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IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
In the Inter Partes Review of: Trial Number: To Be Assigned
U.S. Patent No. 8,261,752 Attorney Docket No.: 186512-4595US
Issued: September 11, 2012 Petitioner: Republic Tobacco, L.P.
Inventor: Fan BAO Panel: To Be Assigned
Assignee: None
Title: CRANK TYPE AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE TUBE INJECTOR
PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF
U.S. PATENT NO. 8,261,752
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. MANDATORY NOTICES (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)) ........................................................ 1
Real Party-in-Interest (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1)) ................................................ 1 A. Related Matters (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)) ......................................................... 1 B. Lead and Back-Up Counsel and Power of Attorney (37 C.F.R. C.
§ 42.8(b)(3) and 42.8(b)(4)).............................................................................. 1
Service of Information (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4)) .............................................. 2 D.
II. PAYMENT OF REVIEW AND OTHER FEES ............................................................... 2
III. GROUNDS FOR STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) ....................................... 2
IV. EXPERT DECLARATION ............................................................................................... 2
V. STATEMENT OF RELIEF REQUESTED ....................................................................... 3
VI. IDENTIFICATION OF GROUNDS OF UNPATENTABILITY (37 C.F.R.
§42.104) ............................................................................................................................. 3
VII. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................... 3
Bao Subject Matter ........................................................................................... 3 A. Prior Art ............................................................................................................ 4 B.
1. References Relied Upon ........................................................................ 4
2. Relationship of References to Bao ........................................................ 5
a. Bao Design Objectives .............................................................. 5
b. Design Objectives of Moser, Kastner, Chen and Brown ........... 6
VIII. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BAO .............................................................................. 7
Specification ..................................................................................................... 7 A.1. Coined Claim Terms ............................................................................. 8
2. Tobacco Cavity and Housing Length .................................................... 9
3. Mechanism For Manual First Step ...................................................... 10
4. Automatic Feeding Mechanism .......................................................... 12
5. Overall Operation ................................................................................ 13
Prosecution History ........................................................................................ 14 B.1. Preliminary Amendment ..................................................................... 14
2. Response to First Office Action .......................................................... 15
IX. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART RELIED UPON .................................... 20
Moser (Exh. 1004) ......................................................................................... 20 A. Chen (Exh. 1006) ........................................................................................... 23 B. Kastner (Exh. 1005)....................................................................................... 24 C. Brown (Exh. 1010).......................................................................................... 25 D.
ii
Relationship of Moser, Chan, Kastner and Brown to Art Cited in E.Prosecution of Bao .......................................................................................... 26
Challenged Claims .......................................................................................... 27 F.
X. CLAIM-BY-CLAIM DETAILED EXPLANATION OF GROUNDS OF
UNPATENTABILITY .................................................................................................... 27
Claim Construction ......................................................................................... 27 A.1. Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art ..................................................... 27
2. Coverage of Independent Claim 1....................................................... 28
Ground 1: Claim 1 is Obvious Over Moser ................................................... 29 B.1. Claim 1 Features ................................................................................. 29
a. Automatic cigarette tube injector ............................................ 29
b. Tobacco cavity and feeding opening for cigarette tube ........... 30
c. Housing is less than two cigarette tubes in length ................... 30
d. Electric motor .......................................................................... 31
e. Motor arrangement automatically feeds tobacco through feeding opening to cigarette tube ............................................. 31
f. Longitudinally supported motor driven tobacco feeder .......... 32
g. Member for retaining tobacco leaves from tobacco cavity ..... 32
h. Feeding member slides perpendicularly to injection direction and couples with retention member to form tubular tobacco chamber .......................................................... 32
i. Reciprocating unit transmits motor rotation to sliding movement of tobacco feeder .................................................... 32
j. Tobacco feeder moves linearly and longitudinally out of feeding opening and into cigarette tube ................................... 33
k. Tobacco feeder is longitudinally received in housing to minimize housing length to less than two tube lengths ........... 33
Ground 2: Claim 1 is Obvious Over Chen. ................................................... 36 C.1. Claim 1 Features ................................................................................. 36
a. Automatic cigarette tube injector ............................................ 36
b. Tobacco cavity and feeding opening for cigarette tube ........... 36
c. Housing is less than two cigarette tubes in length ................... 37
d. Electric motor .......................................................................... 37
e. Motor arrangement automatically feeds tobacco through feeding opening to cigarette tube ............................................. 38
f. Longitudinally supported motor driven tobacco feeder .......... 38
g. Member for retaining tobacco leaves from tobacco cavity ..... 38
h. Feeding member slides perpendicularly to injection direction and couples with retention member to form tubular tobacco chamber .......................................................... 38
i. Reciprocating unit transmits motor rotation to sliding movement of tobacco feeder .................................................... 39
iii
j. Tobacco feeder moves linearly and longitudinally out of feeding opening and into cigarette tube ................................... 39
k. Tobacco feeder is longitudinally received in housing to minimize housing length to less than two tube lengths ........... 39
Ground 3: Claim 1 is Obvious Over Kastner in View of Moser .................... 42 D.1. Motivation to Combine Kastner with Moser ...................................... 42
2. Claim 1 Features ................................................................................. 44
a. Automatic cigarette tube injector ............................................ 44
b. Tobacco cavity and feeding opening for cigarette tube ........... 44
c. Housing is less than two cigarette tubes in length ................... 44
d. Electric motor .......................................................................... 45
e. Motor arrangement automatically feeds tobacco through feeding opening to cigarette tube ............................................. 45
f. Longitudinally supported motor driven tobacco feeder .......... 45
g. Member for retaining tobacco leaves from tobacco cavity ..... 45
h. Feeding member slides perpendicularly to injection direction and couples with retention member to form tubular tobacco chamber .......................................................... 46
i. Reciprocating unit transmits motor rotation to sliding movement of tobacco feeder .................................................... 46
j. Tobacco feeder moves linearly and longitudinally out of feeding opening and into cigarette tube ................................... 46
k. Tobacco feeder is longitudinally received in housing to minimize housing length to less than two tube lengths ........... 47
Dependent Claims 2-25 are Obvious Over Chen, Kastner and Brown .......... 51 E.
XI. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 60
iv
EXHIBIT LIST (37 CFR §42.63 (e))
EXHIBITS CITED IN PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF BAO
(U.S. PATENT NO. 8,261,752)
Exhibit No. Brief Description
1001 Bao (U.S. Patent No. 8,261,752)
1002 Bao application (U.S. Application No. 12/584, 110)
1003 Bao prosecution history
1004 Moser reference (U.S. Application No. 11/312,782)
1005 Kastner reference (U.S. Patent No. 5,088,506)
1006 Chen reference (Chinese Utility Model No. CN201138314Y)
1007 Patel reference (U.S. Patent No. 7,905,235)
1008 Chaze reference (U.S. Patent No. 2,551,095)
1009 Declaration of Dr. Steven R. Schmid
1010 HARRY T. BROWN, FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVEN MECHANICAL
MOVEMENTS, 42-43 (New York, Brown & Seward, 18th ed.
1896)
1011 Parsed Bao claim language
1012 Steven R. Schmid Curriculum Vitae
1013 Steven R. Schmid expert testimony dates
Republic Tobacco, L.P. (“Petitioner”) submits this petition for inter partes
review of claims 1-25 of U.S. Patent No. 8,261,752 to Fan Bao, titled “Crank Type
Automatic Cigarette Tube Injector” (“Bao”). Bao is attached as Exh. 1001.
I. MANDATORY NOTICES (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1))
Real Party-in-Interest (37 C.F.R. §§§§ 42.8(b)(1)) A.
Republic Tobacco, L.P. is the real party-in-interest.
Related Matters (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)) B.
Bao is presently the subject of a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Fan
Bao and his purported exclusive licensee, Zico USA, Inc. The lawsuit is captioned
Fan Bao and Zico USA, Inc. v. Republic Tobacco, LP, C.D. of California, No.
2:14-cv-03655, filed May 13, 2014 and was served June 6, 2014. That case may
affect, or be affected by, decisions made in this proceeding.
Lead and Back-Up Counsel and Power of Attorney (37 C.F.R. C.
§§§§ 42.8(b)(3) and 42.8(b)(4))
Lead Counsel for Republic Back-Up Counsel for Republic
Barry W. Sufrin Registration No. 27,398 Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3700 Chicago, IL 60606 Telephone: 312-569-1489 Fax: 312-569-3489 Email: [email protected]
Carrie A. Beyer Registration No. 59,195 Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3700 Chicago, IL 60606 Telephone: 312-569-1487 Fax: 312-569-3487 Email: [email protected]
2
Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.10(b), a Power of Attorney with designation of
counsel accompanies this Petition.
