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APPLICATION NO.
FILING DATE
CONFIRMATION NO.
14/318,436
06/2712014
Scott C. Grinker
4860P22798
2407
45217
7590
02/04/2016
APPLE INC.lBSTZ
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE, CA 94085-4040
EXAMINER
NGUYEN, SEAN H
ART UNIT
PAPER NUMBER
2651
MAIL DATE
DELIVERY MODE
02/04/2016
PAPER
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.
Application No.
14/318,436
Applicant(s)
GRINKER ET AL.
Examiner
SEAN H. NGUYEN
Art Unit
2651
Yes
-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE;2 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, maya reply be timely filed
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).
Status
1)~ Responsive to communication(s) filed on 612712014.
participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
http://vvww,uspto,gov/patents/init events/pphiindex.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback(wuspto,oov.
Application Papers
10)0 The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
11)~ The drawing(s) filed on 612712014 is/are: a)~ accepted or b)O 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).
Attachment{s)
1) ~ Notice of References Cited (PTO892)
3)
4)
Other: _ _ '
Part of Paper No.lMail Date 20151207
Page 2
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
under the first inventor to file provisions of the AlA.
Claims 1, 2 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
Tiscareno et al. (US 2009/0202097) herein Tiscareno in view of Smailagic et al. (US
2012/0321103) herein Smailagic.
Page 3
a driver located in the chamber and having a driver port (driver 106 located in
chamber 107 having a driver port 103, Figs. 1, 2), the driver being configured to
receive an electrical audio signal and to emit sound from the driver port (driver
receives an electrical audio signal and emits sound from the driver port, [0014]);
and
a resilient joint having an elastomeric body and a joint channel (flexible sleeve 213 has
a joint channel inside, [0018], Fig. 2), wherein the nozzle is pivotally coupled with the
housing through the elastomeric body (the tube 108 is pivotally coupled with
housing 104 through flexible sleeve 213, Figs. 1,2, [0018]), and wherein the nozzle
lumen is acoustically coupled with the driver port through the joint channel (tube 108
lumen 111 (acoustic pathway) is acoustically coupled with driver port 103 through
the flexible sleeve 213, Fig. 2), but lacks wherein the housing is rigid.
obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the
claimed invention to modify the housing of Tiscareno to be rigid as demonstrated by
Smailagic in order to better protect the driver and electrical components inside.
Page 4
(the flexible sleeve 213 allows for pivoting of the articulation of acoustic tube 108
with respect to the housing 104, Tiscareno: Figs. 1, 2, [0018], if an external load is
applied to the tube 108 the tube 108 would pivot) and the nozzle returning to the
initial state when the external load is removed (since the nozzle of Tiscareno is
elastomeric/flexible it has the explicitly implied ability to return to its initial state
once a load is remoxed).
Figs. 1, 2),
forming a nozzle having a nozzle lumen (tube 108 interpreted to meet nozzle having
a lumen 111 is formed, Figs. 3, 4), wherein the nozzle is rigid (tube 108 is rigid,
[0018]); and
molding a resilient joint having an elastomeric body and a joint channel over at least a
portion of the housing and the nozzle (flexible sleeve 213 having a joint channel
inside and elastomeric body, [0018], Fig. 2 is molded over at least a portion of the
housing 104 and tube 108), such that the nozzle is pivotally coupled with the housing
through the elastomeric body and the nozzle lumen is acoustically coupled with the
chamber through the joint channel (the flexible sleeve 213 allows for pivoting of the
Page 5
housing is rigid.
Nevertheless, Tiscareno teaches rigid earphone components and it is well known
in the earphone art to have rigid housing as demonstrated by Smailagic (housing 120
of headphone 105 is rigid, Smailagic: Fig. 1 B, [0036]). Therefore it would have been
obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the
claimed invention to modify the housing of Tiscareno to be rigid as demonstrated by
Smailagic in order to better protect the driver and electrical components inside.
Regarding claim 13, while Tiscareno and Smailagic does not specifically teach
Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art
prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the elastomeric body
Page 6
Claims 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
Tiscareno et al. (US 2009/0202097) herein Tiscareno in view of Smailagic et al. (US
2012/0321103) herein Smailagic and Takai (US 2011/0164777).
