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 § 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 6, 9-10 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang et al. CN 104005605 A (hereinafter Huang).
In regards to claim 1, Huang teaches a door lock kit, comprising: a housing (1 and 2) formed with a deadbolt guiding slot therein (see fig 1), and an opening (11) in communication with said deadbolt guiding slot; a deadbolt (8) including a retaining slidable sleeve (81) which is slidably disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot and which has a retaining end that faces toward said opening (see fig 3), and a magnet (811) which is disposed in said retaining slidable sleeve, said deadbolt being operable to slide relative to said housing between a locking position (see fig 3), where said retaining end of said retaining slidable sleeve projects outwardly from said opening, and an unlocking position (see fig 4), where said retaining end retreats into said deadbolt guiding slot; and a driving member (4 or 6; only 6 for the purposes of claim 13) motionably disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot and operable by an external force to drive said deadbolt to slide from the locking position to the unlocking position (see figs 3 and 4).
In regards to claim 2, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said retaining slidable sleeve has a sleeve (portion surrounding 811) which is disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot to project outwardly from said opening (see figs 3 and 4), and a sliding rod (83) which is integrally formed with and extends in a first horizontal direction from said sleeve (see fig 1), said sleeve defining an accommodation chamber for accommodating said magnet therein, said sliding rod being coupled with and driven by said driving member (see figs 1 and 3).
In regards to claim 6, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said deadbolt is slidable relative to said housing along a first horizontal direction between the locking position and the unlocking position, said retaining slidable sleeve having a sleeve (portion surrounding 811, see fig 3) which is sleeved around said magnet and disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot to project outwardly from said opening (see fig 3), and a sliding rod (83) which is integrally formed with and extends in the first horizontal direction from an end of said sleeve (see fig 1), said driving member having a pivot cylinder which is pivotably connected with said housing about a pivot axis (see figs 1 and 3), and a driving arm (41) which is formed on and extends radially from an outer cylindrical surface of said pivot cylinder, said driving arm pressing said sliding rod to move said deadbolt along the first horizontal direction to the unlocking position when said pivot cylinder is rotated relative to said housing about the pivot axis (see figs 3-4).
In regards to claim 9, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 6, wherein said driving member is rotatable relative to said housing between an initial position (see fig 3) and a blocking position (see fig 4), wherein, in the initial position, said driving arm is free from blocking said sliding rod to permit said deadbolt to slide to the locking position (see fig 3), and in the blocking position, said driving arm blocks said sliding rod to retain said deadbolt in the unlocking position (see fig 4).
In regards to claim 10, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said retaining slidable sleeve has a sleeve wall which is sleeved around said magnet (see fig 4) )and disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot (see fig 4) and which has a retaining end (left end wrt fig 4) projecting outwardly from said opening, and a flange (82) which extends radially from an opposite end of said sleeve wall opposite to said retaining end, said door lock kit further comprising a buffering ring (7) which is sleeved around said sleeve wall and in abutting engagement with said housing and said flange (see fig 3).
In regards to claim 13, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, further comprising a spring (5) connected between said housing (at 16) and said driving member (at 62) to generate a biasing returning force when said driving member is moved to a blocking position (see figs 3-4), where said driving member blocks said retaining slidable sleeve to retain said deadbolt in the unlocking position, such that said biasing returning force biases (by removing the blocking of 6 as in the instant application) said deadbolt to slide toward the locking position when said driving member is free from blocking said retaining slidable sleeve (when 811 is proximal to 91; see figs 3-4).
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Li CN 217712115 U (hereinafter Li).
In regards to claim 1, Li teaches a door lock kit, comprising: a housing (at least 21 and 22) formed with a deadbolt guiding slot therein (see fig 2), and an opening (23) in communication with said deadbolt guiding slot; a deadbolt (50) including a retaining slidable sleeve (51, 53 and/or 10) which is slidably disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot and which has a retaining end that faces toward said opening (see fig 1), and a magnet (52) which is disposed in said retaining slidable sleeve, said deadbolt being operable to slide relative to said housing between a locking position (fig 1), where said retaining end of said retaining slidable sleeve projects outwardly from said opening (see fig 1), and an unlocking position (when retracted from fig 1), where said retaining end retreats into said deadbolt guiding slot; and a driving member (30) motionably disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot and operable by an external force to drive said deadbolt to slide from the locking position to the unlocking position (see fig 1).
Claim(s) 15-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lee KR 102278068 B1 (hereinafter Lee).
