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 § 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.
Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Noel et al. (US 2015/0241364) in view of Jenkins (US 4,280,226).
Regarding claims 1, 5, 8, 11, Noel discloses a protective cover (1) (shields) for a listening box (2), (fig. 1; abstract) comprising: an NFC chip (4) having an identifier that can be read by an NFC reading unit of the
listening box (2) (mobile medical) (fig. 1; page 2, [0052]), the NFC reading unit being operatively connected to a controller of the listening box (2) (tablet) (fig. 1; page 3, [0057]) in order to influence operation (generating reports) of the listening box (2) (tablet) based on the identifier (fig. 1; page 3, [0057]).
Noel discloses all the limitations set forth above but fails to explicitly disclose a sleeve that at least partially covers the listening box.
However, Jenkins discloses a sleeve that at least partially covers the listening box (fig. 1; abstract; col. 2, lines 3-16).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was first filed to incorporate the features of Jenkins within the system of Noel in order to accurately place a completely covering protective box in bad weather thereby maximizing the security of the system.
Regarding claims 2, 13, Noel discloses wherein the operation of the listening box (2) matches or is matchable (update) to the protective cover based on an appearance of the protective cover (1) (abstract).
Regarding claims 3, 14, noel discloses wherein the operation of the listening box (2) matches or is matchable to the protective cover based on a color or other recognizable quality (display) of the protective cover (1) (page 3, [0057]).
Regarding claims 4, 15, Noel discloses wherein the identifier is adapted to cause a change in a readout on a display (3) of the listening box (2) (page 2, [0052]).
Regarding claims 6, 16, Noel and Jenkins disclose all the limitations set forth in claim 1 and Jenkins further discloses wherein the sleeve at least partially surrounds the listening box in a closely fitting and protective manner (abstract; col. 2, lines 3-16).
Regarding claims 7, 12, 18, Noel discloses wherein the operation of the listening box is influenced for a selection of media content and a reproduction thereof (page 3, [0057]).
Regarding claim 9, Noel discloses a display (3) (page 3, [0057]).
Regarding claims 10, 17, Noel discloses an identification carrier comprising an NFC chip (6) (tablet) (page 3, [0057]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Banatre et al. (US 2017/0053144) discloses device and method….physical objects.
Pratt et al. (US 2017/0130557) discloses downhole valve.
Tisdel (US 2020/0184291) discloses tracking systems, methods and apparatus.
Fang et al. (US 2018/0227628) discloses entertainment……of same.
Baird (US 2021/0289902) discloses device…….storage.
Loizeaux (US 2007/0082651) discloses multi-site…..device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL PREVIL whose telephone number is (571)272-2971. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM -6:00 PM.
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, Wang Quan-Zhen can be reached at 571 272 3114. 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.
DP
June 5, 2026
/DANIEL PREVIL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2685
Prosecution Insights