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Claims 8-26 are withdrawn from further consideration. Applicant made the election of Group I, directed to the embodiment in figures 12-13, without traverse, in the response dated 01/29/2026 is acknowledged.
Applicant asserts that Fig. 44 is added to the drawings and asserts that the elastic component is in the elected embodiment, as described in para. 102. Note that originally the specification:
[0102] When the first fitting component 31 fits with the second fitting component 41 in the unlocked state via magnetic attraction, the first fitting component 31 is misaligned with the second fitting component 41 in the locked state. A magnetic attraction between the first fitting component 31 and the second fitting component 41 is not sufficient. Therefore, the first elastic component 33 can apply a force to the first movable component 32 to enable the first snapping portion 322 to insert into the second snapping portion 42, thereby snapping the first snapping portion 322 with the second snapping portion 42. When the first fitting component 31 is required to be released from the second fitting component 41, the first movable component 32 can be suffered from the external force to move to a position, such that the first fitting component 31 can fit with the second fitting component at a corresponding position via magnetic attraction. The first elastic component 33 deforms and remains deformation via magnetic attraction. The first elastic component 33 has a tendency of driving the first elastic component 33 to move towards the second snapping portion 42. The first fitting structure 30 and the second fitting structure 40 can be positioned by the first fitting component 31 and the second fitting component 41 via magnetic attraction, preventing the first movable component 32 from moving and resetting by the elastic force of the first elastic component 33, such that the first stacking device 10 and the second stacking device 20 are in the unlocked state.
The new drawing of fig. 44 is disapproved. The new drawing contains specificities to the spring (size and proportion of the spring) and the portion holding (at about portion 10), i.e., The portion holding the spring at one end comprises new structure disclosed that was not disclosed at the time the application was filed. These specificities comprise new matters.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following claimed features must be shown, without entering any new matter: the first elastic component being connected to both the first movable component and the first stacking device to apply a force to the first movable component in claim 1. Also it is unclear where is the cross sections are taken from.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fiedler (US 8739371).
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(53) A locking device of the described kind can for example be employed for buttons for clothing; for belt buckles (advantage: upon looping in a retracted blocking piece does not get caught on trouser loops); for a connection of two pieces of luggage or of modular carrier boxes; for a coupling of a piece of luggage or a transport box with a loading area of a vehicle (advantage: heavy boxes do not have to be lifted in order to be unlocked or raised over a multitude of blocking pieces spread out on the loading area); for toys, e.g. for the coupling of a toy train
In the locked state, corresponding to the closing position of the locking device 1 and illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the catch sections 222a, 222b of the blocking pieces 22a, 22b then engage with the catch sections 340a, 340b of the spring lock elements 34a, 34b, so that via this engagement the first locking part 2 is held in an engaging, positive-locking manner on the second locking part 3.
…Such a spring 224 causes a mechanical return force, which causes a return of the blocking piece 22 or of the blocking pieces 22a, 22b into the retracted position, as soon as the returning force exceeds the magnetic force of the magnetic means between the blocking piece 22 and the second locking part 3 or the blocking pieces 22a, 22b and the second locking part 3.
223, 223a, 223b Magnet
331, 331a, 331b Magnet
Regarding claim 1, Fiedler teaches a stacking system (note the two pieces of luggage cited above) comprising a first stacking device (at 3) and a second stacking device (at 2), wherein the first stacking device and the second stacking device are stacked along a Z direction (note the Z direction is broad and this direction can be any direction in the connection of the two luggage), the first stacking device is provided with a first fitting structure (3), the second stacking device is provided with a second fitting structure (2); and the first fitting structure and the second fitting structure each have a locked state (fig. 11A and B cited above) and an unlocked state (fig. 12A and B), when the first fitting structure and the second fitting structure are in the locked state, the first fitting structure and the second fitting structure are locked with each other to connect the first stacking device with the second stacking device; when the first fitting structure and the second fitting structure are in the unlocked state, the first fitting structure is capable of being released from the second fitting structure; wherein the first fitting structure and the second fitting structure are capable of being locked with each other or being released from each other via a magnetic force (223/331 cited above). Note first fitting structure comprises a first fitting component (magnets 223a/b), the second fitting structure comprises a second fitting component (331a/b), and the first fitting component fits with the second fitting component via magnetic attraction or magnetic repulsion, a first movable component (22a/b), the first movable component is movably connected to the first stacking device; the first fitting component (223a/b) is mounted on the first movable component; and the first fitting structure further comprises a first elastic component (224 fig. 12b), the first elastic component is connected to both the first movable component and the first stacking device to apply
a force to the first movable component.
Regarding claim 4, first movable component comprises a seat (the portion holding portion 22a/b) and a first snapping portion (222a/b) disposed on the seat, the seat is movably connected to the first stacking device (2); and the second fitting structure (3) comprises a second snapping portion (340a/b) disposed on the second stacking device, the first snapping portion is capable of being inserted into and fitting with the second snapping portion to form the locked state (fig. 11B).
Regarding claim 5, note the second fitting component (331ab) is mounted on the second stacking device (3), and the first fitting component fits with the second fitting component via magnetic attraction (via 331ab/223ab).
Claim 6-7 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.
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The amended claim do not read over the Fiedler reference as cited. Note Fiedler teaches the claimed elastic member 224:
…Such a spring 224 causes a mechanical return force, which causes a return of the blocking piece 22 or of the blocking pieces 22a, 22b into the retracted position, as soon as the returning force exceeds the magnetic force of the magnetic means between the blocking piece 22 and the second locking part 3 or the blocking pieces 22a, 22b and the second locking part 3.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
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TRI M. MAI
Examiner
Art Unit 3733
/TRI M MAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3733
