DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JPH11124236 (hereafter ‘236).
Regarding claim 1, ‘236 discloses a sheet feeding cassette comprising:
a feed tray (10); and
an extension tray (20) that extends a length of the feed tray in a sheet feeding direction, wherein
the feed tray and the extension tray each include a lock operator for fixing and locking a position of the extension tray at each of a plurality of locations, and
each of the lock operators includes a groove (between engaging portions 24a,b) provided in the feed tray and a locking claw (17) provided at the extension tray.
Regarding claim 2, ‘236 discloses the locking claws include a pair of arms that are gripped with one hand (see fig. 6a), the pair of arms are disposed at or near the sheet feeding cassette in a pull-out direction (e.g. near handle 27), the extension tray includes an upright wall at or near the pair of arms, and the upright wall has a handle shape (as shown in figure 5).
Regarding claim 3, ‘236 discloses the pair of arms are disposed at a substantially central portion of the extension tray (shown in figures 1 and 6a).
Regarding claim 4, ‘236 discloses a dimension between the pair of arms when the pair of arms are pinched by fingers is less than a dimension between the pair of arms at attachment positions of the pair of arms (see fig. 6a).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Cited art is believed to be relevant to the applicant’s claimed invention having features relating to the claimed lock operator.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Patrick Cicchino whose telephone number is (571)270-1954. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Coupe can be reached at (571)270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Patrick Cicchino/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619