Service of Information (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4)) D.
Service information is provided in the designation of counsel above.
II. PAYMENT OF REVIEW AND OTHER FEES
The undersigned authorizes the Office to charge $28,000 to Deposit Account
No. 070181 for the fees set forth in 37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a) ($10,000 for the Inter
Partes Review request fee for 25 claims; $18,000 for the Inter Partes Review Post-
Institution fee) for this Petition for Inter Partes Review.
Payment of any additional fees due in connection with this Petition may be
charged to Deposit Account No. 070181.
III. GROUNDS FOR STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)
Petitioner certifies that Bao is available for inter partes review and that
Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting inter partes review challenging
the claims of Bao on the grounds identified herein.
IV. EXPERT DECLARATION
This petition is supported by the declaration of Dr. Steven R. Schmid (Exh.
1009) which provides his credentials, defines a person having ordinary skill in the
art in the context of Bao and applies that definition, describes the prior art that
Petitioner is relying upon, provides claim charts (which are also included and
3
addressed below) with underlying facts and data supporting petitioner’s invalidity
positions, and expresses his opinion regarding invalidity of Bao.
V. STATEMENT OF RELIEF REQUESTED
Republic seeks a final, written decision that claims 1-25 of Bao are
unpatentable as anticipated under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) or obvious under
pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).
VI. IDENTIFICATION OF GROUNDS OF UNPATENTABILITY
(37 C.F.R. §42.104)
• Ground 1: Cancellation of claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. §103(a) as
obvious over Moser.
• Ground 2: Cancellation of claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. §103(a) as
obvious over Chen.
• Ground 3: Cancellation of claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. §103(a) as being
obvious over Kastner in view of Moser.
• Ground 4: Cancellation of dependent claims 2-25 under 35 U.S.C.
§103(a) as being obvious over Chen, Kastner and Brown.
VII. BACKGROUND
Bao Subject Matter A.
Bao is directed to a portable machine for filling hollow cigarette tubes with
tobacco to make cigarettes. Exh. 1001 at col. 2, l. 39 and col. 4, l. 21-25; Exh.
1009 at 18. The Bao device is partially automatic in that, after the tobacco is
4
placed in a tobacco-receiving cavity, it is compressed into a cylindrical shape by
manually operating an external handle that drives a compactor (called a “feeding
member” in Bao) against an arc-shaped retention member resting in the cavity to
capture and compress the tobacco into a cylindrical shape. Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l.
40-51 and col. 4, l. 21-28; Exh. 1009 at 21. This cylindrically-shaped compressed
tobacco is injected into the hollow tube automatically by triggering an electric
motor that drives a tobacco feeder perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the
compactor to carry the compressed tobacco from the tobacco-receiving cavity
through a feeding opening into the cigarette tube. Exh. 1001 at col. 6, l. 30-51;
Exh. 1009 at 22.
Prior Art B.
1. References Relied Upon
Reference No./Title Inventor Publication Exh.
Moser US 2006/0096604:
“Device for filling a
cigarette”
Moser et al. May 11, 2006 1004
Kastner US 5,088,506:
“Portable manually
operable cigarette-
making machine”
Arnold Kastner Feb. 18, 1992 1005
5
Chen CN201138314Y:
“Tobacco shred filling
machine . . . ”
Chen et al. Oct. 22, 2008 1006
Brown Five Hundred and
Seven Mechanical
Movements
1896 1010
2. Relationship of References to Bao
a. Bao Design Objectives
Bao addresses the following design objectives that were met by cigarette-
making machines well-known for many years before the filing of the application
for Bao:
a. Manual compaction of tobacco placed in an open cavity (Exh. 1001 at
col. 6, l. 33-38; Exh. 1009 at 23);
b. Transfer of the compacted tobacco to a hollow tube perpendicularly to
the compaction direction (Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l. 40-51; Exh. 1009 at 23);
c. Use of a motor driven reciprocating unit to automatically transfer the
compacted tobacco to the tube (Exh. 1001 at col. 6, l. 40-49; Exh. 1009 at 23);
and
6
d. Cigarette machine size less than two cigarette tube in length (Exh.
1001 at col. 3, l. 59-60; Exh. 1009 at 23).
b. Design Objectives of Moser, Kastner, Chen and
Brown
Moser, Kastner and Chen are representative of prior art cigarette-making
machines that meet the Bao design objectives. Exh. 1004, 1005, 1006 and 1009 at
27. The cigarette-making machines that they describe include: A) cavities for
receiving loose tobacco, B) manually operated compacting members that move
across the tobacco in the cavity to compress the tobacco into a cylinder, and
C) manual and motorized tobacco feeders that transport the compressed tobacco
cylinder perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the compacting member
through a feeding opening into a hollow cigarette tube to fill the tube and prepare a
completed cigarette. Exh. 1004, 1005, 1006 and 1009 at 17.
In Kastner the compressing and injecting mechanisms operate manually
whereas Moser and Chen are automatic because after handle-controlled
mechanisms are manually operated to compress the tobacco (as in Bao), they
employ motor-driven reciprocating units to linearly move tobacco feeders to
automatically inject the compressed tobacco into cigarette tubes. The machines
described in Moser and Chen are less than two cigarette tube lengths in length.
Additionally the fully-manual Kastner machine could be readily converted to
7
automatic operation to make it faster and more convenient to use by motorizing its
injection mechanism and employing the Brown mechanism to convert circular
motor motion to linear tobacco injection. Exh. 1004, 1005, 1006 and 1009 at 28-
31.
VIII. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BAO
Bao is titled “Crank Type Automatic Cigarette Tube Injector” and was
issued September 11, 2012 from U.S. Application No. 12/584, 110, and is attached
as Exh. 1001. Bao claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/209,
953 (the ’953 provisional), filed March 11, 2009 which is attached as Exh. 1002.
Specification A.
Bao describes an automatic cigarette tube device for injecting tobacco into
cigarette tubes in a two-step process. In an initial manual step, loose tobacco
leaves are placed in a tobacco cavity and a manual actuator is operated to cause a
“feeding member” to compress the tobacco into a cylindrical shape. Exh. 1009 at
col. 6, l. 32-33. This compressed tobacco cylinder rests on a holder (referred to as
“a retention member”) of a slidably supported driving member. Exh. 1001 at col.
5, l. 40-51.
In the next step, an electric motor is activated to transport the driving and
retention members to a second position as the compressed tobacco cylinder is
8
pushed through a feeding opening into a hollow cigarette paper tube affixed to the
feeding opening. Exh. 1001 at col. 6, l. 39-51.
The exterior of the tube injector of Bao is depicted in FIG.1:
1. Coined Claim Terms
The following claim terms were coined by the Bao applicant, acting as his
own lexicographer:
Claim Term Meaning Specification
feeding
crank/tobacco
feeder
structure to push compressed
tobacco into cigarette tube.
Exh. 1009 at 24A.
tobacco feeder 31 is a feeding
crank with a driving member
311 that reciprocates across
tobacco cavity 11 to push
tobacco into cigarette tube.
Exh. 1001 at col. 4, l. 29-45.
9
Claim Term Meaning Specification
retention
member
member that retains tobacco
within a tobacco cavity before
it passes through feeding
opening into a cigarette tube.
Exh. 1009 at 24A.
retention member 313 retains
tobacco leaves 40 within
tobacco cavity 11, and passes
through feeding opening 12 to
enter cigarette paper tube 50.
Exh. 1001 at col. 4, l. 65 to
Col. 5, l. 2.
feeding
member
member that compacts loose
tobacco into cylinder. Exh.
1009 at 24A.
feeding member 32 pushes
tobacco leaves 40 towards
retention member 313 to form
tobacco cylinder. Exh. 1001 at
col. 5, l. 40-44.
2. Tobacco Cavity and Housing Length
FIG. 1 above illustrates tobacco cavity 11 for receiving loose tobacco in the
first step of operating the device before the tobacco is compressed and includes
cigarette tube 50 to receive the compressed tobacco.
An unlabeled filter is shown at the distal end of tube 50. Bao states that:
a longitudinal length of the housing 10 is lesser(sic) than two cigarette
lengths of the cigarette paper tube 50.
