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 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.
Claims 1, 9-13, 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Foreign Patent Application Publication No. KR 102037826 to Seo et al. (“Seo”).
As to claim 1, Seo discloses a wearable electronic device [Figs 1-5, Abstract]. comprising: a housing forming at least a part of an exterior of the wearable electronic device [Fig. 4: housing 1]; a nozzle extending from a part of the housing [Fig. 1, 3-4: inlet of the housing 1], wherein the nozzle comprises a first hole at a first position [Figs. 4-5: 120] and a second hole at a second position [Figs. 4-5: similar hole on the opposite side of the hole 120]; an acoustic path inside the nozzle [Figs. 1, 3-4: the acoustic path is inside the inlet of the housing 1]; a grill inside the nozzle [Figs. 4-5: grill 6], wherein the grill comprises a first latch passing through the first hole such that a part thereof protrudes in a first direction [Figs. 4-5: 62] and a second latch passing through the second hole such that a part thereof protrudes in a second direction [Figs. 4-5: similar latch on the other end of the grill]; and an ear tip at least partially surrounding an outer surface of the nozzle [Figs 4-5: ear tip 2], wherein the ear tip comprises a first groove detachably coupled to a part of the first latch [Fig. 4-5: groove which goes around 120 and 14] and a second groove detachably coupled to a part of the second latch [Figs. 4-5: similar groove which goes around other side].
As to claim 9, Seo discloses wherein the first latch comprises a first inclined surface [Fig. 4: 14], the second latch comprises a second inclined surface [Fig. 4: opposite side of the grill], the first groove comprises a third inclined surface [Fig. 4: groove above 14], and the second groove comprises a fourth inclined surface [Fig. 4: similar groove which goes around the other side]], and wherein the first latch is at least partially coupled to the first groove, and the second latch is at least partially coupled to the second groove [Fig. 4].
As to claim 10, Seo discloses wherein a sealing member is partially formed at an end of the ear tip that faces a part of the housing [Figs. 3-5].
As to claim 11, Seo discloses wherein an insertion guide is formed on a part of an inner side of the ear tip [Figs. 3-5].
As to claim 12, Seo discloses wherein the insertion guide comprises a first cutting portion on a part of an inner side surface of the ear tip in the first direction and a second cutting portion on a part of the inner side surface of the ear tip in the second direction [figs: 4-5].
As to claim 13, Seo discloses wherein the part of the ear tip on which the first cutting portion is formed comprises an upper portion having a width that is narrower than a width of a lower portion of the part of the ear tip on which the first cutting portion is formed [figs: 4-5].
As to claim 15, Seo discloses wherein at least one guide groove is formed on the inner side of the nozzle, and the at least one guide groove is configured to guide a part of the grill to be inserted into the nozzle [figs: 4-5].
As to claim 16, Seo discloses a wearable electronic device [Figs 1-5, Abstract] comprising: a housing forming at least a part of an exterior of the wearable electronic device [Fig. 4: housing 1]; a nozzle extending from a part of the housing [Fig. 1, 3-4: inlet of the housing 1], wherein the nozzle comprises a hole in a side surface of the nozzle [Figs. 4-5: 120]; a grill inside the nozzle [Figs. 4-5: grill 6], wherein the grill comprises a latch passing through the hole such that a part thereof protrudes out of the nozzle through the hole [Figs. 4-5: 62]; and an ear tip at least partially surrounding an outer surface of the nozzle [Figs 4-5: ear tip 2], wherein the ear tip comprises a groove coupled to a part of the latch [Fig. 4-5: groove which goes around 120 and 14].
As to claim 17, Seo discloses wherein the nozzle is configured to receive the grill through an acoustic path formed by an interior of the nozzle during assembly of the wearable electronic device [Figs. 1, 3-4: the acoustic path is inside the inlet of the housing 1].
As to claim 18, Seo discloses wherein the ear tip is configured to alternately attach or detach from the nozzle [Figs. 3-4].
As to claim 19, Seo discloses wherein the grill further comprises: a frame disposed across one end of the nozzle and comprising at least one opening; and a first extension extending from the frame and integrally connected to the latch [Figs. 4-5].
As to claim 20, Seo discloses wherein a sealing member is partially formed at an end of the ear tip that faces a part of the housing [Figs. 3-5].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-8, 14 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: US Patent Application Publication No: 20200128340 to Jeong et al. (Fig. 4 and associated paragraphs).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTIM G SHAH whose telephone number is (571)270-5214. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ahmad Matar can be reached at 571-272-7488. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANTIM G SHAH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2693
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