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
`
`15/951,451
`
`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
`
`ART UNIT
`2835
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`09/20/2018
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or 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):
`
`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Off/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/951,451
`Examiner
`ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY
`
`Applicant(s)
`SHINDO etal.
`Art Unit
`2835
`
`AIA Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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 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).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 4/12/2018.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a)D This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
`
`This action is non-final.
`
`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.
`
`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.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabte. 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
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
`
`is/are: a)D accepted or b)l:] 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). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)I:J Some”
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1..
`
`Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:]
`
`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)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail DateW.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20180909
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 2
`
`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.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC §102
`
`The tetiewirig is a quetatieri of the appropriate paragraphs et' premix 35 {3,3,3 102 that
`term the basis ter the rejections under this seetieh made in this Qitiee estieri:
`
`A person shat? be entitled to a patent uniess -
`
`(aim the ciaimeci invention was patented, described in a printed pubiic3tion, or in pubiic use, on s3ie er
`otherwise evaiiaisie to the public beiere the e‘iteetive ‘iiiin-g date at the eiairneci invention.
`
`Cteirrte “tufts sue ere rejeetett matter 35 H.363. ti}? {e} (t) as heihg ehtieieeted hay
`
`teeeeeeet et at“ {L53 Pet: Net 26? 5&322955 At end YAMAGBEHE hereinafter)
`
`
`
`It YAMAGUCHI discteses (figs. 1—10) eh eieetrenie devise
`
`semprisirig: a casing tie) having an epemrig (24} that hetises a eehneetieri ter'mihei
`
`(connecting member, ti {(3625};
`
`inside; arts a termihat sever {26) that seats the epehihg
`
`such that the eeriheetieh terminai is hot exeesee‘ (fig. 4), wherein the termihei sever
`
`mattress a tie {28} that seats the epehihg and a tixihg part {5(3) that fixes the termihei
`
`sever to the casing, the iid iheiudes e eretmsieh (P) and a euehieh member (30), the
`
`eushieh member being mounted amend the ea‘etrtisien and having a surface (331} iewer
`
`than a stirteee {32) et the pretresieh, and the cushion member seats the eeeriirig by
`
`being in etese contest with e member (30A) erevided amend the eeenirig.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'
`
` awakee.
`
`Regarding efieim 2a YAMAGUCHI diesieeee (figs. 1—10) the eiectrenic device awarding
`
`Ee eiaim 1', whereia‘i the pretrueien ie previded in a center of the Sid (fig. 10}.
`
`Regarding efieim 33 YAMAGUCHI discieses (figs, M Q) the eEectmnic device awarding
`
`to eieim ‘E, wherein at ieeet a part 0% a contour 0f the pretmeien is farmed in a mended
`
`shape having me earners.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 4
`
`‘r'.
`
`..g,U--v‘‘<‘M”<0,,‘‘,_,;A‘,
`
`z5‘fi’V'I,u
`MM“..u.WJM;~.MW.‘.;”WhleJHV’maHM,MM/;'5.‘‘1
`
`
`
`
`
`zs
`
`J"
`1“,;-
`
`FIG.2 i
`
`Ea
`
`Regarding cfiaim 5, YAMAGUCHI dismay-33 (figg. M {3) the eiectronic device awarding
`
`ta ciaim 1, whereir‘: the eieatmnic device is; any fine (if a natebsak type persanai
`
`camputea a tabiet terminai, a smartphene, a 3538 phome, and a digitai camera
`
`(i? {0533}?
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 5
`
`
`
`eehheetteh termihet et ah eteetrehte device {t 2) eueh that the eehheetien tetmthat
`
`{eehheetihg member, if {@0251} ie het exeeeed, the termihet eever (26) eemptieihg: a Ed
`
`{28) that eeete eh epehihg {24) that heueee the eehhectteh termihet, the eeehihg being
`
`termed in the eteettehte device; and e fixing part {50} that fixes the termihai sever te the
`
`eteetrehte device, wherein the he thetudee e pretrueieh ahd e euehteh member (36), the
`
`cushion member heihg mutated arew‘ad the pretmeieh and havihg e eurfeee {St} Eewet
`
`than a surface ($2) et the pre‘trueieh, and the euehieh member eeete the epehihg by
`
`being Eh eieee centeet with a member (30A) previded amend the epehthg.
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 6
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`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.
`
`Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YAMAGUCHI
`
`et al in view of Lai et al. (US Pub No. 2013/0271902 A1 and Lai hereinafter)
`
`Fiegarciing eiaim 4i, YAMAGUCHI discloses the electronic device according te claim 1,
`
`YAMAGUCHI dees not expiiciiiy dieeiese wherein the connection terminal is a terminal
`
`for receiving electric power from an outside of the electronic device. However, Lai
`
`teaches (fig. 17} wherein the connection terminal is a terminal for receiving electric
`
`power from an outside of the electronic device (11 [0098]). It would have been obvious to
`
`one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to
`
`combine the connection terminal is a terminal for receiving electric power from an
`
`outside of the electronic device of Lai to the electronic device of YAMAGUCHI in order
`
`to provide a specific corresponding shaped access power port form in the case member
`
`and forms a water tight seal through compression of an O-ring, gasket or other
`
`compressible material built into or assembled onto the plug portion when mated
`
`together through a friction fit, snap fit, bayonet fit, screw fit or other mechanical mating
`
`method.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/951,451
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 7
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY whose telephone
`
`number is (571)272-1602. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 8 AM - 4:30
`
`PM.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Jinhee Lee can be reached on 571-272—1977. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 -273-
`
`8300.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 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.
`
`/ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2835
`
`