Regarding claim 14, while Tiscareno and Smailagic does not specifically teach
wherein the driver includes a balanced armature transducer, it is well known in the art to
have an earphone with a driver that includes a balanced armature transducers as
demonstrated by Takai (driver unit 6 is a balanced armature driver unit, Takai: Fig.
1, [0020]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art
prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the driver of Tiscareno
and Smailagic to be a balanced armature transducer as taught by Takai in order to
advantageously be able to size a sound transducer to be small enough to fit into small
earphones (Takai: [0005]).
Page 7
Page 8
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
examiner should be directed to SEAN H. NGUYEN whose telephone number is
(571 )270-5728. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F, 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M ..
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
supervisor, Nguyen Duc can be reached on (571) 272-7503. 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.
/SEAN H. NGUYEN/
Examiner, Art Unit 2651
Page 9
Application/Control No.
14/318,436
Applicant(s)/Patent Under
Reexamination
GRINKER ET AL.
Examiner
Art Unit
SEAN H. NGUYEN
2651
Page 1 of 1
*
*
*
*
*
Document Number
Country Code-Number-Kind Code
Date
MM-YYYY
Name
CPC Classification
US Classification
US-2009/0202097 A 1
08-2009
Tiscareno; Victor M.
H04R1/1016
381/380
US-2011/0164777 A1
07-2011
T AKAI; Kanemori
H04R1/1075
381/380
US-2012/0039500 A 1
02-2012
Silvestri; Ryan C.
H04R1/1016
381/380
US-2012/0321103 A 1
12-2012
Smailagic; Sead
H04R1 /1041
381/98
US-
US-
US-
US-
US-
US-
US-
US-
Date
MM-YYYY
Country
Name
CPC Classification
0
P
Q
R
S
T
NON-PATENT DOCUMENTS
Include as applicable: Author, Title Date, Publisher, Edition or Volume, Pertinent Pages)
*A copy of this reference IS not being furnished with this Office action. (See MPEP 707.05(a).)
Dates in MM-YYYY format are publication dates. Classifications may be US or foreign.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Search Notes
Application/Control No.
Applicant(s)/Patent Under
Reexamination
14318436
GRINKER ET AL.
Examiner
Art Unit
SEAN H NGUYEN
2651
CPCSEARCHED
I
I
Symbol
H04R1/1016, H04R1/1091
I
I
Examiner
SHN
Date
I
I
Examiner
Date
I Examiner
I SHN
Date
12/10/2015
I
I
Symbol
US CLASSIFICATION SEARCHED
Class
381
Subclass
1380
I
I
12/10/2015
SEARCH NOTES
Search Notes
Inventor Search
East Text Search See Notes Attached
Date
12/10/2015
12/10/2015
Examiner
SHN
SHN
INTERFERENCE SEARCH
US Classl
CPC Symbol
Date
Examiner
IISEAN H NGUYENI
E,.m"ec.Art U," 2651
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Page 1 of 1
CLASS
381
2651
ATTORNEY DOCKET
NO.
4860P22798
RULE
APPLICANTS
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA;
INVENTORS
Scott C. Grinker, Belmont, CA;
Glenn K. Trainer, San Francisco, CA;
** CONTINUING DATA *************************
** FOREIGN APPLICATIONS *************************
** IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED **
07/10/2014
DYes
~No
~ No
Verified and
Acknowledged
Met after
Allowance
STATE OR
COUNTRY
SHEETS
DRAWINGS
TOTAL
CLAIMS
INDEPENDENT
CLAIMS
CA
20
ISEAN H NGUYENI
Examiner's Signature
Initials
ADDRESS
APPLE INC.lBSTZ
BLAKEL Y SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE, CA 94085-4040
UNITED STATES
TITLE
IN-EAR EARPHONE WITH ARTICULATING NOZZLE AND INTEGRATED BOOT
FILING FEE
RECEIVED
1600
All Fees
Other
Credit
rl""'t .....
--~:r' --,.~.