10
Exh. 1001 at col. 4, l. 59-60. It also calls for the following relationship between
the tobacco cavity length and the tube length:
The length of the tobacco cavity 11 is around the length of the
cigarette paper tube 50.
Exh. 1001 at col. 3, l. 50-51. Bao thus establishes a 1:1 relationship between the
length of the tobacco cavity and the total length of the cigarette tube including the
empty tobacco-receiving portion and the filter at its distal end.
3. Mechanism For Manual First Step
The initial manual step of operating the Bao device is illustrated below in
sectional views in the order of FIGS. 2, 4 and 3.
In FIG. 2, cigarette tube injector feeding member 32 is retracted before
tobacco is placed in tobacco cavity 11. In FIG. 4 tobacco leaves 40 are disposed in
tobacco cavity 11 between arc-shaped retention member 313 and arc-shaped
feeding wall 321 of feeding member 32. Finally, in FIG. 3, handle 341 is rotated
downwardly to advance feeding member 32 to compress the tobacco between
retention member 313, and feeding wall 321 and retention member 313 form a
compressed tobacco cylinder. Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l. 40-44. This compressed
tobacco cylinder, which is not shown in the figures, would reside in tubular
chamber 35 of FIG.3. Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l. 40-64 and col. 6, l. 16-29.
11
Feeding member 32 is driven by manual actuator 34 to slide along guiding
compartment 14 perpendicularly to the direction of the injection of the tobacco
cylinder into hollow tube 50. Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l. 48-51. The actuator is
operated by handle member 341 and push unit 342 which is pivotally coupled to
housing 10. Exh. 1001 at col. 6, l. 16-20. Thus, manually pressing handle member
341 drives feeding wall 321 of feeding member 32 toward arc-shaped retention
12
member 313 of driving member 311 to form the tobacco cylinder. Exh. 1001 at
col. 6, l. 20-29. The feeding wall of the feeding member and the retention member
are matched semicircular shapes so that when they meet edge-by-edge they form a
tubular chamber 35 (FIG. 3), which presses tobacco leaves 40 into the tobacco
cylinder that will be injected into cigarette tube 50. Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l. 52-65.
4. Automatic Feeding Mechanism
The automatic feeding mechanism can be understood from FIGS. 5 and 6:
Reciprocating unit 33 has a transmission wheel 331 coupled to the output
shaft 21 of electric motor 20. The transmission wheel has an eccentric shaft 3311
located at its edge as well as a connecting arm 332 rotatably connected to
transmission arm 333 through two pivots. Transmission arm 333 has one end
pivotally connected to the housing and the other end pivotally connected to
connecting arm 332, and transmission arm 333 has a transmitting slot 334 slidably
13
coupled with eccentric shaft 3311. When transmission wheel 331 is rotated by
motor output shaft 21, eccentric shaft 3311 drives transmission arm 333 causing
driving member 311 to move linearly along sliding compartment 13. Col. 5, l. 9-
39.
When electric motor 20 is activated its output shaft 21 drives cigarette filling
arrangement 30 to automatically transport the compacted cylinder of tobacco 40
through feeding opening 12 into cigarette tube 50. As a result:
the rotating movement of the output shaft 21 is transmitted into linear
movement of the driving member 311 between the first position and
the second position.
Exh. 1001 at col. 5, l. 36-39. This conversion of rotary movement of motor shaft
21 to linear sliding movement of driving member 311 causes the driving member
to move between a first position at one end of sliding compartment 13 and a
second position at the opposite end of the sliding compartment by operation of
reciprocating unit 33. Exh. 1001 at col. 4, l. 30-51.
5. Overall Operation
A user wishing to inject a cigarette tube with tobacco using this device first
loads a hollow cigarette paper tube 50 onto tubular holder 121 and places tobacco
leaves 40 into tobacco cavity 11. Exh. 1001 at col. 6, l. 32-34. The user then pulls
handle member 311 down to manually form a compressed tobacco cylinder. Exh.
14
1001 at col. 6, l. 34-38. Then, the user presses start button 50 (FIG. 1) whereupon
electric motor 20 rotates transmission wheel 331 to move driving member 341
from its first position to its second position, pushing the tobacco cylinder 40 into
cigarette paper tube 50. Exh. 1001 at col. 6, l. 38-51. The driving member then
returns to the first position. Exh. 1001 at col. 7, l. 30-31.
Prosecution History B.
The prosecution history of the application for Bao is attached as Exh. 1003.
This application, which was filed August 31, 2009, included one independent
claim (claim 1) and 24 dependent claims. Exh. 1003 at 15-18.
1. Preliminary Amendment
A Preliminary Amendment was filed (Exh. 1003 at p. 60-67) in which
independent claim 1 was amended to read:
Claim 1: An automatic cigarette tube injector for injecting
tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube, comprising:
a housing having a tobacco cavity for said tobacco leaves
disposing thereat and a feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube
alignedly supporting thereat, wherein a length of said housing is lesser
than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette tube;
an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in said
housing; and
a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by said electric
motor via said output shaft for automatically feeding said tobacco
15
leaves to said cigarette paper tube through said feeding opening of
said housing, wherein said cigarette filling arrangement comprises:
a tobacco feeder driven by said output shaft
a retention member for retaining said tobacco leaves from said
tobacco cavity; and
a feeding member slidably supported in said housing along a
direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, wherein said
tobacco feeder is able to be slid to couple with said retention member
to form a tubular chamber for holding said tobacco leaves therein such
that said tobacco feeder is able to be driven to push towards said
feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into
said cigarette paper tube.
2. Response to First Office Action
A First Office Action issued in the prosecution of Bao on February 15, 2012.
Exh. 1003 at 41-51. It rejected independent claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. §103(a) in
view of the teaching of U.S. Patent No. 7,905,235 to Patel (referred to below as
“Patel”; Exh. 1007).
This Office Action argued, inter alia, that it was evident from FIG. 2 of
Patel that since the width (23) of this machine was about a fourth of its length,
Patel met the requirement of claim 1 that the rolling machine be “lesser than two
cigarette lengths” of a cigarette paper tube. Exh. 1003 at 44. Independent claim 1
and its dependent claims 2-25 were also rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103(a) over
16
U.S. Patent No. 2,551,095 to Chaze (referred to below as “Chaze”, Exh. 1007), in
view of Patel. Exh. 1003 at 45-50.
The Office Action argued that it was known from Patel to provide cigarette
machines that have electrical motors to push tobacco into cigarette tubes. Exh.
1003 at 43-44. Therefore, the Examiner stated that it would have been obvious to
one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to have modified the
Chaze manual cigarette rolling machine to include a motor having an output shaft
to deliver power to push cylindrical tobacco into a cigarette paper tube. Exh. 1003
at 47. The Office Action also stated that although Chaze did not clearly show that
“a length” of its machine is “lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette
paper tube”, it would have been obvious from FIG. 2 of Patel to have provided the
Chaze cigarette machine in the Patel machine size. Exh. 1003 at 47-48.
In the Response independent claim 1 was further amended (Exh. 1003 at 78-
91.):
Claim 1 (currently amended): An automatic cigarette tube
injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube,
comprising:
a housing having a tobacco cavity for said tobacco leaves
disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube
alignedly supporting thereat, wherein a longitudinal length of said
housing is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper
tube;
17
an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in said
housing; and
a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by said electric
motor via said output shaft for automatically feeding said tobacco
leaves to said cigarette paper tube through said feeding opening of
said housing, wherein said cigarette filling arrangement comprises:
a tobacco feeder, which is a feeding crank, longitudinally
supported in said housing and driven by said output shaft at a
longitudinal direction which is an injection direction;
a retention member for retaining said tobacco leaves from said
tobacco cavity; and
a feeding member slidably supported in said housing along a
direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, wherein said
tobacco feeder is able to be slid to couple with said retention member
to form a tubular chamber for holding said tobacco leaves therein such
that said tobacco feeder is able to be driven to push towards said
feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into
said cigarette paper tube; and
a reciprocating unit for transmitting a rotational power of said
output shaft to a sliding movement of said tobacco feeder, wherein
said tobacco feeder is linearly moved at said longitudinal direction out
of said feeding opening for feeding said tobacco leaves into said
cigarette paper tube and is longitudinally received in said housing to
minimize said longitudinal length of said housing which is lesser than
two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube.
18
The applicant argued that Patel failed to teach a housing with a longitudinal
length “lesser” than two cigarette paper tubes as in further amended claim 1. Exh.
