`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
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`
`
`
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`14/240, 777
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`02/25/2014
`
`Erika Kawabata
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`MAT—10620US
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`3 376
`
`RATNERPRESTIA
`PO. BOX 980
`VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-0980
`
`EIDE, ERIC T
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`PAPER NUIVIBER
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`ART UNIT
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`2875
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`10/07/2015
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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
`following e—mail address(es):
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`ptocorrespondence @ratnerprestia.c0m
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`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 14/240,777 KAWABATA ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2875ERIC EIDE first“
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with 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 0137 CFR 1.136(a).
`after SIX (6) 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).
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`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
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`-
`-
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`Status
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`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 02/25/2014.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2b)lX| This action is non-final.
`2a)|:| 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
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`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`4)|:I 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 EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`3) I] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`2) E Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date 02/25/2014.
`4) D Other: —-
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`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20150921
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`Disposition of Claims*
`5)|XI CIaim(s) Bis/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6 III Claim s) _ is/are allowed.
`s E? is/are rejected.
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`is/are objected to.
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`I )
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`_
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)|:l CIaim(s
`I
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, 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
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atentS/init events"
`h/index.‘s
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`
`
`
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`or send an inquiry to PRl-Ifeedback{<‘buspto.qov.
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`Application Papers
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`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Z| The drawing(s) filed on 02/25/2014 is/are: a)IXI 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).
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`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)IZI 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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`b)I:I Some” c)|:l None of the:
`a)le All
`1.IZI Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.I:I Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
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`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.
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`Attach ment(s)
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`
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/240,777
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2875
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`The present application is being examined under the pre—AIA first to invent provisions.
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`2.
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`The preliminary amendment filed 02/25/2014 has been entered.
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`Preliminary Amendment
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`Priority
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`3.
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`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. ll9(a)—
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`(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
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`Information Disclosure Statement
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`4.
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`The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 02/25/2014 is in compliance
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`with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being
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`considered by the examiner.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 that
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`form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless ,
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`(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.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/240,777
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2875
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`5.
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`Claims 1, 4, 6, 7, and 9 are rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b) as being anticipated
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`by Hiroyuki (JP 2003215671).
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`6.
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`Regarding claim 1, Hiroyuki discloses a light projection deVice comprising:
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`a flash discharge tube (1, Fig. 2, Paragraph 0019); and
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`a reflector (2) into which the flash discharge tube is disposed, wherein the reflector
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`includes at least a first reflector (First reflector, Fig. A) and a second reflector (Second reflector,
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`Fig. A), and
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`wherein at least a joint between the first reflector and the second reflector is fixed with a
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`conductive fixing material (11, 2c, Fig. 2, Paragraphs 0020, 0033).
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`”way/”11111111111””u
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`«waxy/”xx”;”zflflflrfla
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`"reflector
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`(Hiroyuki Fig. 6, Reproduced and annotated, Fig. A for examination)
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`7.
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`Regarding claim 4, Hiroyuki discloses the fixing material includes a holding body (2c)
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`haVing at least a pair of elastic pieces (2c), the elastic pieces elastically holding the joint (Fig. A,
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`Paragraph 0033).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/240,777
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2875
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`8.
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`Regarding claim 6, Hiroyuki discloses the fixing material (11, 2c) is formed of a cap that
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`is externally fitted to the joint and has an insertion hole into which the flash discharge tube is
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`inserted (Figs. 2, 4, Paragraph 0020).
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`9.
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`Regarding claim 7, Hiroyuki discloses the cap includes a cap body (11, 2c) and a
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`conductive layer formed on an inner surface of the cap body (Figs. 2, 4, Paragraph 0020).
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`10.
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`Regarding claim 9, Hiroyuki discloses the cap body is formed of an elastic material
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`(Pillow portion, Paragraph 0033).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`The following is a quotation of pre—AIA 35 USC. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
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`11.
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`Claims 2, 3, and 8 are rejected under pre—AIA 35 USC. 103(a) as being unpatentable
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`over Hiroyuki (JP 2003215671) in view of Kiyoaki (JP 11-327007).
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`12.
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`Regarding claim 2, Hiroyuki teaches the fixing material applied to the joint (Paragraph
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`0033).
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`Hiroyuki fails to teach the fixing material is a conductive tape.
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`However, Kiyoaki teaches the fixing material (double faced adhesive tape) is a
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`conductive tape (Paragraph 0004).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/240,777
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2875
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
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`was made to include having the fixing material of Hiroyuki be a conductive tape as taught by
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`Kiyoaki, in order to connect the connections to the flash discharge tube and to allow it more
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`elasticity, thereby giving the connection additional shock resistance (Kiyoaki Paragraph 0004).
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`13.
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`Regarding claim 3, Hiroyuki fails to teach a trigger lead wire or its specifics.
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`However, Kiyoaki teaches a trigger lead wire (lead) is soldered to the conductive tape
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`(Paragraph 0004).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
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`was made to include having a lead wire be connected by the adhesive tape of Kiyoaki in order to
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`connect the connections to the flash discharge tube and to allow for a stronger bond by adding
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`the solder (Kiyoaki Paragraph 0004).
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`14.
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`Regarding claim 8, Hiroyuki fails to teach the conductive layer is a conductive sheet.
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`However, Kiyoaki teaches the conductive layer is a conductive sheet (double faced
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`adhesive tape, Paragraph 0004).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
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`was made to include having the fixing material of Hiroyuki be a conductive tape as taught by
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`Kiyoaki in order to connect the connections to the flash discharge tube and to allow it more
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`elasticity, thereby giving the connection additional shock resistance (Kiyoaki Paragraph 0004).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/240,777
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2875
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`15.
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`Claim 5 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Hiroyuki
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`(JP 2003215671) in View of Ollila et al. (US 2009/0267512 Hereinafter Ollila)
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`16.
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`Regarding claim 5, Hiroyuki fails to teach the casing and its specifics.
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`However Ollila teaches a casing (26, Paragraph 0045) accommodating the flash discharge
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`tube (12, Paragraph 0045) and the reflector (10, Paragraph 0044), wherein the casing has a
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`locking part locking the holding body (Paragraph 0045).
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`It would have been obVious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
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`was made to include the case and transparent plastic plate of Ollila to the teaching of Hiroyuki in
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`order to enclose and protect the light source and the reflector (Ollila Paragraph 0045).
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`Relevant Prior Art
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`17.
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`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
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`disclosure. LIN (US 2010/0020526) teaches reflectors, flash tube, terminals, and a guide hole.
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`Matsuoto et al. (US 6102547) teaches a flash tube, and reflectors. Imamura et al. (US 5999751)
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`teaches a flash discharge tube, housing, reflectors, and a flash circuit. Furukawa et al. (US
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`5854949) teaches a flash discharge tube, reflectors, and an insert hole. Van Allen (US 4317625)
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`teaches a flash tube, reflectors insert holes, soldering, and a housing.
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`Conclusion
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`18.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to ERIC EIDE whose telephone number is (571)272—7405. The
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`examiner can normally be reached on Monday—Thursday, 8am—5pm, EST.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/240,777
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2875
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, J ong—Suk Lee can be reached on (571)272—7044. The fax phone number for the
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`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 Patent
`
`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications
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`may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
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`like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated
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`information system, call 800—786—9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571—272—1000.
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`/E. E./
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`Examiner, Art Unit 2875
`
`/Jong—Suk (James) Lee/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2875
`
`