UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`
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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
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`15/951,451
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`04/12/2018
`
`Kenichi SHINDO
`
`PANDP0279US
`
`1016
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOIS SELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
`
`CH0WDHURY~ ROCKSHANA D
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`ART UNIT
`2835
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`04/18/2019
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
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`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
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`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

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`0/7709 A0170” Summary
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`Application No.
`15/951,451
`Examiner
`ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY
`
`Applicant(s)
`SHINDO etal.
`Art Unit
`2835
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`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
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`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
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`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
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`Status
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1/21/2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a). This action is FINAL.
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`2b) C] This action is non-final.
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`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`4)[:] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)
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`Claim(s) fl is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`E] Claim(s)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
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`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
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`6 7
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`8
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`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
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`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
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`is/are: a)D accepted or b)l:] objected to by the Examiner.
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`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12):] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a)D All
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`b)I:l Some**
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`3.[:] Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`2) D Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190411
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 2
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Drawings
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`The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every
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`feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the claimed limitations in
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`claims 1 and 6 lines 10-13, “the protrusion includes a recessed space and a
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`plurality of inner ribs” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No
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`new matter should be entered.
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`Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121 (d) are required in
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`reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended
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`replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate
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`prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure
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`number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure
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`is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet,
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`and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate
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`changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for
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`consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering
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`of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an
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`application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New
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`Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner,
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 3
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`the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next
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`Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 1 12
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`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
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`(a) IN GENERAL—The specification shall contain a written description of the
`invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise,
`and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it
`is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode
`contemplated by the inventor orjoint inventor of carrying out the invention.
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`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
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`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the
`manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to
`enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly
`connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the
`inventor of carrying out his invention.
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`Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), first
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`paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s)
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`contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to
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`reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor,
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`or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of
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`the claimed invention.
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`Claims 1 and 6 recites “the protrusion includes a recessed space inside the protrusion,
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`and a plurality of inner ribs disposed in the recessed space to separate the recessed
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`space inside the protrusion into multiple sub-spaces.”
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 4
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`The claim recites “the protrusion includes a recessed space and a plurality of inner ribs”.
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`The specification does not teach, or disclose or anticipate the limitations a recessed
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`space and a plurality of inner ribs. An inadequate disclosure introduces new matter
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`issues.
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`Thus as best understood by the examiner, claims 1 and 6 introduces new matter issue
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`under 35 U.S.C. 112(a). Claims 2-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C.
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`112 (pre-AIA), first paragraph, as being depend on claim 1.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC §102
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`The teiiewihg is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pie—AHA 35 U36. 1023 that
`term the basis for the rejections under this seetieh matte irt this Office action:
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`A persen strait be entitled ta a patent uriiess _
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`(a)(t) the etairrted irwerttien was patented, described in a printed pubiicetien, er in etibiic use, an sate or
`otherwise avaiiahie t0 the public— betere the effective tiiihg date at the eiaimeet inventieh.
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`metres 1% are retested ureter 35 £5.39: 1G2 (a) (t) as being atttteipetee by Wang
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`et at. {SS Pub hie. 2‘31 Elfififit}??? fist and Wang hereinafter}
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`Regarding etaim “i,1 Wang discloses (figs 1-7) an electronic device comprising:
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`a casing (3) having an opening (27) that houses a connection terminal (25) inside; and
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`a terminal cover (5) that seals the opening such that the connection terminal is
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`not exposed,
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`wherein the terminal cover includes a lid (35) that seals the opening and a fixing part
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`(39) that fixes the terminal cover to the casing,
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 5
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`the lid includes a protrusion (37) and a cushion member (53), the cushion member
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`being mounted around the protrusion and having a surface lower than a surface of
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`the protrusion (53 is lower surface than 37),
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`the protrusion includes a recessed space inside the protrusion, and a plurality of inner
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`ribs disposed in the recessed space to separate the recessed space inside the
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`protrusion into multiple sub-spaces (see annotated fig. 7 below), and
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`recessed a
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`ace
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`
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`the cushion member seals the opening by being in close contact with a member
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`provided around the opening (shows in fig. 6).
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`
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`.. Wang discloses (figs 1-7) the electronic device according to claim
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`1, wherein the protrusion is provided in a center of the lid (37 is the center of the lid 35).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 6
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`
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`1, wherein at least a part of a contour of the protrusion is formed in a rounded shape
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`having no corners (37 has rounded shape contour).
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`.. Wang discloses (figs 1-7) the electronic device according to claim
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`1, wherein the connection terminal is a terminal for receiving electric power (29, fig. 4)
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`from an outside of the electronic device.
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`Regarding ciaim 5, Wang discloses (figs 1-7) the electronic device according to claim
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`1, wherein the electronic device is any one of a notebook type personal computer, a
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`tablet terminal, a smartphone, a cell phone (mobile phone, 11 [0018]), and a digital
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`camera.
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`Regarding ciaim 5, Wang discloses (figs 1-7) a terminal cover that covers a connection
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`terminal of an electronic device such that the connection terminal (25) is not exposed,
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`the terminal cover comprising:
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`a lid (35) that seals an opening (27) that houses the connection terminal, the opening
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`being formed in the electronic device; and
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`a fixing part (39) that fixes the terminal cover to the electronic device,
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`wherein the lid includes a protrusion (37) and a cushion member (53), the
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`cushion member being mounted around the protrusion and having a surface lower than
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`a surface of the protrusion(53 is lower surface than 37),
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`the protrusion includes a recessed space inside the protrusion, and a plurality of inner
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`ribs disposed in the recessed space to separate the recessed space inside the
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`protrusion into multiple sub-spaces (see annotated fig. 7 below), and
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 7
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`
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`the cushion member seals the opening by being in close contact with a member
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`provided around the opening (shows in fig. 6).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 8
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`Response to Arguments
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1 and 6 have been considered but are
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`moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the
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`current rejection.
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`Conclusion
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`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this
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`Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a).
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`Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
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`In the event a first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
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`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
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`the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
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`than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 9
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY whose telephone
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`number is (571)272-1602. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 8 AM - 4:30
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`PM.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
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`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
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`
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, JINHEE LEE can be reached on 571-272—1977. The fax phone number for
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`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
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`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
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`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
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`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
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`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`/ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY/
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`Examiner, Art Unit 2835
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`/TUAN T DINH/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2848
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`Page 10
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