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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant argues that the terminal disclaimer filed on 06/02/2026 would overcome the Double Patenting (see page 5)
Examiner disagrees:
The terminal disclaimer is disapproved.
The POA is missing. The person who signed the terminal disclaimer is not the applicant, patentee and/or an attorney of record. 37 CFR 1.321(a) and (b). (See FP 14.26.08). Please file a POA that gives power to the attorney and/or agent of record who is signing the TD, along with another copy of the TD form. Or file a TD form that is signed by the applicant. No additional fee is required with the resubmission.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. TW109110585, filed on 03/27/2020.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 2-16 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-13 of U.S. Patent No. 12,107,315 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the difference thereof merely involves with description language that would deemed obvious variations of forms of representation to a person skilled in the art.
Instant Application: 18/897,616
U.S. Patent No. 12,107,315 B2
2. (New) A method of attaching a water-resistant element to a housing, comprising: acquiring the housing; acquiring the water-resistant element, the water-resistant element comprising: a deformable body comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being parallel with one another; a first plate, the first plate being disposed against the first surface of the deformable body; a second plate, the second plate being disposed against the second surface of the deformable body; and an adjusting element that penetrates through the first plate, the deformable body, and the second plate; inserting at least a portion of the water-resistant element into an opening present within the housing; adjusting the adjusting element such that the first plate and the second plate are adjusted closer to one another, the adjustment causing the deformable body to change shape such that the deformable body is more effective at blocking moisture and/or dust from entering the opening of the housing as compared to prior to the adjusting of the adjusting element.
3. (New) The method of Claim 2, wherein the adjusting element comprises a screw bolt and the adjusting of the screw bolt comprises rotating the screw bolt within a first hole present within the first plate and a second hole present within the second plate.
4. (New) The method of Claim 3, further comprising securing one or more antennas onto a circuit board; and inserting the circuit board comprising the one or more antennas into the housing.
5. (New) The method of Claim 4, further comprising acquiring an external connection wire module, the external connection wire module comprising: the water-resistant element; a first connector; and an external connection wire body.
6. (New) The method of Claim 5, wherein the circuit board comprises a second connector, the second connector being electrically connected with one of the one or more antennas and the method further comprises: connecting the first connector with the second connector in order to place the external connection wire body in electrical communication with the one of the one or more antennas.
7. (New) The method of Claim 6, further comprising receiving and/or transmitting signals via the external connection wire body.
8. (New) The method of Claim 7, further comprising connecting an external device to the external connection wire body.
9. (New) The method of Claim 8, further comprising operating the one or more antennas in accordance with a wireless communication standard.
10. (New) The method of Claim 2, wherein the adjusting element comprises a one- way ratcheting mechanism and the adjusting of the one-way ratcheting mechanism comprises pressing the second plate towards the first plate.
11. (New) The method of Claim 10, further comprising securing one or more antennas onto a circuit board; and inserting the circuit board comprising the one or more antennas into the housing.
12. (New) The method of Claim 11, further comprising acquiring an external connection wire module, the external connection wire module comprising: the water-resistant element; a first connector; and an external connection wire body.
13. (New) The method of Claim 12, wherein the circuit board comprises a second connector, the second connector being electrically connected with one of the one or more antennas and the method further comprises: connecting the first connector with the second connector in order to place the external connection wire body in electrical communication with the one of the one or more antennas.
14. (New) The method of Claim 13, further comprising receiving and/or transmitting signals via the external connection wire body.
15. (New) The method of Claim 14, further comprising connecting an external device to the external connection wire body.
