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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS), submitted on August 27 of 2026, is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
Response to Amendment
Applicant's amendment, filed on August 17 of 2026, has been entered. Claims 1, 4, 5, 7-9, 11 and 15 have been amended. Claims 12 and 16 have been cancelled. No claim has been added. Claims 1-11, 13-15 and 17-20 are still pending in this application, with claims 1 and 15 being independent.
Applicant’s amendment to the specification have overcome the objections detailed in sections 3-7 of the previous Office Action (mailed May 5, 2026).
Applicant’s amendment to the claims have overcome the rejections under 35 USC 112b, as detailed in sections 8-12 of the previous Office Action (mailed May 5, 2026). Therefore, the cited rejections have been withdrawn.
It is noted that applicant's amendment fails to meet the requirements of 37 CFR 1.121(c), as the proper status identifier of amended dependent claim 9 not been provided. However, to expedite prosecution, the cited amendment has been entered as previously indicated.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 1-11, 13 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor, or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
Independent claim 1 is indefinite as it is not clear, from the language of the claim, whether the recited “a first fastening element and a second fastening element” (see lines 11 and 12) are required elements of the claimed invention, or external elements the claimed “LED modules” and “luminaire housing” as simply configured to be fastened with. Claim 1 is further indefinite as it fails to provide proper antecedent basis for the limitations “the LED module assembled to the luminaire housing” (see line 16), “the mechanical connection of the connector structure” (see lines 17 and 18), and “the mechanical connection of the connector structure” (see line 21).
The applicant is advised that, in comparing the claimed invention with the Prior Art, the Examiner assumed, based on the originally filed description and drawings, the first and second “fastening elements” as being required elements of the claimed invention, the “the LED module assembled to the luminaire housing” as attempting to refer back to the “the LED module” fastened to the “luminaire housing”; with the “first fastening element” configured to provide a first mechanical connection of the “connector structure” and the “second fastening element” configured to provide a second mechanical connection of the “connector structure”.
Proposed Claim Amendments
The Examiner respectfully suggests amending the claims as indicated below. The applicant is advised that, if the proposed amendments are accepted, all claims must be carefully reviewed to reflect and/or accommodate the new language.
CLAIM 1. An LED lighting apparatus, comprising:
a luminaire housing forming a mounting surface;
a connecting board configured to be electrically connected to an external power source and fixed to the luminaire housing;
a plurality of LED modules fixed to the luminaire housing in a state of being electrically connected to the connecting board, each of the LED modules including an LED light source; and
a connector structure configured to form electrical connection between the connecting board and the LED module, and having a first fastening element configured to provide a first mechanical connection between the connecting board and the luminaire housing and a second fastening element configured to provide a second mechanical connection between the LED module and the luminaire housing,
wherein the LED module fastened to the luminaire housing by the second fastening element is configured to be prevented from being detached from the luminaire housing by the second mechanical connection of the connector structure, and
wherein the connecting board temporarily assembled to the luminaire housing by the first fastening element is configured to be prevented from being detached from the luminaire housing by the first mechanical connection of the connector structure, such that the connecting board is finally fixed to the luminaire housing.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 15 and 17-20 are allowed.
Claims 1-11, 13 and 14 (as best understood) would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Applicant teaches a lighting apparatus including housing defining a mounting surface, a connecting board configured to electrically connect to an external power source, and a plurality of LED modules fixed to the luminaire housing and electrically connected to the connecting board, with each LED module including an LED light source.
In a first embodiment, the lighting apparatus further includes a connector structure configured to electrically connect the LED modules to the connecting board, a first fastening element in the connector structure configured to mechanically secure the connecting board to the luminaire housing, and a second fastening element in the connector structure configured to mechanically secure the LED modules to the luminaire housing, such that the LED module is prevented from being detached from the luminaire housing by the mechanical connection of the connector structure, and the connecting board temporarily fastened to the luminaire housing by the first fastening element is configured to be prevented from being detached from the luminaire housing by the mechanical connection of the connector structure, such that the connecting board is finally fixed to the luminaire housing.
In a second embodiment, the lighting apparatus further includes a reflective sheet covering the mounting surface, such that the LED module is fixed to the luminaire housing in a state of being placed on the reflective sheet so that the reflective is pressed by the LED modules to be fixed in the luminaire housing.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ISMAEL NEGRON whose telephone number is (571)272-2376. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jong-Suk Lee, can be reached at telephone number (571)272-2376. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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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) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form.
/ISMAEL NEGRON/Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2875
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