DETAILED ACTION
This communication is a first office action on the merits. Claim 1, as originally filed is currently pending and have been considered below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Murai et al. (US 2003/0014851) in view of Lundstedt et al. (US 5,170,539).
Regarding claim 1, Murai et al. discloses an apparatus comprising:
a device body (1);
a belt folding-back member (6) having a substantially plate shape (Fig. 2 as shown) configured to move in a direction (the frame 6 can move in a direction as it rotates about shaft 21),
a striker (2) including a proximal end portion (7) to which a belt (B) for length fixation or for length adjustment is fixed and a distal end portion (5) formed with a locking pawl (29), wherein the device body includes a striker housing part (4) to detachably hold the striker, and an engaging protrusion (15) located in the striker housing part and configured to engage with the locking pawl of the striker,
the distal end portion of the striker is formed with separated right and left insertion leg portions (30) located on a center side and operating portions (26) located on right and left outer sides of the insertion leg portions, the operating portions including the locking pawls (Fig. 5 as shown),
the striker housing part includes a housing chamber (12) formed with a guide rib (11) for guiding the insertion leg portions in the front-back direction and engaging protrusions configured to engage with the locking pawls of the striker,
the engaging protrusions are formed separately on an upper inner wall and a lower inner wall of the housing chamber (Figs. 3-4 as shown), and
when the distal end portion of the striker is inserted into the housing chamber, the operating portions of the striker pass between the separated upper and lower engaging protrusions while being pressed and deformed by the engaging protrusions, and the locking pawls engage with the engaging protrusions when the distal end portion of the striker is completely inserted in the housing chamber (Figs. 1-9 as shown).
Murai et al. fail to disclose the belt-folding back member configured to move in a front-back direction within the device body.
Lundstedt et al. teach a belt-folding back member (18) that moves in a front-back direction within a device body (16).
From this teaching of Lundstedt et al., it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill before the effective filing date of the invention to include the connector member (18) and base structures shown in Fig. 3 of Lundstedt to attach the connector member to the female member of Murai et al. as a replacement to the hinged strap attachment. The strap means of Lundstedt et al. allows for quick disconnect of the strap and is advantageous when shorter belt material is available for attaching to the buckle.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Chen (US 2007/0137009) for a buckle assembly with insertable strap connectors; Hoffstrom (US 3,148,427) for a strap connector wrapped by the strap.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL S LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-5735. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. 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.
/M.S.L/Examiner, Art Unit 3677
/JASON W SAN/ SPE, Art Unit 3677
Prosecution Insights