DETAILED ACTIONNotice 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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 25 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Examiner respectfully disagrees with Applicant’s assertions that the current art of record fails to teach a U-shaped elastic part. The Examiner contends that the term “U-shaped” is very broad, especially when dealing with elastic pieces that can be bent into any number of shapes at any given time in their use. CHAO teaches in Fig. 6 a spring 53 (note that the spring 53 is a bent rod and not a traditional “spring” such as found in the prestress unit) having a first contact part 531 and second contact part 532 connected to prestress unit 50 having further springs to push and pull the button unit. These units as a whole make a U type shape and would broadly read on the term “U-shaped.” The whole of claim 3 is noted as allowable, not just the U-shaped recitation.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 7-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CHAO (2017/0277275). In regards to claim 1, CHAO teaches a mouse structure comprising: a shell, comprising a base and an upper cover covering the base, wherein the upper cover extends toward the base with a plurality of bosses (See; Figs 1-3 for a mouse structure with shell, base and bosses); a plurality of buttons, wherein each of the buttons comprises a hollow cylindrical body extending through the upper cover, and each of the hollow cylindrical bodies comprises a pressing surface and a stop surface opposite to each other (See; Figs. 3 and 6 for a button unit 40); and a plurality of U-shaped elastic members, wherein each of the elastic members comprises an embedded section, an elastic part, and a pressing part, and wherein each of the pressing parts is elastically pressed against one of the stop surfaces to pull down one of the hollow cylindrical bodies (See; Fig. 6 and p[0027] for elastic part 53 having a pressing part 531 connected to the button unit 40 and embedded section 532 which provides a prestress force to pull down the button unit. Further see Fig. 5B where the prestress units have springs which push and pull down on the button unit. These units as a whole make a U type shape and would broadly read on the term “U-shaped.”).
In regards to claim 2, CHAO teaches wherein an extension space is provided on a side of each of the hollow cylindrical bodies, and each of the stop surfaces is exposed in one of the extension spaces (See; Figs. 1-3). In regards to claim 7, CHAO teaches wherein each of the bosses is provided with a support seat, one end of the support seat is formed with a limit cover, and an interlayer space is formed between the limit cover and the support seat for clamping the embedded section (See; Figs. 1-3 and 6).
In regards to claim 8, CHAO teaches wherein the limit cover is extended with a surrounding wall surrounding the support seat, and the surrounding wall is configured to limit the embedded section (See; Figs. 1-3 and 6).
In regards to claim 9, CHAO teaches wherein each elastic member extends from one of the embedded sections toward one of the pressing parts with an attachment section, and the attachment section is attached to the support seat (See; Fig. 6).
In regards to claim 10, CHAO teaches wherein a retaining wall is formed at an end of the support seat away from the limit cover, and the retaining wall limits the attachment section (See; Figs. 1-3 and 6).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JONATHAN A BOYD whose telephone number is (571)270-7503. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:00 - 5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ke Xiao can be reached at (571) 272-7776. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JONATHAN A BOYD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2627
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