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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`wwwusptogov
`
`
`
`
`
`14/236,247
`
`01/30/2014
`
`Shinichi Yasui
`
`20186.0036USWO
`
`8676
`
`04mm” —HAMRE, SCHUMANN,MUELLER&LARSON p.c. m
`7590
`53148
`45 South Seventh Street
`SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402- 1683
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`1797
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/13/2017
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/0r attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
`PTOMail @hsml.com
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 14/236,247 YASUI, SHINICHI
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`SAM P. SIEFKE its“ 1797
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`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 CFR1. 136( a).
`after SIX () MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If 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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1/13/17.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:l This action is non-final.
`2a)|Z| This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I 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.
`
`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 Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1-3 15 and 16is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`
`7)|Z| Claim(s) 1 -3 15 and 16is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`hit
`:/'/\W¢W.LISI>I‘.0. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`iindex.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)I:l The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I objected to by the Examiner.
`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).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12)I:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:l All
`
`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`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)).
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) D Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`4) I:I Other'
`2) I] InformatIon DIsclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20170410
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent
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`provisions.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre-AIA 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 —
`
`(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country
`or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application
`for patent in the United States.
`
`Claims 1-3 and 15-16 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102b as being
`
`anticipated by Olson et al. (US 2003/0211619).
`
`Olson discloses a bioiogicai information detection sensor feeding apparatus,
`
`comprising:
`
`a body case (cassette 102) having a feeding opening {opening at which the
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`device 102 opens to the device 164 to allow ior the sensors to be fed to device 104; fig.
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`, 4a, 4o Aid, para Y5; or the drive wheei opening i522 which engages the drive teeth i528
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`on device "i645 fig“ 431 and 4c) configured such that e bioiogicai information rneasorer
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`can be attached thereto externaiiy;
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`a storage section (fig. 4a, 5, sensors are stored within body case toe) that stores
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`23 roii of a sensor ieeding film in the body case (fig. 5,6), the roii of sensor feeding fiirn
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`ineiading a shin—shaped heiding iayer {iig ta~t in hettent er recess; nertien 158, para 58),
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`a strip—shaped severing iayer (tee er never pertien t26, para 68, and a pidraiity at
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`hieiegieai inierrnatien detentien aenaers sandwiehed between the strip—shaped heiding
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`and eevering iayera (fig. 6, para 68 states; the strip packaging puiie apart er eenarate
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`wherein the hettern er recess per‘tien 158 at the packaging rentaine engaged with the
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`reiier 118 and is caused to advance in the directien et arrew tQBh and wherein the tee
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`er sever eertien 12$ eertien remains engaged with reiier “EEG and is caused to advance
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`in the direetien at arrew 12330. The teeter 136a heeernee exneeed as it passes through
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`reiiei‘s 118 and 12C; and is tiexed away treni its recess. Each tester is heat seated to the
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`inside at the recess in which it is packaged); and
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`a feeding seetien that feeds the piuraiit'y‘ at hieiegieai intermatieh detectien
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`eensers irern the eterage eeetien tn the feeding epenihg (fig. E3, 33, teed eeenihg
`
`i8GLahd
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`a pair at sandwiehing eiawe (118, t84h) diseased in the feeding eeening te
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`receive a hieiegieai intermatien detectien sensor irern the feeding aeetien (tigl “fetid
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`ref, 188, 184th, each at the eandwiehing eiawe being piveiai about a respective pit/er
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`axis (the guiding rnernher t88 is attached in the teed eeening 180, and the eieetrieai
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`centaet t84 i3 is genesite t88 and erevides eentact with the teat senser 172) wherein:
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`the feeding aeetieh {para 88} is eenfigured ta feed the piaraiity of bieiegieai
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`informatien deteerien sensers te the feeding epening, and separate the strip—enema
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`severing and heiding fat/ere frern each other hefere feeding the piuraiity ef bieiegicai
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`infermatien detection sensera to the feeding Opening;
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`the ieeeing eeetien {para 58, 75 is; configured te lead one set the plureiiiy er”
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`hieiegieel information detectien sensera fed to the feeding opening into the bieiegiea!
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`information meaeerer, when the hieiegieei inferinetien meesurer ie attached to the
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`feeding epening externaiiy, and
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`the feeding eectien is; configured te reieaee and tranefer the feeder} hieiegieai
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`infermatien detection aeneer he the hieiegieai infermatien measurer when the attached
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`hieiegieel information meesurer is puffed out free? the feeding section
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`the pair et eenewiehing eiawe are pivetahie abfltit the respective exee between
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`an abutting eeeitien where a tree tip at each et the eandwiehing ciawe ta piveted tewatti
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`the feeding eeetien and ahute against a surface at the hietcgicai intermaticn detectien
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`Seneer, and a reieaeing peeitien where the tree tie at each et‘ the eandwiehing etawe is
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`piveted away train the feeding eeetien end teieaeee the hieiegieei inierrnetien tzieteetien
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`eeneer {this iirnitatien tieee net further Sti’LECEtii’aiiy iintit the eiaim. The eantiwiching
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`stews t88 and 18% are str‘tictutaiiy eepehie at perfcnning this function).
