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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
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.
Claim 14 is 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.
This is unclear to the examiner if the limitation “ a torsion element” in claim 14 (line 2) is same as the claimed limitation “at least one torsion element” in claim 1 (line 8). Examiner interpreted it as the same element. If both elements are the same, applicant is advised to cancel the claim 14 to avoid the duplicate claimed limitation in both claims (Claims 1 and 14). Applicant is required to confirm the interpretation.
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.
Claims 1 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Wang et al. (US Patent No. 8205301 B2 and Wang hereinafter)
Regarding Claim 1, Wang discloses (figs. 1-6 and annotated fig below) an electronic device, comprising:
a first body (30); a second body (10); and
a hinge structure (50) connected between the first body and the second body, comprising: a rotating shaft (51); a first bracket (52) connected to the first body and the rotating shaft; a second bracket (53) connected to the second body and pivoted on the rotating shaft; and
at least one torsion element (56) sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first torsion end (563) and a second torsion end (563) opposite to each other, wherein the first torsion end is connected to the first bracket (5217), and the second torsion end is connected to the second bracket (5315);
PNG
media_image1.png
592
845
media_image1.png
Greyscale
wherein in response to the first bracket being gradually closed relative to the second bracket, the at least one torsion element provides a first torque ( elastic force generated) to the first bracket through the first torsion end, and in response to the first bracket being gradually unfolded relative to the second bracket, the at least one torsion element provides a second torque ( elastic force generated) to the second bracket through the second torsion end (Col 2, lines 45-65).
Regarding Claim 14, Wang discloses (figs. 1-6) electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge structure comprises: a torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having the first torsion end and the second torsion end.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-13 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.
Regarding claim 2, the prior art fails to disclose, “wherein the hinge structure further comprises: a fastening component sleeved on the rotating shaft, connected to the second bracket, and having a first movable area and a second movable area opposite to each other; a first rotating component rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first abutting part, wherein the first abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the first movable area; a second rotating component rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a second abutting part, wherein the second abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the second movable area, and the first rotating component and the second rotating component are on two opposite sides of the fastening component; a first torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first fastening end opposite to the first torsion end, wherein the first fastening end is connected to the first rotating component, and the first rotating component is between the fastening component and the first torsion element; and a second torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a second fastening end opposite to the second torsion end, wherein the second fastening end is connected to the second rotating component, and the second rotating component is between the fastening component and the second torsion element.”
Claims 3-7 are objected being depend on claim 2.
Regarding claim 8, the prior art fails to disclose, “wherein the hinge structure further comprises: a fastening component sleeved on the rotating shaft, connected to the second bracket, and having a first movable area and a second movable area opposite to each other; a first torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first abutting part opposite to the first torsion end, wherein the first abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the first movable area; and a second torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a second abutting part opposite to the second torsion end, wherein the second abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the second movable area, and the first torsion element and the second torsion element are on two opposite sides of the fastening component.”
Claims 9-13 are objected being depend on claim 8.
However, the prior art (Chen et al US 11360523 B2, Hsu et al US 9856909 B1 and Shin et al US 20220408580 A1), when taken alone, or, in combination, cannot be construed as reasonably teaching or suggesting all of the elements of the claimed limitations , “ wherein the hinge structure further comprises: a fastening component sleeved on the rotating shaft, connected to the second bracket, and having a first movable area and a second movable area opposite to each other; a first rotating component rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first abutting part, wherein the first abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the first movable area; a second rotating component rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a second abutting part, wherein the second abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the second movable area, and the first rotating component and the second rotating component are on two opposite sides of the fastening component; a first torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first fastening end opposite to the first torsion end, wherein the first fastening end is connected to the first rotating component, and the first rotating component is between the fastening component and the first torsion element; and a second torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a second fastening end opposite to the second torsion end, wherein the second fastening end is connected to the second rotating component, and the second rotating component is between the fastening component and the second torsion element.” as arranged, disposed, or provided in the manner as claimed by the Applicant as claimed in claim 2.
However, the prior art (Chen et al US 11360523 B2, Hsu et al US 9856909 B1 and Shin et al US 20220408580 A1), when taken alone, or, in combination, cannot be construed as reasonably teaching or suggesting all of the elements of the claimed limitations , “ wherein the hinge structure further comprises: a fastening component sleeved on the rotating shaft, connected to the second bracket, and having a first movable area and a second movable area opposite to each other; a first torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a first abutting part opposite to the first torsion end, wherein the first abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the first movable area; and a second torsion element sleeved on the rotating shaft and having a second abutting part opposite to the second torsion end, wherein the second abutting part is adapted to move freely within a range of the second movable area, and the first torsion element and the second torsion element are on two opposite sides of the fastening component.” as arranged, disposed, or provided in the manner as claimed by the Applicant in claim 8.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Hsiao et al (US 12055178 B2) a hinge device 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure. The hinge device 100 includes a fixed shaft 110, a rotating sleeve 120, a fixed connection member 130, a torsion spring 140, a rotating connection member 150 and a friction resistance assembly 160.
Torres et al (US 11927991 B2) a first bracket 101A rotates in direction 102A and second bracket 101B rotates in direction 102B, each around center axis 103. A first pair of torque arms 104AA and 104AB couple each side of first bracket 101A to first synchronization shaft 306A disposed along first synchronization axis 105A, and a second pair of torque arms 104BA and 104BB (shown in FIG. 2A) couple each side of second bracket 101B to second synchronization shaft 306B disposed along second synchronization axis 105B. Center axis 103 is disposed between axes 105A and 105B, and all three axes are parallel with respect to each other.
Shin et al (2022/0408580 A1) a hinge assembly 430 (e.g., the hinge assembly 330) may include a hinge cover (e.g., the hinge cover 365), and a hinge 480 connected to the hinge cover to support a display (e.g., the first area 361a and/or the second area 361b of the display 361). The hinge 480 may allow an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 201) to be unfolded without going through a stop section when unfolded by a motion of a user and allow the electronic device to be folded going through the stop section when folded by a motion of the user. The hinge 480 may include a fixing body 481, a rotating body 482, a first cam 483, a second cam 484, a third cam 485, a support ring 486, a first elastic body 487, a support body 488, a shaft 489, and a second elastic body 490.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)272-1602. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8 AM - 4:30 PM ET.
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, Allen L Parker can be reached at 303-297-4722. 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.
/ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
Prosecution Insights