UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`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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`15/950,720
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`04/ 1 1/2018
`
`Takeshi MORI
`
`PANDP0277US
`
`5279
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
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`AUGUST“ CHRISTOPHER L
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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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`02/07/2020
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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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`017/09 A0170” Summary
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`Application No.
`15/950,720
`Examiner
`CHRISTOPHER L AUGUSTIN
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`Applicant(s)
`MORI et al.
`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 04/11/2018.
`CI 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)
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`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 Expade 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)
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`flis/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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`
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`[:1 Claim(ss)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(ss) 1_—2 is/are rejected.
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`D Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
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`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined aflowable. 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
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`10)|:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`11). The drawing(s) filed on 04/11/2018 is/are: a). accepted or b)(j 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).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
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`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). All
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`b)C] 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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`2C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`SD 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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`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 04/11/2018.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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`3) E] 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 20200121
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/950,720
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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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
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 1 12
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`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.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
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`Claims 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA),
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`second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly
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`claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the
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`applicant regards as the invention.
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`Regarding claim 1, the limitation “are provided on one of right and left sides of
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`the socket and the second unit” in line 7-8 is unclear.
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`It is unclear whether the insertion holes are provided on the left or right side of
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`both the socket and the second unit or if the insertion holes are provided on both the left
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`and right side of the socket or the second unit. For the purpose of examination, the
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`Examiner will interpret this as the insertion holes provide on the left or right side of both
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`the socket and the second unit.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/950,720
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 3
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`Further, the limitation “an interlocking lock mechanism is provided on the other of
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`the right and left sides of the socket and the second unit” in line 9-10 is unclear.
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`It is unclear whether the interlocking lock mechanism is provided on the other of
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`the left or right side of both the socket and the second unit or if the interlocking lock
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`mechanism is provided on both the left and right side of the other of the socket or the
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`second unit. For the purpose of examination, the Examiner will interpret this as the
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`interlocking lock mechanism provide on the other of the left or right side of both the
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`socket and the second unit.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
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`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
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`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
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`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
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`the same under either status.
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 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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`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use,
`on sale or othenNise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed
`invention.
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`Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by
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`Hsu US 20130301201.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/950,720
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 4
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`Regarding claim 1 (as best understood), Hsu US 20130301201 discloses an
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`electronic device (100 in Fig. 1) comprising:
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`a first unit (200 in Fig. 1) having an input part (keyboard see [0034]); and
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`a second unit (100 in Fig. 1) having a display (inherent display of tablet 100
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`see [0005]),
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`the first unit (200) and the second unit (100) being detachably coupled (as
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`depicted in Fig. 1-3),
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`wherein the first unit (200) includes a socket (212) capable of housing a
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`predetermined side of the second unit (100 as depicted in Fig. 1 and 2),
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`insertion holes (opening through which connector 220 is driven to protrude
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`out of see [0036] and opening of 140 in Fig. 1), into which a security member
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`(protruding portion of connector 220 in Fig. 1 see [0036]) can be inserted, are
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`provided on left sides (left bottom sides in Fig. 1) of the socket (212) and the second
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`unit (100 as depicted in Fig. 1), and
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`an interlocking lock mechanism (120 and sidewall of 212 having opening
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`212b) is provided on right sides of the socket (212) and the second unit (100 as
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`depicted in Fig. 1), and
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`the interlocking lock mechanism (120 and sidewall of 212 having opening
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`212b) locks the second unit (100) to the socket (212) when the security member
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`(protruding portion of connector 220) is inserted into the insertion holes (opening
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`through which connector 220 is driven to protrude out of and opening of 140 see
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`[0036]-[0037]).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/950,720
`Art Unit: 2835
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`Page 5
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`Regarding claim 2 (as best understood), Hsu discloses the electronic device
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`according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking lock mechanism (120 and sidewall of 212
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`having opening 212b) has a lock part (sidewall of 212 having opening 212b) provided
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`on the other of the right and left sides of the socket (212),
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`a bar-shaped member (124a) provided in the second unit (100) and displaced
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`when the security member (protruding portion of connector 220) is inserted into the
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`insertion holes (opening through which connector 220 is driven to protrude out of and
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`opening of 140), and
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`a lock member (end of 124 in Fig. 3) locked to the lock part of the socket (212)
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`when the bar-shaped member (124a) is displaced.
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER L AUGUSTIN whose telephone
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`number is (571 )270-7659. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday
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`8 am - 3 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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`(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/950,720
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 6
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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 https://ppair-
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`my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to the Private
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`PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
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`If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access
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`to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-
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`272-1000.
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`/CHRISTOPHER L AUGUSTIN/
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`Examiner, Art Unit 2835
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`/DANIEL P WICKLUND/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833
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`