1003 at 86-87. The applicant also argued that Patel did not teach a feeding
member that was slidable perpendicularly to the injection direction or a
reciprocating unit for transmitting the rotation of the motor shaft to sliding
movement of the tobacco feeder as in further amended claim 1. Exh. 1003 at 87.
The applicant further stated that Chaze did not teach a housing “lesser” than
two cigarette tube lengths and that it was silent regarding a reciprocating unit for
transmitting rotation of a motor shaft to sliding movement of a tobacco feeder.
Exh. 1003 at 88.
Bao argued with respect to independent claim 1 and dependent claims 2-25
that the prior art failed to resolve how to minimize the longitudinal length of the
housing to lesser (sic) than two cigarette lengths and that there was no teaching in
the identified prior art that suggests any reciprocating unit that can substantially
minimize the longitudinal length of the housing. Exh. 1003 at 90. It was also
argued that the motorized feeding mechanism of Patel could not be incorporated
into the Chaze device. Exh. 1003 at 90.
Thus claim 1 was allowed after introduction of amendments in the Response
as indicated here:
19
20
IX. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART RELIED UPON
Moser (Exh. 1004) A.
The application for Moser was filed December 20, 2005 under U.S.
Application. No. 11/312,782 and published May 11, 2006, nearly three years prior
to the filing of the provisional application from which Bao derives. Exh. 1004 at
p.1.
Moser describes and illustrates ten overlapping embodiments of devices for
filling cigarette tubes with tobacco. Exh. 1004 at [0031], [0070], [0076], [0088],
[0092], [0098], [0107], [0118], [0131], and [0143]. Moser explains that the
embodiments contain separate metering, compression and injection mechanisms
which may be manual, partially automatic or fully automatic. Exh. 1004 at [0002].
Similar components appear in the various embodiments which generally build
upon each other. Exh. 1009 at 29A.
The first embodiment comprises a partially-automated device 10 for filling
tubes 70 with a measured amount of tobacco. Exh. 1004 at [0034]. In this
embodiment, metering of the tobacco is automated, while both tobacco
compression and injection are performed manually. Exh. 1004 at [0041], [0066]-
[0068]. It states that device 10 is preferably sized to sit on a table for easy use by a
“roll your own” smoker and that it could be made larger or smaller to fit a desired
implementation. Exh. 1004 at [0033]. Comparing cigarette tubes 70 (FIG. 4) to
21
the width of the machine in, e.g., FIGS. 1A-1D, demonstrates that the longitudinal
length of this device is well less than two cigarette tube lengths. Exh. 1009 at 29B.
Device 10, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D, includes a body 11, a
compressing unit 80, a cigarette tube magazine 130, an injecting unit 150 and a
clamping unit 180 to hold an open end of a cigarette tube 170 adjacent injecting
unit 150 during insertion of a compressed plug of tobacco 76. Exh. 1004 at
[0033]-[0034].
Device 10 also includes a compression chamber 90, a compression member
100 and a cranking unit 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1C and discussed in Exh. 1004 at
[0046]-[0047]. Exh. 1004 at [0052] further explains that handle 113 on a crank
arm 112 is used to rotate cam member 116 so that clamp pin 108 moves within an
eccentric slot to move compression member 100 up and down. When the
compression member moves down it compresses loose tobacco at the bottom of
compression chamber 90. Exh. 1004 at [0053].
FIG. 1A shows injecting unit 150, including a movable shuttle 160
positioned below compression chamber 90. Exh. 1004 at [0054] explains that
insertion member 164 preferably defines a half-cylindrical surface that tapers
toward its distal end and represents known art for facilitating the insertion of a
compressed plug of tobacco into a cigarette tube. In this device, as crank arm 112
22
is rotated in a clockwise direction, it causes a shuttle 160 to move toward tube
magazine 130. Exh. 1004 at [0057].
During operation of the device a user manually inserts a tube 70 over tube
holder or nozzle 178 adjacent to compression chamber 90. Exh. 1004 at [0061].
After the tobacco is metered onto injection member 164, the user manually rotates
cam arm 112 to move compression member 100 downward within compression
chamber 90 whereby the cylindrical end of compression member 100 presses
against the loose tobacco collected in the insertion member 164, forming a
cylindrical plug of tobacco. Exh. 1004 at [0066].
Exh. 1004 at [0068] references FIG. 4 in explaining that as the user
continues to rotate arm 112 it contacts a trigger on shuttle 160 to move it laterally
so that the compressed plug of tobacco 76 is advanced through nozzle 178 into the
cylindrical paper portion 72 of cigarette tube 70.
In the third embodiment which is described at Exh. 1004 beginning at
[0076], an automated device 300 for filling cigarette tubes is described. This
device includes an injection motor 370. Exh. 1004 at [0077]. It is further noted in
Exh. 1004 at [0078] that the components of the compression mechanism are
largely similar to those disclosed with respect to the first embodiment (discussed
above), except that manual crank arm 112 is replaced by compression motor 310
and a gearbox. It is also explained in Exh. 1004 at [0080] that injection motor 370
23
moves shuttle 160 toward magazine 160 to inject previously-compressed tobacco
into a waiting cigarette tube 70 and, in a reverse direction, to return shuttle 162 to
its position under compression chamber 90. Injection member 164, which is
carried by shuttle 160 operated by a motor driven pinion 372 and cooperating rack
374 transports compressed plug of tobacco 76 through nozzle 178 and into a
cigarette tube 70. Exh. 1004 at par. [0054], [0080].
Chen (Exh. 1006) B.
This document, which is a certified translation of the original Chinese
language Utility Model No. CN201138314Y, published October 22, 2008,
describes a cigarette tube filling machine having a motor 10 with a shaft 11
connected to a crank wheel 9 when motor 10 is operated, crank wheel 9 operates a
rocking mechanism 7 that moves a pressing bar 6. Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5; FIGS. 2
and 3.
When the utility model is the standby state of FIG. 2, a filtered cigarette tube
is clamped to cigarette forming slot 2 and tobacco is placed in storage trough 1.
Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5. Switch 16 is turned to the left causing the motor shaft to rotate
anti-clockwise moving pressing block 6 downwardly to press the tobacco in the
storage trough into cigarette forming slot 2 and form a cylindrical shape. Exh.
1006 at p. 4-5. At this time pusher 3 is at its initial position. Switch 16 is then
moved rightwardly causing crank wheel 9 to rotate clockwise. Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5.
24
Pressing block 6 stops temporarily, at which time oscillating bar 13 moves forward
along the axial direction of cigarette forming slot to push the cylindrical shredded
tobacco into the filtered cigarette tube after which pressing blocks 6 and pusher 3
return to their initial positions and the tobacco-filled cigarette can be removed from
the machine. Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5.
Kastner (Exh. 1005) C.
Kastner (U.S. Patent No. 5,088,506), which issued in 1982, is directed to
another portable manually operable cigarette-making machine. Exh. 1005 at col. 1,
l. 5-7. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 below, this machine includes a casing
14, a cigarette tube nipple 16, a tobacco slot 18 a handle 20 and a handle drive 22.
Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 15-18.
25
Tobacco is placed in slot 18 and handle drive 22 rotated in an anti-clockwise
direction to urge a compactor 22 forward to compact the tobacco. Exh. 1005 at
col. 5, l. 25-30. When the drive handle reaches the position shown in FIG. 3, it
remains at rest while continuing movement of the drive handle allows stud 52
engage lever 52 which ultimately moves tobacco plunger and spoon 60 toward and
through cigarette tube nipple 16 ejecting the compacted tobacco into a cigarette
tube mounted on the nipple. Exh. 1005 at 39-48.
Brown (Exh. 1010) D.
Brown describes a crank-pin on a rotating disk working in the slot of a bell
crank mechanism to convert circular motion into linear motion. This structure for
converting circular motion into linear motion has been known and used by
designers for this purpose since at least 1896. Exh. 1009 at 31.
26
Relationship of Moser, Chan, Kastner and Brown to Art Cited in E.
Prosecution of Bao
As noted earlier, two references were cited during the Bao prosecution, Patel
(Exh. 1007) and Chaze (Exh.1008). These references are far less relevant to Bao
than Moser, Chan, Kastner or Brown.