10. An antenna box module, comprising: an antenna box, comprising a housing and a circuit board, wherein the circuit board comprises an antenna, the circuit board being disposed within the housing; and an external connection wire module, comprising: a water-resistant element, comprising: a deformable body comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being parallel with one another, the deformable body being disposed in an opening of the housing; a first plate, the first plate being disposed against the first surface of the deformable body; a second plate, the second plate being disposed against the second surface of the deformable body; and an adjusting element that penetrates through the first plate, the deformable body and the second plate, the adjusting element being used to adjust the first plate and the second plate closer to one another; and one or more external connection wires, the one or more external connection wires penetrating through the first plate, the deformable body and the second plate; wherein the adjustment causes the deformable body to change shape such that the deformable body is more effective at blocking moisture and/or dust from entering an opening of the housing as compared to prior to the adjustment of the first plate and the second plate.
11. The antenna box module of claim 10, wherein the adjusting element comprises a screw bolt, the first plate and the second plate comprising a first hole and a second hole, respectively, the first hole and the second hole being sized to accommodate the screw bolt; wherein rotation of the screw bolt within the first hole and the second hole causes the adjustment resulting in the first plate and the second plate moving closer to one another.
12. The antenna box module of claim 11, wherein the deformable body expands in a direction perpendicular to relative motion of the first plate and the second plate during the adjustment of the first plate and the second plate such that the first plate and the second plate are closer to one another.
13. The antenna box module of claim 12, wherein the one or more external connection wires each comprise a coaxial cable.
1. A water-resistant element comprising: a deformable body comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being parallel with one another; a first plate, the first plate being disposed against the first surface of the deformable body; and a second plate, the second plate being disposed against the second surface of the deformable body; wherein: when the first plate and the second plate are adjusted closer to one another, the adjustment causes the deformable body to change shape such that the deformable body is more effective at blocking moisture and/or dust from entering an opening as compared to prior to the adjustment of the first plate and the second plate.
2. The water-resistant element of claim 1, further comprising an adjusting element that penetrates through the first plate, the deformable body and the second plate, the adjusting element enabling the first plate and the second plate to be adjusted closer to one another.
3. The water-resistant element of claim 2, wherein the adjusting element comprises a screw bolt, the first plate and the second plate comprising a first hole and a second hole, respectively, the first hole and the second hole being sized to accommodate the screw bolt; wherein rotation of the screw bolt within the first hole and the second hole causes the adjustment resulting in the first plate and the second plate moving closer to one another.
4. The water-resistant element according to claim 1, wherein the deformable body expands in a direction perpendicular to relative motion of the first plate and the second plate during the adjustment of the first plate and the second plate such that the first plate and the second plate are closer to one another.
5. An external connection wire module, comprising: a water-resistant element, comprising: a deformable body comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being parallel with one another; a first plate, the first plate being disposed against the first surface of the deformable body; and a second plate, the second plate being disposed against the second surface of the deformable body, wherein when the first plate and the second plate are adjusted closer to one another, the adjustment causes the deformable body to change shape such that the deformable body is more effective at blocking moisture and/or dust from entering an opening as compared to prior to the adjustment of the first plate and the second plate; and one or more external connection wires, the one or more external connection wires penetrating through the first plate, the deformable body and the second plate.
6. The external connection wire module of claim 5, wherein the water-resistant element further comprises an adjusting element penetrating through the first plate, the deformable body and the second plate, wherein the adjusting element is used to create the adjustment.
7. The external connection wire module of claim 6, wherein the adjusting element comprises a screw bolt, the first plate and the second plate comprising a first hole and a second hole, respectively, the first hole and the second hole being sized to accommodate the screw bolt; wherein rotation of the screw bolt within the first hole and the second hole causes the adjustment resulting in the first plate and the second plate moving closer to one another.
8. The external connection wire module of claim 5, wherein the deformable body expands in a direction perpendicular to relative motion of the first plate and the second plate during the adjustment of the first plate and the second plate such that the first plate and the second plate are closer to one another.
9. The external connection wire module of claim 8, wherein the one or more external connection wires each comprise a coaxial cable.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WEI (VICTOR) CHAN whose telephone number is (571)272-5177. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00am to 6:00pm.
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.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Alexander H Taningco can be reached at 571-272-8048. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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WEI (VICTOR) CHAN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2844
/WEI (VICTOR) Y CHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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