1A"1QA"C::
nt:::./,,)7/,,)()1 A
~-
--
Application
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
Filing Date
of
~-
r::::AII 0t:::.t::.
~
~.-~-
Complete if Known
Number
Herewith
June 27,2014
Scott C. Grinker
Sheet
Art Unit
Unassigned
Examiner Name
Unassigned
04860P22798
Cite No.
Document Number
Number-Kind Code 2(lf
usususususususususus-
Publication Date
MM-DD-YYYY
Name of Patentee or
Applicant of Cited Document
05-26-1992
12-28-1999
03-20-2001
08-06-2013
10-08-2013
03-29-2007
08-16-2007
10-02-2008
10-23-2008
08-30-2012
Moseley
Taenzer et al.
Mahoney et al.
Johnston et al.
Tiscareno
Leedom et al.
Haapapuro et al.
Dyer et al.
Tsai
Zhao et al.
known)
5,117,461
6,009,183 A
6,205,227 B1
8,499,886 B2
8,553,923
2007/0071265 A 1
2007/0189569 A1
2008/0240485 A 1
2008/0260196 A 1
2012/0219168 A1
ususus-
Initials'
Cite
No. '
Publication
Name of Patentee or
Date
MM-DD-YYYY
Country Code3 Number4 KindCode5
Pages, Columns,
Lines, Where Relevant
Passages or Relevant
Figures Appear
T6
(if known)
Examiner
Signature
/Sean Nguyen!
I Date Considered
12/07/2015
I
*EXAMINER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609; Draw line through citation if not in conformance and not
considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant. 'Applicant's unique citation designation number (optional). 2See Kinds Codes of
USPTO Patent Documents at Ylt..Jlt..,IlUJ..p..1Q,flQ)L or MPEP 901.04. 3Enter Office that issued the document, by the two-letter code (WIPO Standard ST.3). 4 For
Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document. 5 Kind of document by
the appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST. 16 if possible. 6Applicant is to place a check mark here if English language
translation is attached.
This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file (and by
the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 2 hours to complete
including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any
comments on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer,
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SENT FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS.
SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450. If you need assistance in completing the form, call 1-800PTO-9199 (1-800-786-9199) and select option 2.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
(use as many sheets as necessary)
Sheet
I of
Application Number
Filing Date
Complete if Known
Herewith
June 27,2014
Scott C. Grinker
Art Unit
Unassigned
Examiner Name
Unassigned
04860P22798
Cite
No '
Include name of the author (in CAPITAL LETTERS), title of the article (when appropriate), title of the
item (book, magazine, journal, serial, symposium, catalog, etc.), date, page(s), volume-issue
number(s), publisher, city and/or country where published
T2
"Ultimate Comfort with Flexlnear", Phillips Brochure, February 13, 2014, 3 pgs., Version
2.3.8, http://download.p4c.philips.com/files/s/she9900_1 0/she9900_1 O_pss_.pdf
Examiner
Signature
ISean Nguyen!
I Date
I 1.::/0"11201:;
Considered
*EXAMINER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609; Draw line through citation if not in conformance and not
considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant. 'Applicant's unique citation designation number (optional). 2See Kinds Codes of
USPTO Patent Documents at www.uspto.gov or MPEP 901.04. 3Enter Office that issued the document, by the two-letter code (WIPO Standard ST.3). 4For
Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document. 5Kind of document by
the appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST. 16 if possible. 6 Applicant is to place a check mark here if English language
translation is attached.
This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file (and by
the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 2 hours to complete
including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any
comments on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer,
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SENT FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS.
SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450. If you need assistance in completing the form, call 1-800PTO-9199 (1-800-786-9199) and select option 2.
Index of Claims
=
D
Application/Control No.
Applicant(s)/Patent Under
Reexamination
14318436
GRINKER ET AL.
Examiner
Art Unit
SEAN H NGUYEN
2651
Rejected
Cancelled
Allowed
Restricted
Non-Elected
Appeal
Interference
Objected
D T.D.
D R.1.47
CLAIM
Final
CPA
DATE
Original
12/10/2015
1
2
3
if
if
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
if
if
if
if
if
0
0