In regards to claim 15, Lee teaches a door frame lock kit comprising: a lock frame (100, see fig 1) including a locking plate (130) and a receptacle (140) cooperatively defining a front receiving slot (110) therein, said locking plate having a first long side edge (one of the left or right edges of 130 wrt fig 3) and a second long side edge (the other of the left or right edges of 130 wrt fig 3) opposite to each other (see fig 3), said receptacle extending from said locking plate and being spaced apart from said first long side edge and said second long side edge (see fig 3), said receptacle defining a center which is distant from said first long side edge by a first distance (see fig 3), and which is distant from said second long side edge by a second distance (see fig 3), said first distance being larger than said second distance (when adjusted); and a magnet (142) disposed in said receptacle (see fig 4).
Claim(s) 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Howey US 20090195000 A1 (hereinafter Howey).
In regards to claim 20, Howey teaches a magnetic door lock comprising: a door lock kit including a housing (20 ), a deadbolt (12 and 18; Merriam webster defines a deadbolt as “a lock bolt that is moved by turning a knob or key without action of a spring”) and a driving member (22), said housing being formed with a deadbolt guiding slot therein (see fig 1), and an opening (opening of 20 12 projects out of) in communication with said deadbolt guiding slot, said deadbolt including a retaining slidable sleeve (12) which is slidably disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot and which has a retaining end that faces toward said opening (note fig 2a), and a magnet (14) which is disposed in said retaining slidable sleeve, said deadbolt being operable to slide relative to said housing between a locking position (when extended, note fig 2a), where said retaining end of said retaining slidable sleeve projects outwardly from said opening , and an unlocking position (when retracted; note fig 2a), where said retaining end retreats into said deadbolt guiding slot, said driving member motionably being disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot and being operable by an external force to drive said deadbolt to slide from the locking position to the unlocking position (see fig 1); and a door frame lock kit (24 and 32) including a lock frame (24) and a magnet (32), said lock frame including a locking plate (26) and a receptacle (28) cooperatively defining a front receiving slot therein (see fig 1), said locking plate having a first long side edge and a second long side edge opposite to each other (see reference image 1), said receptacle extending from said locking plate and being spaced apart from said first long side edge and said second long side edge (see reference image 1 and note fig 2a), said receptacle defining a center which is distant from said first long side edge by a first distance, and which is distant from said second long side edge by a second distance (note fig 2a), said first distance being larger than said second distance, said magnet being disposed in said receptacle ), wherein said magnet of said door frame lock kit is magnetically attracted to said magnet of said deadbolt to urge said retaining slidable sleeve of said deadbolt to slide into said front receiving slot in the locking position (para 22).
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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) 3-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang as applied to claims 1-2, 6, 9-10 and 13 above, and further in view of Ryan GB 2608257 A (hereinafter Ryan).
In regards to claim 3, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said retaining slidable sleeve is formed with an accommodation chamber for accommodating said magnet therein (see fig 3), said retaining slidable sleeve having an inner sleeve wall surface surrounding and defining said accommodation chamber (walls contacting 811).
However, Huang does not teach and a plurality of press-fit ribs projecting from and formed on said inner sleeve wall surface and angularly spaced apart from each other to be in press-fit engagement with said magnet.
Ryan teaches a similar accommodation chamber for a magnet (115) with a plurality of press-fit ribs projecting from and formed on said inner sleeve wall surface and angularly spaced apart from each other to be in press-fit engagement with said magnet (see fig 22A).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have provided Huang with a plurality of press-fit ribs such as in Ryan in order to allow for secure mating of the magnet and the accommodation chamber (Page 17 line 28 – page 18 line 11).
In regards to claim 4, Huang in view of Ryan teaches the door lock kit of claim 3, wherein said accommodation chamber extends along a first horizontal direction Huang left to right wrt fig 3 as Ryan is parallel to the direction of inserting the magnet), each of said press-fit ribs being in form of an elongated rib which extends along the first horizontal direction (Ryan see fig 22a).
In regards to claim 5, Huang in view of Ryan teaches the door lock kit of claim 3, wherein said retaining slidable sleeve has an end wall (Huang left most end wrt fig 4) which serves as said retaining end (see fig 4), and a cylindrical wall (Huang wall surrounding 811, see fig 1 and fig 3) which is connected with said end wall and which has said inner sleeve wall surface, said magnet abutting against said end wall (see fig 3), said cylindrical wall and said end wall cooperatively defining said accommodation chamber (see fig 1).
Claim(s) 6-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Huang.
