DETAILED ACTION
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 1-20 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 claims 1 and 13, line 8, and all the dependent claims, the limitation “a through hole mounted to the third wall” is misdescriptive. The through-hole (16) is not “mounted to” the third wall (13). Rather, the third wall has a through-hole formed therein or therethrough. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to “a through hole extending through the third wall” to correct the problems.
Regarding claims 1 and 13, line 27, and all the dependent claims, the limitation “a part of the passage is overlapped with the first wall and the second wall” is misdescriptive. According to the specification and drawings, a part of the passage (23) is located between the first and second walls. It is suggested that the limitation be changed to “a part of the passage is located between the first wall and the second wall” to correct the problems. Also, in the penultimate line, “the passage overlapped with” should be changed to “the passage located between” to fix the misdescriptive problem with the limitations including the term “overlapped”.
The specification should also reflect the above corresponding changes to the claims to provide antecedence for the changed language in the specification.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 13 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
Claims 2-12 and 14-20 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. The prior art fail to disclose a bead chain or cord retainer comprising a frame, a moving part, and an elastic member. The frame consists of a first wall, a second wall disposed opposite to the first wall, a third wall connected with a side of the first wall and a side of the second wall, a space defined by the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall and penetrating vertically, a limit rod disposed between the first wall and the second wall and across the space, and a through-hole extending through the third wall. The moving part having a first moving unit, a second moving unit, and a passage; the first moving unit is provided with a first vertical wall, a connection segment connected to a top of the first vertical wall, and an extension segment extending from a bottom of the first vertical wall toward the second moving unit; the second moving unit is a vertical wall arranged opposite to the first vertical wall and a top end of the second moving unit is connected to a side of the connection segment in an assembled manner; the passage is penetrating horizontally, defined by the first vertical wall, the second moving unit, and the connection segment. The passage allows a bead chain or a cord to extend therethrough. The second moving unit is provided with an installation hole. A fastener is inserted through the installation hole and the through hole to fasten the retainer to a building. The first vertical wall and the second moving unit are inserted and mounted in the space of the frame. When the connection segment of the moving part is aligned with the limit rod of the frame, when the moving part is inserted and mounted in the space of the frame, a part of the passage is located between the first wall and the second wall. The elastic member is arranged between the limit rod and the extension segment for allowing the moving part to be elastically mounted in the space. The bead chain or the cord extending through the passage is able to be clipped or released by changing of an area size of the passage overlapped between the first wall and the second wall.
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JACK W. LAVINDER
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/JACK W LAVINDER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677
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