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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant elected Group I (claims 1-7) without traverse in the Reply filed 05/14/2026.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/12/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tester 2007/0063847.
Regarding claim 1, Tester discloses a smart screening system, the system comprising: a latch (door 106) comprising: a latch body (body 302) ; and a latch arm (knob 304) positionable between an open position and a closed position [FIG 3A-3B] [019-25];an RFID tag (tag 102/104) mounted on the latch; and a screen (shield) comprising: a back screen between the RFID tag and the latch body [FIG 3A-3B]; wherein the front screen and the back screen enclose the RFID tag when the latch arm is in the closed position, and wherein the front screen and the back screen shield the RFID tag from RF signals when enclosed [FIG 3A-3B] [021-29].
However, Tester does not explicitly disclose a front screen mounted on the latch arm. Tester discloses different embodiments of where the shields can be placed, therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to place the shield to best mode of the invention.
Regarding claim 2, Tester discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Tester further discloses an interrogator, the interrogator comprising: an antenna (antenna 114/116) to transmit an RF interrogation signal; and a receiver (reader 14) to retrieve information from the RFID tag [019].
Regarding claim 3, Tester discloses all of the limitations of claim 2. Tester further discloses the interrogator provides a readout status of the latch depending upon the retrieved information from the RFID tag [019-21].
Regarding claim 4, Tester discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Tester further discloses different embodiments of where the shields can be placed, therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to place the shield to best mode of the invention.
Regarding claim 5, Tester discloses all of the limitations of claim 2. Tester further discloses the front screen is formed from an RF blocking material [21].
Regarding claim 6, Tester discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Tester further discloses comprising a second RFID tag (102-104) affixed to the latch [019-25].
Regarding claim 7, Tester discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Tester further discloses a cargo freight (users in the bathroom) latch [FIG 3A].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ASIFA HABIB whose telephone number is (571)270-7032. The examiner can normally be reached 10-4:30pm.
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, Steve Paik can be reached at 571-272-2404. 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.
/ASIFA HABIB/Examiner, Art Unit 2876
/THIEN M LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Prosecution Insights