In regards to claim 6, Li teaches door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said deadbolt is slidable relative to said housing along a first horizontal direction (longitudinal axis of the bolt, see fig 1) between the locking position and the unlocking position, said retaining slidable sleeve having a sleeve (53) which is sleeved around said magnet and disposed in said deadbolt guiding slot to project outwardly from said opening (see fig 1), and a sliding rod (10 )which is formed with and extends in the first horizontal direction from an end of said sleeve (see fig 2), said driving member having a pivot cylinder (see fig 5) which is pivotably connected with said housing about a pivot axis (see fig 1), and a driving arm (40) which is formed on and extends radially from an outer cylindrical surface of said pivot cylinder, said driving arm pressing said sliding rod to move said deadbolt along the first horizontal direction to the unlocking position when said pivot cylinder is rotated relative to said housing about the pivot axis (see fig 1).
However, Li does not teach the sliding rod is integrally formed with the end of said sleeve.
Huang teaches a sliding rod is integrally formed with an end of said sleeve (see fig 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified Li such that the sliding rod is integrally formed with the end of said sleeve in order to reduce the failure modes of the lock (i.e. looseness and corrosion of the screws would no longer be an issue).
In regards to claim 7, Li in view of Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 6, wherein said sliding rod has a first driven surface (Li: 13 of 12) and a second driven surface (Li: 13 of 11) which is spaced apart from said first driven surface in the first horizontal direction (Li: see fig 2) and in a second horizontal direction (Li: approximately up and down wrt fig 2) that is transverse to the first horizontal direction (Li: see fig 2), said second driven surface being interposed between said sleeve and said first driven surface (Li: see fig 2), said driving arm having a first driving surface (Li: 41) and a second driving surface (Li: 42) which is angularly spaced apart from said first driving surface, said first driving surface abutting against said first driven surface when said deadbolt is in the locking position to press said first driven surface to move said deadbolt toward the unlocking position (Li: see fig 2), said second driving surface abutting against and pressing said second driven surface during movement of said deadbolt (Li: see fig 2).
In regards to claim 8, Li in view of Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 7, wherein said driving arm has a first arm portion (Li: 41) and a second arm portion (Li: 42), said first arm portion having said first driving surface formed at an end thereof (Li: see fig 2), said second arm portion extending from an opposite end of said first arm portion (Li: see fig 5) away from said first driving surface, and having said second driving surface (Li: see fig 5), said sliding rod being formed with a first notch (Li: notch between 12 and 11, see fig 2) for said first arm portion to be movably disposed therein (see fig 2), and a second notch (Li: notch between 10 and 11) in spatial communication with said first notch (Li: see fig 3) for said second arm portion to be movably disposed therein, said first driven surface bordering a portion of said first notch, said second driven surface bordering a portion of said second notch (Li: see fig 2).
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang as applied to claims 1-2, 6, 9-10 and 13 above, and further in view of McMahon US 20160305161 A1 and Sik KR 20180116616 A (hereinafter Sik).
In regards to claim 11, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first housing part (1) and a second housing part (2) coupled with said first housing part, said first housing part being integrally formed as a single piece (see fig 1), said first housing part having an end plate (plate with 11) which is formed with said opening (see fig 1), and a first housing half (left half of 1 wrt fig 1) which is formed with an end of said end plate (see fig 1), said second housing part having a second housing half which is coupled with said first housing half to cooperatively define said deadbolt guiding slot (see fig 1).
However, Huang does not teach said first housing part being made of a metal material.
McMahon teaches a similar device made of a metal material (para 35).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have Huang’s first housing part being made of a metal material in order to provide for a strong and well-known material for construction of a lock part.
Additionally, Huang does not teach the first housing half which is integrally formed with an end of said end plate.
Sik teaches a first housing half (20) which is integrally formed with an end of an end plate (28, see para 21).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have the first housing half which is integrally formed with an end of said end plate in order to allow the first housing half to be fixed to the door.
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang in view of McMahon and Sik as applied to claim 11 above, and further in view of US 20160305161 A1 and Ren et al. CN 116971672 A (hereinafter Ren).
In regards to claim 12, Huang in McMahon and Sik view of teaches the door lock kit of claim 11.
However, Huang does not teach further comprising a decorative plate which is mounted on said end plate, said decorative plate having a plurality of snap-fit fasteners to be fastened to said end plate.
Ren teaches a similar device with a decorative plate (11) which is mounted on said end plate (see fig 5), said decorative plate having a plurality of snap-fit fasteners (see fig 6) to be fastened to said end plate (see fig 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have provided Huang with a decorative plate such as Ren in order to limit damage to the end plate.
Claim(s) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang as applied to claims 1-2, 6, 9-10 and 13 above, and further in view of Graham US 3129968 A (hereinafter Graham).