Patel, which was cited alone in rejecting claim 1, is directed to a cigarette
rolling machine that uses a rotating coil to force tobacco through a fixed hollow
tube into a cigarette tube. Patel fails to teach, inter alia, a tobacco-receiving cavity
in which tobacco is compacted into a cylindrical shape or means for transporting
such a cylindrically compressed tobacco shape into a cigarette tube. It also does
not teach a cigarette-making machine that is less than two cigarette tubes long. As
explained in detail below, Moser, Chen, and Kastner teach these features.
Chaze, which issued in 1951, was cited in view of Patel, in support of the
rejection of original claims 1-25. Chaze is primarily concerned with a device for
delivering predetermined amounts of tobacco to a cigarette machine slot by
swinging a scraper containing a supply of tobacco across the slot. Once the slot is
filled, the tobacco is compacted into a cylindrical roll which is driven into a
cigarette tube by means of a pushrod. The pushrod is not illustrated in the patent.
Chaze lacks, inter alia, a reciprocating unit for transmitting rotational power to
sliding movement of the (unillustrated) pushrod. Patel does not remedy these
shortcomings since it employs a coil tobacco delivery mechanism and hence no
27
sliding movement. And, it is not possible to ascertain the width of the Chaze
machine from the figures of this patent. As explained in detail below, however,
Moser, Chen, and Kastner teach these features.
Challenged Claims F.
The claims of Bao are reproduced in Exh. 1011, parsed consistent with the
discussion below and Claim Charts I, II, III, and IV below.
The challenged claims of Bao include sole independent claim 1 and
dependent claims 2-25. Claim groups 3/10, 4/12, 5/11/18, 6/13, 7/14/21,
8/15/19/22, 16/20/23 and 17/24/25 are identical except for their dependency.
Therefore duplicate dependent claims 10-15 and 18-25 are not addressed
separately below but fall with their identical claims 3-9, 16 and 17.
X. CLAIM-BY-CLAIM DETAILED EXPLANATION OF GROUNDS OF
UNPATENTABILITY
Claim Construction A.
The claims of Bao are given their broadest reasonable construction in light
of the specification of the patent, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Exh. 1009 at 24. See also p. 8-9 above regarding claim terms coined by Bao.
1. Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art
As explained in the Schmid declaration, a person of ordinary skill in the art
of Bao from at least as early as 1993 through the earliest possible effective filing
date of Bao (March 11, 2009) would have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in
28
mechanical engineering or equivalent engineering design experience. Such a
person would also have familiarity with machines to achieve consolidation through
compression of loose materials like tobacco to fill hollow tubes and other
receptacles and experience in designing machines to achieve consolidation through
compression. Finally, a person of ordinary skill in the pertinent art would have and
apply logic, judgment and common sense based on such education and experience.
Exh. 1009 at 10.
2. Coverage of Independent Claim 1
Based on the teaching of Bao as summarized above, independent claim 1
would be construed by one of ordinary skill in the art as covering:
a) an automatic device for injecting tobacco into cigarette tubes,
b) having a tobacco holding cavity, a cigarette tube feed opening/tube
support and an electric motor electric motor,
c) where the longitudinal dimension of the housing of the device is less than
two cigarette tubes,
d) a motor driven arrangement for automatically feeding tobacco through the
tube holder into the tube,
e) a longitudinally supported tobacco feeder that is longitudinally driven in
an injection direction by the motor shaft,
f) a tobacco retaining member,
29
g) a feeding member that operates perpendicularly to the injection direction
of the tobacco feeder to form a tubular chamber with the retaining member for
holding tobacco before it is injected, and
h) a reciprocating unit to convert rotation of the motor shaft to sliding
movement of the tobacco feeder so that the tobacco feeder is moved longitudinally
through the feeding opening and longitudinally received in the housing. Exh. 9 at
25.
Ground 1: Claim 1 is Obvious Over Moser B.
Claim Chart I below is from the Schmid declaration (Exh. 1009 at 17-19)
and provides element-by-element evidence in support of the challenge to claim 1
as obvious over Moser (Exh. 1004). The bold parenthetical references below
correspond to Ref. 100-111 in the right column of Claim Chart I.
1. Claim 1 Features
a. Automatic cigarette tube injector
Moser provides an automatic machine for injecting tobacco into cigarette
tubes (100) since it employs a motor to fill an empty cigarette tube (104). Exh.
1009 at 33.
30
b. Tobacco cavity and feeding opening for cigarette tube
Moser includes a tobacco cavity in the form of hopper 20 and a feeding
opening and tube support at nozzle 178 which receives the open end of the
cigarette tube (101, 102). Exh. 1009 at 34.
c. Housing is less than two cigarette tubes in length
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. Moser
discloses automatic cigarette machine housings less than two cigarette tubes in
length (103).
This is established by visually comparing the length of cigarette tubes 70 in
the figures, including, e.g., FIGS. 13A, 13B and 6A. Exh. 1009 at 35. And when,
as here, a person of skill in the art can derive the claimed dimensions from the
disclosure of a prior art reference, there is no additional requirement that its
specification explicitly disclose the precise proportions. Cummins-Allison Corp. v.
SBM, 484 Fed. Appx. 499, 507 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
Also, as noted above, Bao explains that the length of its tobacco cavity 11 is
around the length of cigarette paper tube 50 ( Exh. 1001 at col. 3, l. 50-51),
establishing an approximately 1:1 relationship between the length of the tobacco
cavity and the length of the cigarette paper tube. Since Moser tobacco
compression chamber 90 takes up most of the length of the Moser machine,
31
structurally Moser must be less than two cigarette tubes in length, consistent with
the noted figures. Exh. 1009 at 36.
Finally, the recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device (less than
two cigarette tube lengths) cannot render it patentably distinct from prior art
devices, since Bao performs the same function in the same manner, whatever its
length. Gardner v. Tec Syst., Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 1984) and
M.P.E.P. §2144.04 IV. Note in this connection that Moser states: “the disclosed
device 10 could be made larger or smaller to fit a desired implementation.”
Exh. 1004 at [0033] and Exh. 1009 at 37.
d. Electric motor
Moser includes a motor 370 which has an unlabeled output shaft (104). Exh.
1009 at 38.
e. Motor arrangement automatically feeds tobacco
through feeding opening to cigarette tube
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao.
Moser, however, discloses this feature since it teaches an injection member 164
carried by shuttle 160 that is operated by a motor driven pinion 372 and
cooperating rack 374 to transport a compressed plug of tobacco 76 through nozzle
178 into cigarette tube 70 (105). Exh. 1009 at 39.
32
f. Longitudinally supported motor driven tobacco
feeder
Moser injection member 164 is longitudinally supported and driven in an
injection direction by pinion 372 of motor 370 (106). Exh. 1009 at 40.
g. Member for retaining tobacco leaves from tobacco
cavity
Moser’s injection member 164 retains tobacco within a tobacco cavity
before it passes through a feeding opening carrying tobacco into a cigarette tube
(107). Exh. 1009 at 41.
h. Feeding member slides perpendicularly to injection
direction and couples with retention member to form
tubular tobacco chamber
Moser compression member 100 operates perpendicularly to the direction
that injection member 164 moves. The compression member includes a cylindrical
compression end 104 that forms a cylindrical chamber with injection member 164
(108). Exh. 1009 at 42.
i. Reciprocating unit transmits motor rotation to sliding
movement of tobacco feeder
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. Moser
teaches this feature in its pinion 372 and rack 374 which convert the rotation of
33
motor 37 to reciprocal sliding movement of injection unit 150 (109). Exh. 1009
at 43.
j. Tobacco feeder moves linearly and longitudinally out
of feeding opening and into cigarette tube
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. Moser
teaches this feature in its injection member 164 which transports a compressed
tobacco plug 176 through nozzle 178 into cigarette tube 70 (110). Exh. 1009 at 44.
k. Tobacco feeder is longitudinally received in housing
to minimize housing length to less than two tube
lengths
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. Moser
teaches this feature in its injection member 164 which is longitudinally received in
the Moser. See also p. 30-31 above regarding Moser’s teaching of a housing
length less than two tube lengths (111). Exh. 1009 at 45.
In summary, Moser includes all of the elements of Bao claim 1 in its manual
and automatic embodiments, as discussed above and detailed in Chart I below.
And, these elements perform the same functions in Moser as they do in Bao to
produce the same result and product, a tobacco-filled cigarette tube, rendering Bao
obvious over Moser. Exh. 1009 at 46, 47.
34
Chart I: Bao Claim 1 elements in view of Moser
Description of Element Moser (Exh. 1004 ) Ref.
An automatic cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette tube, comprising:
This patent application illustrates multiple embodiments of manual and automated devices for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco. Exh. 1004 at par. [0002].