`
`Regarding ciaitn 2, wherein: the feeding eeetien has a first winding meehanietn
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`(126} that winds the separated strip eheeee covering iayei (126?: street); and a eeeene
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`wintiing mechanism {188) that winde the aeear‘ated ettip shaped heteing anet; and each
`
`at the first winding mechanism and the second winding mechanism inctueee a ctuteh
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`mechanism (para 67 geese).
`
`Regarding etaitn 3, wherein: the hieiegieai intermatien ineaeiirer ineiedee a
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`connector and the piereiity ei hieiegicai iniermatten tieteetien eeneete, each at the
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`pturatity at hietegicat intei'inatien detectien seneete incitieing a eenneeting eiecttede;
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`end the feeding section is cehfiguted to feed ene oi the giureiity ef hieiegieei inicrn‘ietien
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`detectien eeneere td the feeding opening such that the eenheeting efectrcde ef the
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`hieiegieei infermetieh deteetien seneei‘ ted to the feeding opening is eieetrieeiiy
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`eenneeted with the eenneeter ei the hieiegieei intermetien meeeurer attached te the
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`feeding epening (eiairn f hes not peeitiveiy recite the measurei‘ cniy that a body eeee
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`having a feed eeening eenfigured td fer attachment tc a meesurer).
`
`Regarding eiaiin 4, wherein: the feeding opening ineiudee a pair of i‘etatehie
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`eendwiehing eiewe {eereekete 154 on eeeh teiier attach te epeninge “366); and the
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`ieedihg eeetien ie cenfigured to feed one of the piureiity er bieiegieei infermetien
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`detection eeneers t0 the feeding opening each that the piureiity ef bieiegieei infermetien
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`detectien sensers ere sandwiched by the pair at the eendwiching eiaws,
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`Regarding eieini 15, wherein the feeding eeehing (180) is defined by et ieeet two
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`depeeing weiie (fig. "fetid, 8, fig. "Xe eeenihg 180 has 4 side waits) and an inner surface
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`at a free edge ef each cf the depeeing waits fieree eutwerdiy, thereby aiiewing the
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`hieiegieei inferrnetien meeeutei‘ te he guided inte the greening (fig, 70}.
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`Regarding eieirn ‘36, wherein the feeding eeehing ie defined by at ieeet twe
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`epgeeing waits; (fig. Tie, opening 180 has 4 eidee waits), and e eepeert eienieht
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`(sendwiehing efawe that, fee) is termed en an inner surface at each df the cppdeing
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`waifes thereby efiewing the hieiegieef infdrmetien ineaeurer td he guided intd the
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`epenihg and supported by the edppert eierhente (fig. ?e~?e, 8).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 1/13/17 have been fully considered but they are not
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`persuasive. Applicant argues, “Olson et al. fails to disclose a pair of sandwiching claws
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`pivotable about the respective axes between an abutting position where a free tip of
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`each of the sandwiching claws pivots inwardly toward the feeding section and abuts
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`against a surface of the biological information detection sensor, and a releasing position
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`where the free tip of each of the sandwiching claws pivots outwardly away from the
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`feeding section and releases the biological information detection sensor, as required by
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`claim 1.” Qieon dieeioeee a pair ef Sendwiohing oiawe (i 18, 184th diepoeed in the
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`feeding opening {183) to receive e biologioei infoi'inatien detection sensor (‘i ”172) from
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`the feeding seetien (fig, 8)
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`(fig, 7eu?c, ref, i88, 18433}, each of the sandwiching oiewe
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`being pit/eta! about as respeetive pivot axis {the guiding member 138 is attached to the
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`feed opening 186, and the electricai contact 184 h is; oppesite 182:? and previdee eentaet
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`with the test sensor 172}, The claws ere etructureiiy capable of pivoting inwardiy toward
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`the feeding eeotion and abetting against a Surface of the bielogioai eeneor, and
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`releasing peeitien where the free tip at the eiews pivots outwerdiy away item the feeding
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`Seo'tien and reieesee the bioiegicai Sensor (fig. Effie).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
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`this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`§ 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37
`
`CFR1.136(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
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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
`
`the advisory action.
`
`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
`
`than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to SAM P. SIEFKE whose telephone number is (571 )272-
`
`1262. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and
`
`Friday 8am to 6:30pm.
`
`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, Lyle Alexander can be reached on 571-272-1254. The fax phone number
`
`for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 -273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/236,247
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 1797
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
`
`/SAM P SIEFKE/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1797
`
`