electrical assembly" is installed inside an outer casing or the housing. However, specification describes the slide component is not placed inside the housing. More specifically, the slide component corresponds to the pull-tab mechanism 300 of Fig. 3. The specification, Page 11, lines 10-12, also states, “FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a slide component including a cantilever mechanism coupled to a pull handle mechanism associated with the optical-electrical assembly.” The pull-tab mechanism 300 is clearly shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B as being attached to the exterior of the housing rather than enclosed inside the housing. However, the claim requires an optical-electrical assembly is enclosed by the upper housing and the lower housing, wherein the same optical-electrical assembly comprises a slide component. Thus, the claim is inconsistent with the disclosure in the specification. Specifically, the specification depicts and describes the slide component as being attached to the outside of the housing, not as a structure that is enclosed inside the housing. As a result, the specification does not appear to provide adequate support for the claimed configuration, and the claim language is inconsistent with the originally filed disclosure.
The dependent claims 2-12 are rejected for being dependent on the rejected claim 1.
Claim 13 requires “the optical-electrical assembly comprising: a slide component including a cantilever mechanism.” The claim further requires that “a housing comprising an upper housing and a lower housing; an optical-electrical assembly insertable into the housing.” However, the claim is inconsistent with the specification, and thus specification fails to provide an adequate explanation.
Clearly, “an optical-electrical assembly insertable into the housing” means the "optical-electrical assembly" is a pre-built, self-contained unit designed to be slipped, slotted, or installed inside an outer casing or the housing.” However, specification describes the slide component is not placed inside the housing. More specifically, the slide component corresponds to the pull-tab mechanism 300 of Fig. 3. The specification, Page 11, lines 10-12, also states, “FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a slide component including a cantilever mechanism coupled to a pull handle mechanism associated with the optical-electrical assembly.” The pull-tab mechanism 300 is clearly shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B as being attached to the exterior of the housing rather than inserted into the housing. However, the claim requires an optical-electrical assembly is insertable into the housing, wherein the same optical-electrical assembly comprises a slide component. Thus, the claim is inconsistent with the disclosure in the specification. Specifically, the specification depicts and describes the slide component as being attached to the outside of the housing, not as a structure that is inserted into the housing. As a result, the specification does not appear to provide adequate support for the claimed configuration, and the claim language is inconsistent with the originally filed disclosure.
The dependent claims 14-19 are rejected for being dependent on the rejected claim 13.
Claim 20 requires “the optical-electrical assembly comprising: a slide component including a cantilever mechanism.” The claim further requires that “forming an optical-electrical assembly enclosed by the upper housing and the lower housing.” However, the claim is inconsistent with the specification, and thus specification fails to provide an adequate explanation.
Clearly, “an optical-electrical assembly enclosed by the upper housing and the lower housing” means the "optical-electrical assembly" is installed inside an outer casing or the housing. However, specification describes the slide component is not placed inside the housing. More specifically, the slide component corresponds to the pull-tab mechanism 300 of Fig. 3. The specification, Page 11, lines 10-12, also states, “FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a slide component including a cantilever mechanism coupled to a pull handle mechanism associated with the optical-electrical assembly.” The pull-tab mechanism 300 is clearly shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B as being attached to the exterior of the housing rather than enclosed inside the housing. However, the claim requires an optical-electrical assembly is enclosed by the upper housing and lower housing, wherein the same optical-electrical assembly comprises a slide component. Thus, the claim is inconsistent with the disclosure in the specification. Specifically, the specification depicts and describes the slide component as being attached to the outside of the housing, not as a structure that is inserted into the housing. As a result, the specification does not appear to provide adequate support for the claimed configuration, and the claim language is inconsistent with the originally filed disclosure.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAI M LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-5870. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:5:30 PM.
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JAI M. LEE
Examiner
Art Unit 2634
/JAI M LEE/Examiner, Art Unit 2634
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