100
a housing having a tobacco cavity for said tobacco leaves disposing thereat,
A tobacco holding cavity is provided in the form of hopper 20 which holds tobacco 76. Exh. 1004 at par. [0036].
101
and a feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat,
A feed opening and tube support is provided at nozzle 178 which receives open end of cigarette tube 70. Exh. 1004 at par. [0048] and [0056].
102
wherein a longitudinal length of said housing is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube;
FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 6A (as well as other figures) of Exh. 1004 show that housing 102 is less than twice the width of compression chamber 90.
103
an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in said housing; and
Motor 370 has an unlabeled output shaft that rotates pinion 372. Exh. 1004, FIG. 6A.
104
a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by said electric motor via said output shaft for automatically feeding said tobacco leaves to said cigarette paper tube through said feeding opening of said housing,
Injection member 164, which is carried by shuttle 160 operated by a motor driven pinion 372 and cooperating rack 374 transports compressed plug of tobacco 76 through nozzle 178 and into a cigarette tube 70. Exh. 1004 at par. [0054], [0080] and FIG. 6A.
105
wherein said cigarette filling See following:
35
Chart I: Bao Claim 1 elements in view of Moser
Description of Element Moser (Exh. 1004 ) Ref.
arrangement comprises:
a tobacco feeder, which is a feeding crank, longitudinally supported in said housing and driven by said output shaft at a longitudinal direction which is an injection direction;
Injection member 164 is a longitudinally supported tobacco feeder that is driven in a longitudinal injection direction by pinion 372 of motor 370. Exh. 1004 at par. [0064], [0076], and [0080].
106
a retention member for retaining said tobacco leaves from said tobacco cavity;
Insertion member 164 is a tobacco retaining member before it passes through a feeding opening carrying tobacco into a cigarette tube. Exh. 1004 at par. [0054], [0068], and FIG. 4.
107
a feeding member slidably supported in said housing along a direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, wherein said tobacco feeder is able to be slid to couple with said retention member to form a tubular chamber for holding said tobacco leaves therein such that said tobacco feeder is able to be driven to push towards said feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube; and
Compression member 100 operates perpendicularly to the injection direction of injection member 164 and includes a cylindrical compression end 104 that forms a cylindrical chamber with injection member 164. Exh. 1004 at par. [0047].
108
a reciprocating unit for transmitting a rotational power of said output shaft to a sliding movement of said tobacco feeder,
Pinion 372 and rack 374 convert rotation of motor 370 to reciprocal sliding movement of injection unit 150 to feed tobacco into a cigarette tube. Exh. 1004 at par. [0080].
109
wherein said tobacco feeder is linearly moved at said longitudinal
Injection member 164 of shuttle 160 moves compressed tobacco plug 76
110
36
Chart I: Bao Claim 1 elements in view of Moser
Description of Element Moser (Exh. 1004 ) Ref.
direction out of said feeding opening for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube
through nozzle 178 into cigarette tube 70. Exh. 1004 at par. [0054], [0066] and [0068].
and is longitudinally received in said housing to minimize said longitudinal length of said housing which is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube.
Injection member 164 is longitudinally received in the housing of this device, which is shorter than two cigarette tubes in length. Exh. 1004, FIGS. 4 and 6A. See also 103 above.
111
Ground 2: Claim 1 is Obvious Over Chen. C.
Claim Chart II below is from the Schmid declaration (Exh. 1009 at 48) and
provides element-by-element evidence in support of the challenge to claim 1 as
obvious over Chen (Exh. 1006). The bold parenthetical references below
correspond to Ref. 200-211 in the right column of Claim Chart II.
1. Claim 1 Features
a. Automatic cigarette tube injector
Chen provides an electric cigarette tube filling machine (200). Exh. 1009
at 49.
b. Tobacco cavity and feeding opening for cigarette tube
Chen includes a tobacco cavity in the form of tobacco storage trough (1) and
a feed opening at tube clamp (5). (201, 202). Exh. 1009 at 50.
37
c. Housing is less than two cigarette tubes in length
The recitation of relative dimensions in the Bao claims cannot render them
patently distinct from prior art devices like Chen, since the Chen machine performs
in the same fashion whatever its length. Gardner, 725 F.2d at 1349 and M.P.E.P.
§2144.04 IV. Exh. 1009 at 51.
Also, the Chen figures, which are schematic diagrams, show a substantial
amount of dead space to the right of crank wheel (9) which would be eliminated by
one of ordinary skill in the art as a routine matter if it were deemed desirable to
make the Chen housing (15) less than two cigarette tubes in length. In such an
obvious modification, the person of ordinary skill would reposition the
schematically depicted restoring spring (14), again as a routine matter. Finally,
Chen also includes additional dead space in the housing on either side of pressing
block (6) which also could be removed as a routine matter (203). Exh. 1009 at 52.
d. Electric motor
Chen includes a motor (10) which with an output shaft (11) (204). Exh.
1009 at 53.
38
e. Motor arrangement automatically feeds tobacco
through feeding opening to cigarette tube
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. It is
taught by Chen which has a crank wheel (9) and oscillating bar (13) driven by
motor (10) for feeding tobacco into a cigarette tube (205). Exh. 1009 at 54.
f. Longitudinally supported motor driven tobacco
feeder
Chen pusher (3) is a tobacco feeder longitudinally supported and driven in
longitudinal injection direction by shaft of motor (206). Exh. 1009 at 55.
g. Member for retaining tobacco leaves from tobacco
cavity
Chen cigarette forming slot (2) retains the shredded tobacco as it is pushed
into the cigarette tube and therefore serves as a retention member (207). Exh. 1009
at 56.
h. Feeding member slides perpendicularly to injection
direction and couples with retention member to form
tubular tobacco chamber
Chen pressing block (6) operates perpendicularly to the injection direction of
pusher (3) to enclose loose tobacco and form a cylindrical shredded tobacco that is
injected into a cigarette tube (4). Since the shredded tobacco is formed into a
39
cylinder, the pressing block and pusher must form a tubular chamber to accomplish
this. (208). Exh. 1009 at 57.
i. Reciprocating unit transmits motor rotation to sliding
movement of tobacco feeder
This feature was added during the prosecution prior to allowance of Bao.
Chen teaches this feature in its oscillating bar (13) in combination with motor shaft
(11) and pusher (3) convert rotation of motor shaft to sliding movement of pusher
(3) (209). Exh. 1009 at 58.
j. Tobacco feeder moves linearly and longitudinally out
of feeding opening and into cigarette tube
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. Chen
teaches this feature in its pusher (3) which feeds cylindrical shredded tobacco
through opening at cigarette tube clamp (5) into cigarette tube (4) (210). Exh.
1009 at 59.
k. Tobacco feeder is longitudinally received in housing
to minimize housing length to less than two tube
lengths
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao.
Chen’s pusher (3) returns to the Chen housing which can be seen by comparing
FIGS. 2 and 3 (111). Regarding obviousness of making housing less than two
cigarette tube lengths (see p. 37 above). Exh. 1009 at 60.
40
[INSERT 200]
Chart II: Bao Claim 1 Elements in View of Chen (Exh. 1006)
Description of Element Chen Ref.
An automatic cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette tube, comprising:
This utility model is titled “Portable Electric Filtered Cigarette Tube Filling Machine” and fills cigarettes with shredded tobacco. Exh. 1006 at p. 1.
