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 . Claims 1-7 are pending in the current application.
Claim Objections
Regarding Claim 1, the 3rd to the last line: perhaps the language -protruding,- should be changed to -protruding-.
Regarding Claim 2, line 3, perhaps the term “a” should be changed to “the.”
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.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Specifically, Claim 1 is rejected since there is no antecedent basis for the language “the first register” recited in line 11.
Regarding Claim 2, lines 3-4, the language “which is referred to as an outer clamping piece” is indefinite.
Claim 7 is rejected since there is no antecedent basis for the language “the second register” recited in line 12.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Ito et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 11,829,181 B2) and Ota et al. (U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2024/0274381 A1) each disclose a multidirectional input device utilizing a lever, thin film shape resistors, and first protrusion, but the prior art fails to teach, disclose, or suggest, either alone or in combination, the claimed first protrusion that includes a protruding portion protruding in a third direction perpendicular to a first direction and a second direction, into a space between a pair of clamping pieces.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY R. JIMENEZ whose telephone number is 313-446-6518. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 1030am - 9pm.
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, Renee Luebke, can be reached at (571) 272-2009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ANTHONY R JIMENEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Prosecution Insights