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 § 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 11-13 and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hennion et al. (2021/0170724).
With respect to claim 11, Hennion teaches a light assembly (1500) configured to illuminate surfaces or light-based media (Fig. 15), the light assembly comprising: a light source (5); a circuit board (50); at least one lens (61); at least one reflector element (reflecting side surface of 6; Fig. 15); a housing (8), wherein the light source, the circuit board, and the at least one lens are arranged in the housing (Fig. 15); and at least one holder element (16 and/or 80) configured to allow the housing to be fastened to a glass carrier (1) in a precise position (Fig. 15).
As for claim 12, Hennion teaches a light guide element (6) arranged in the housing (Fig. 15).
As for claim 13, Hennion teaches wherein the at least one reflector element (reflecting side surface of 6) contacts the light guide element (6).
As for claim 15, Hennion teaches wherein the at least one holder element (16 and/or 80) is glued or clamped to the housing (Fig. 15).
As for claim 16, Hennion teaches wherein the at least one holder element (16 and/or 80) comprises two holder elements arranged on two opposing sides on the housing (Fig. 15).
As for claim 17, Hennion teaches wherein the at least one holder element (16 and/or 80) can be attached to the glass carrier (1) in a precise position (Fig. 15).
As for claim 18, Hennion teaches wherein the two holder elements (80) are non- releasably glued (paragraph 133) to the glass carrier in a predetermined position (Fig. 15).
As for claim 19, Hennion teaches wherein the two holder elements (16) each have a form of a hook (Fig. 15), wherein the housing (8) is holdable clamped and fixed between the two holder elements (Fig. 15).
As for claim 20, Hennion teaches wherein the at least one holder element (16 and/or 80) is configured to exert a restoring force on the housing to fasten and hold the housing in a precise position (Fig. 15).
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.
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hennion in view of Salter et al. (2015/0138808).
With respect to claim 14, Hennion teaches all of the claimed elements, as is discussed above, except for explicitly teaching wherein the circuit board or the housing have a white surface (claim 14).
As for claim 14, Salter also drawn to light assemblies, teaches wherein the circuit board or the housing have a white surface (paragraph 32).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the present inventio, to use the white surface of Salter on the circuit board of Hannion, in order to ensure an optimal amount of light propagates through the light assembly (paragraph 32 of Salter).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Verrat-Debailleul (2015/0016132); see: Figs. 1-3
Drouet et al. (12,326,241); see: 1-14b
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM JOSEPH CARTER whose telephone number is (571)272-0959. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ABDULMAJEED AZIZ can be reached at 571-270-5046. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/WILLIAM J CARTER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875 9/29/2026