200
a housing having a tobacco cavity for said tobacco leaves disposing thereat,
A tobacco holding cavity is provided in the form of tobacco storage trough (1). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
201
and a feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat,
An unlabeled feed opening and tube support is shown at cigarette tube clamp (5). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
202
wherein a longitudinal length of said housing is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube;
See below. 203
an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in said housing; and
Motor (10) has an output shaft (11). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
204
a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by said electric motor via said output shaft for automatically feeding said tobacco leaves to said cigarette paper tube through said feeding opening of said housing,
Crank wheel (9) and oscillating bar (13) are driven by motor (10) for feeding tobacco into a cigarette tube (4) through the feeding opening at clamp (5). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
205
wherein said cigarette filling arrangement comprises:
See following:
a tobacco feeder, which is a feeding Pusher (3) is a tobacco feeder 206
41
Chart II: Bao Claim 1 Elements in View of Chen (Exh. 1006)
Description of Element Chen Ref.
crank, longitudinally supported in said housing and driven by said output shaft at a longitudinal direction which is an injection direction;
longitudinally supported and driven in longitudinal injection direction by shaft of motor (10). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
a retention member for retaining said tobacco leaves from said tobacco cavity;
Cigarette forming slot (2) retains the shredded tobacco as it is pushed into the cigarette tube. Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
207
a feeding member slidably supported in said housing along a direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, wherein said tobacco feeder is able to be slid to couple with said retention member to form a tubular chamber for holding said tobacco leaves therein such that said tobacco feeder is able to be driven to push towards said feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube; and
Pressing block (6) operates perpendicularly to the injection direction of pusher (3) to enclose loose tobacco and form a cylindrical shredded tobacco that is injected into a cigarette tube (4). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
208
a reciprocating unit for transmitting a rotational power of said output shaft to a sliding movement of said tobacco feeder,
Oscillating bar (13) in combination with motor shaft (11) and pusher (3) convert rotation of motor shaft to sliding movement of pusher (3). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
209
wherein said tobacco feeder is linearly moved at said longitudinal direction out of said feeding opening for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube
Pusher (3) feeds cylindrical shredded tobacco through opening at cigarette tube clamp (5) into cigarette tube (4). Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 3.
210
and is longitudinally received in Pusher (3) is shown longitudinally 211
42
Chart II: Bao Claim 1 Elements in View of Chen (Exh. 1006)
Description of Element Chen Ref.
said housing to minimize said longitudinal length of said housing which is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube.
received in the Chen housing. See below regarding obviousness of making housing less than two cigarette tube lengths. Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5 and FIG. 2.
Ground 3: Claim 1 is Obvious Over Kastner in View of Moser D.
Claim Chart III below is from the Schmid declaration (Exh. 1009 at 62) and
provides element-by-element evidence in support of the challenge to claim 1 as
obvious over Kastner in view of selected teachings of Moser. The bold
parenthetical references below correspond to Ref. 300-311 in the right column of
Claim Chart III.
1. Motivation to Combine Kastner with Moser
An inventor or one of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to look to
Kastner and Moser to design an automatic cigarette-making machine as in Bao
because Kastner and Moser describe portable cigarette making machines for filling
hollow tubes with tobacco, and these references establish that all the claim
elements were known in the prior art and the combination yields nothing more than
predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art, rendering claim 1 obvious.
KSR, 550 U.S. 398, 416, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395. Exh. 1009 at 63.
43
As in Bao, the cited cigarette machines include cavities for receiving loose
tobacco and manually operating compactors to capture and compress the tobacco
into a cylindrical shape that is injected into the tube. Exh. 1009 at 64. Moser
includes a motor as in Bao for automatically feeding the compressed tobacco
through a feeding opening into the tube. Exh. 1009 at 65. While Kastner performs
the feeding operation manually, the feeding operation is accomplished by
transmitting rotation to sliding movement as in Bao. Brown teaches how to
achieve this conversion in the fashion employed in Bao. Exh. 1009 at 66.
In Kastner and Moser, the compactor is slidably supported for moving
perpendicularly to the injection direction and the Moser machine is less than two
cigarette tubes in length. Exh. 1009 at 67. Finally, combining the elements of
these references by installing them in a single cigarette-making machine according
to known assembly methods with no change in their functions will yield
predictable results, making the claimed Bao machine obvious. Exh. 1009 at 68;
KSR, 550 U.S. at 416, 82 USPQ2d at 1395.
Also, with reference to the proposed combination of Kastner with Moser, it
would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that motorizing the
Kastner machine as in the Chen and Moser machines would produce a predictable
combination that had a reasonable expectation of success because the features in
the combination function in the same way as they do in the references. Exh. 1009
44
at 69; In re Merck & Co., Inc., 800 F.2d 1091, 1097, 231 USPQ 375, 379 (Fed. Cir.
1986). Indeed, because Moser motorizes a cigarette making machine it
demonstrates that the Kastner machine was ready for the motorizing improvement.
Exh. 1009 at 70; KSR at 1739-40. Therefore the resulting design is not a product
of innovation, but rather of ordinary skill and common sense and Bao is obvious
over these combined references. Exh. 1009 at 71.
2. Claim 1 Features
a. Automatic cigarette tube injector
Kastner and Moser provide machines for injecting or filling tobacco into
cigarette tubes which can be made automatic by motorizing the injection feature of
the machine as taught by Chen and Moser (300). Exh. 1009 at 72.
b. Tobacco cavity and feeding opening for cigarette tube
Kastner includes a tobacco holding cavity in the form of slot 18 and a feed
opening and tube support at tube nipple 16. (301, 302). Exh. 1009 at 73.
c. Housing is less than two cigarette tubes in length
The Kastner housing is less than or nearly less than two cigarette tubes in
length as can be seen by the figures where tobacco slot 18 or spoon 60 is taken to
correspond to a cigarette tube length. The Moser machine is less than two cigarette
tubes in length as is clear, for example, from FIGS. 13A, 13B and 6A (303). Exh.
1009 at 74. See also the discussion of length of Moser machine above at p. 30-31.
45
d. Electric motor
Moser includes a motor 370 which has an unlabeled output shaft (304). Exh.
1009 at 75.
e. Motor arrangement automatically feeds tobacco
through feeding opening to cigarette tube
Moser teaches an injection member 164 carried by shuttle 160 that is
operated by a motor driven pinion 372 and cooperating rack 374 to transport a
compressed plug of tobacco 76 through nozzle 178 into cigarette tube 70 (305).
Exh. 1009 at 76.
f. Longitudinally supported motor driven tobacco
feeder
Moser injection member 164 is longitudinally supported and driven in an
injection direction by pinion 372 of motor 370 (306). Exh. 1009 at 77.
g. Member for retaining tobacco leaves from tobacco
cavity
Spoon 60 is shown in Kastner being located below tobacco slot 18 and is
arranged to carry tobacco toward and through cigarette tube nipple 16 and into the
cigarette tube. (307). Exh. 1009 at 78.
46
h. Feeding member slides perpendicularly to injection
direction and couples with retention member to form
tubular tobacco chamber
In Kastner, compactor 32 is urged perpendicularly to the injection direction
of spoon 62 form a cylindrical body of tobacco before it is injected into a cigarette
tube. Since the tobacco is formed into a cylindrical body, a tubular chamber must
be formed to accomplish this. (308). Exh. 1009 at 79.
i. Reciprocating unit transmits motor rotation to sliding
movement of tobacco feeder
This feature was added during prosecution prior to allowance of Bao. Moser
teaches this feature in its pinion 372 and rack 374 which convert rotation of motor
37 to reciprocal sliding movement of injection unit 150 (309). Exh. 1009 at 80.
j. Tobacco feeder moves linearly and longitudinally out
of feeding opening and into cigarette tube
Kastner’s spoon 60 is longitudinally received in casing 14 (311). Also,
Moser’s injection member 164 is longitudinally received in the housing of this
device, which is shorter than two cigarette tubes in length (311).
Kastner’s spoon 60 is moved linearly through tube nipple 16 and into a
cigarette tube (310). Exh. 1009 at 81.
47
k. Tobacco feeder is longitudinally received in housing
to minimize housing length to less than two tube
lengths
Kastner and Moser are in the same field as Bao, namely the field of portable
devices for injecting tobacco into cigarette tubes. They also both address the same
problem, i.e., how to provide a device for injecting the tobacco that is small and
portable. The Bao design flows from a simple substitution of one known element
in Chen or Moser for another in Kastner to obtain a predictable result. Exh. 1009
at 82.
Kastner teaches a portable manual cigarette tube filling machine that
includes, as in independent claim 1, a cavity for holding loose tobacco, an opening
for attaching an empty cigarette tube, and a cigarette-filling arrangement for
feeding tobacco into the cigarette tube that includes a spoon (tobacco feeder) for
holding the tobacco and a compacting member that cooperates with the spoon to
form a tubular chamber hold the tobacco before it is injected into the cigarette tube.
The cigarette-filling arrangement of Kastner converts rotation to sliding movement
of the spoon or tobacco feeder. Exh. 1009 at 83.
While the Kastner machine does not employ a motor, it would be obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art wishing to make this machine faster and more
convenient to use to employ a motor to inject tobacco on the spoon into a cigarette
tube in view of the motorized cigarette-making machine of Moser and since this
48
produces a predictable combination with a reasonable expectation of success, and
because the features of the combination function in the same way as they do in
Kastner and Moser. Exh. 1009 at 84.