In regards to claim 14, Huang teaches the door lock kit of claim 1, wherein said retaining slidable sleeve is integrally formed as a single piece (see fig 1).
However, Huang does not teach retaining slidable sleeve is made of a nylon material.
Graham teaches a similar device where a retaining slidable sleeve (70) is made of a nylon material (Col 1 lines 63-67).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have Huang’s retaining slidable sleeve made of a nylon material in order to reduce noise see Graham (Col 1 lines 63-67).
Claim(s) 16-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee as applied to claims 15 above, and further in view of Xiao CN 107724802 A (hereinafter Xiao).
In regards to claim 16, Lee teaches the door frame lock kit of claim 15, wherein said receptacle is formed with a back receiving slot (143) which is remote from said locking plate for receiving said magnet therein (see fig 4.
However, Lee does not teach said door frame lock kit further comprising a muffler member which is disposed in said front receiving slot. The examiner would like to note it appears a muffler member may be present in Lee however the specification fails to describe it.
Xia teaches a similar device with a muffler member (12) which is disposed in s front receiving slot (see fig 5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have provided Lee with a muffler such as Xiao in order to reduce impact noise (see Xiao para 50).
In regards to claim 17, Lee in view of Xiao teaches the door frame lock kit of claim 16, wherein said receptacle has an outer surrounding wall extending from a back surface of said locking plate (Lee: see fig 4, the wall which would surround the bolt), a partition wall (Lee: wall between 120 and the bolt, see fig 4) connected with an inner wall surface of said outer surrounding wall and disposed parallel to said locking plate (Lee: see fig 4), and an inner peripheral wall (Lee: wall surrounding 120) extending from a back surface of said partition wall (Lee: see fig 4), wherein, said locking plate, said outer surrounding wall and said partition wall cooperatively define said front receiving slot there among, and said partition wall and said inner peripheral wall cooperatively define said back receiving slot therebetween (Lee: see fig 4).
Claim(s) 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Xiao as applied to claims 16-17 above, and further in view of Fromberg US 5925861 A (hereinafter Fromberg).
In regards to claim 18, Lee in view of Xiao door frame lock kit of claim 17,
However Lee does not teach wherein said receptacle further has a plurality of threaded sockets disposed on and projecting from said back surface of said partition wall, said door frame lock kit further comprising a cover plate which is connected with said outer surrounding wall and covers said back receiving slot to conceal said magnet, and a plurality of threaded bolts, said cover plate being formed with a plurality of through holes respectively aligned with said threaded sockets, each of said threaded bolts extending through a respective one of said through holes and being threadedly engaged with said respective threaded socket.
Fromberg teaches a receptacle (for 60, see fig 3) further has a plurality of threaded sockets (for 44) disposed on and projecting from said back surface of said partition wall (as they project from the left most portion of the seat for 60 wrt fig 3), said door frame lock kit further comprising a cover plate (40) which is connected with said outer surrounding wall (see figs 1 and 3) and covers said back receiving slot to conceal said magnet (at least partially; also not in Lee the back of the magnet is covered), and a plurality of threaded bolts (44), said cover plate being formed with a plurality of through holes respectively aligned with said threaded sockets (see figs 1 and 3), each of said threaded bolts extending through a respective one of said through holes and being threadedly engaged with said respective threaded socket (see fig 3).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have provided said receptacle further has a plurality of threaded sockets disposed on and projecting from said back surface of said partition wall, said door frame lock kit further comprising a cover plate which is connected with said outer surrounding wall and covers said back receiving slot to conceal said magnet, and a plurality of threaded bolts, said cover plate being formed with a plurality of through holes respectively aligned with said threaded sockets, each of said threaded bolts extending through a respective one of said through holes and being threadedly engaged with said respective threaded socket in Lee in order to provide for a conventional and secure way of fixing a magnet.
Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee as applied to claim 15 above, and further in view of Ren.
In regards to claim 19 Lee teaches a door frame lock kit of claim 15.
However, Lee does not teach further comprising a decorative plate which is mounted on said locking plate, said decorative plate having a plurality of snap-fit fasteners to be fastened to said locking plate.
Ren teaches Ren teaches a similar device with a decorative plate (11) which is mounted on a locking plate (see fig 5), said decorative plate having a plurality of snap-fit fasteners (see fig 6) to be fastened to said end plate (see fig 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have provided Huang with a decorative plate such as Ren in order to limit damage (such as scratching) to the locking plate.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PETER H WATSON whose telephone number is (571)272-5393. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9 - 5.
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/PETER H WATSON/Examiner, Art Unit 3675
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