Chart III: Bao Claim 1 Elements Over Kastner in View of Moser
Description of Element Kastner (Exh. 1005)
Moser (Exh. 1004)
Ref.
An automatic cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette tube, comprising:
Kastner discloses manually operable, portable cigarette making machines. Exh. 1005 at col. 1, l. 5-8.
This patent application illustrates multiple embodiments of automated devices for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco. Exh. 1004 at par. [0002].
300
a housing having a tobacco cavity for said tobacco leaves disposing thereat,
A tobacco holding cavity is provided in the form of tobacco slot 18. Exh. 1005 at col. 18 and FIG. l.
301
and a feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat,
A feed opening and tube support is provided at tube nipple 16. Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 16 and l. 31-33 and FIG. 3. (retainer 40)
302
wherein a longitudinal length of said housing is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube;
Housing is less than or nearly less than two cigarette tubes in length as can be seen by the figures where tobacco slot 18 or spoon 60 is taken to correspond to a cigarette tube length. Exh. 1005 at FIGS. 1 and 3.
FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 6A (as well as other figures) of Exh. 1004 show that housing 102 is less than twice the width of compression chamber 90.
303
an electric motor, having an output shaft, received
Does not have a motor. Motor 370 has an unlabeled output shaft that
304
49
Chart III: Bao Claim 1 Elements Over Kastner in View of Moser
Description of Element Kastner (Exh. 1005)
Moser (Exh. 1004)
Ref.
in said housing; and rotates pinion 372. Exh. 1004, FIG. 6A.
a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by said electric motor via said output shaft for automatically feeding said tobacco leaves to said cigarette paper tube through said feeding opening of said housing,
Tobacco is fed manually through tube nipple 16 into a cigarette tube. Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 44-47.
Injection member 164, which is carried by shuttle 160 operated by a motor driven pinion 372 and cooperating rack 374 transports compressed plug of tobacco 76 through nozzle 178 and into a cigarette tube 70. Exh. 1004 at par. [0054], [0076] and FIG. 6A.
305
wherein said cigarette filling arrangement comprises:
Follows below.
a tobacco feeder, which is a feeding crank, longitudinally supported in said housing and driven by said output shaft at a longitudinal direction which is an injection direction;
Spoon 60 (tobacco feeder) moves in a longitudinal direction. Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 44-46 and FIG. 4.
306
a retention member for retaining said tobacco leaves from said tobacco cavity;
Spoon 60 is shown in the figures as being located below tobacco slot 18 and is arranged to carry tobacco toward and through cigarette tube nipple 16 and into the cigarette tube. Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 44-46 and
307
50
Chart III: Bao Claim 1 Elements Over Kastner in View of Moser
Description of Element Kastner (Exh. 1005)
Moser (Exh. 1004)
Ref.
FIGS. 1 and 2.
a feeding member slidably supported in said housing along a direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, wherein said tobacco feeder is able to be slid to couple with said retention member to form a tubular chamber for holding said tobacco leaves therein such that said tobacco feeder is able to be driven to push towards said feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube; and
Compactor 32 is urged perpendicularly to the injection direction of spoon 60 to form a cylindrical body of tobacco before it is injected into a cigarette tube. Exh. 1005 at col. 2, l. 17-19 and col. 6, l. 44-49 and FIG. 2.
Compression member 100 operates perpendicularly to the injection direction of injection member 164 and includes a cylindrical compression end 104 that forms a cylindrical chamber with injection member 164. Exh. 1004 at par. [0047].
308
a reciprocating unit for transmitting a rotational power of said output shaft to a sliding movement of said tobacco feeder,
Rotary motion of manually operated handle 20 rotates cam 24 causing lever 52 to slide spoon 62 longitudinally through tube nipple 16 and into the cigarette tube. Exh. 1005 at col. 5 l. 18-23 and l. 39-46.
Pinion 372 and rack 374 convert rotation of motor 370 to reciprocal sliding movement of injection unit 150 to feed tobacco into a cigarette tube. Exh. 1004 at par. [0080].
309
wherein said tobacco feeder is linearly moved at said longitudinal direction out of said feeding opening for
Spoon 60 is moved linearly through tube nipple 16 and into the cigarette tube. Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 39-46.
310
51
Chart III: Bao Claim 1 Elements Over Kastner in View of Moser
Description of Element Kastner (Exh. 1005)
Moser (Exh. 1004)
Ref.
feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube
and is longitudinally received in said housing to minimize said longitudinal length of said housing which is lesser than two cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube.
Spoon 60 is longitudinally received in casing 14. Exh. 1005 at FIG. 3.
Injection member 164 is longitudinally received in the housing of this device, which is shorter than two cigarette tubes in length. (103 above). Exh. 1004, FIGS. 4 and 6A.
311
Dependent Claims 2-25 are Obvious Over Chen, Kastner and E.
Brown
The above analyses of independent claim 1 vis-à-vis Moser, Chen, and
Kastner in view of Chen, establish that claim 1 is unpatentable on three
independent bases. The analyses of the dependent claims which follow below
should be understood to separately incorporate each of these analyses of claim 1
and to further establish that the dependent claims do not further limit claim 1 in a
way that would render any dependent claim patentable.
All of the dependent claims were initially rejected during the prosecution of
Bao, and dependent claims 8, 9, and 10 were amended to remove the language that
was incorporated into independent claim 1.
52
The following discussion references Claim Charts IV-1 to IV-10 in which
the dependence of each claim is indicated in the chart caption, and a description of
each claim element appears in parsed form. The complete dependent claim
language appears in Exhibit 1011.
Claim 2 requires that the tobacco feeder slide between a loading position and
a filling position, and that corresponding arc-shaped feeding and retention
members form a tubular chamber for holding tobacco and a pusher wall for feeding
the tobacco into a cigarette tube. Exh. 1009 at 86.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 2 in an automatic cigarette
machine as shown in Chart IV-1 below and therefore renders claim 2 obvious.
Exh. 1009 at 87.
Chart IV-1: Claim 2 (dependent on claim 1)
Element Prior Art
tobacco feeder comprises a driving member, having a front pusher wall, reciprocatingly driven by output shaft of electric motor to slide it between a first position and a second position along said injection direction through said feeding opening of said housing and
In Chen, pusher (3) is a driving member that includes an unlabeled wall at its back edge. The pusher is reciprocatingly driven by shaft (11) of motor (10) between a first position shown in solid lines and a second position shown in broken lines where the pusher moves through a feeding opening of the housing. Exh. 1006 at 4-5 and FIG. 3.
an arc-shaped retention member frontwardly extended from said front pusher wall of said driving member for retaining said tobacco leaves at an inner wall of said retention member from said
The Chen tobacco feeder/driving member comprises an arc-shaped retention member in FIGS. 2 and 3. Tobacco leaves in shredded tobacco storage trough (1) are retained at the inner wall of this retention
53
Chart IV-1: Claim 2 (dependent on claim 1)
Element Prior Art
tobacco cavity; member.
arc-shaped feeding member slidably supported in said housing along said direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, wherein said feeding member is slid to couple with said retention member at said first position to form said tubular chamber within said inner wall of said retention member and an inner wall of said feeding member for holding said tobacco leaves within said tubular chamber, such that when said driving member is driven to slide at said second position, said front pusher wall of said driving member is driven to push towards said feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube.
Chen FIGS. 2 and 3 show a pressing block (or feeding member) (6) slidably supported in a direction perpendicular to injection direction. Chen states that the pressing block forms tobacco into cylindrical shape which indicates that it is arc-shaped. Exh. 1006 at 4-5 and FIG.
Claim 3/10 requires that the corresponding inner walls of the retention and
feeding members have a semi-circular shape so that when they are coupled they
form a circumferential size corresponding to the cigarette tube. Exh. 1009 at 88.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 3/10 as shown in Chart IV-2 below
and therefore renders claim 3/10 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 89.
Chart IV-2: Claims 3 and 10 (dependent on claims 2 and 9)
Element Prior Art
each of said inner walls of said retention member and said feeding
Chen describes the cigarette forming slot (2) as cylindrical; FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cigarette
54
member is formed in a semi-circular shape that when said feeding member is coupled with said retention member to form said tubular chamber, said tubular chamber has a circumferential size corresponding to cigarette paper tube
forming slot as coupled with tobacco pressing block (6) and Chen states that the tobacco is formed into a cylindrical shape. Exh. 1006 at 4-5 and FIG. 3.
Claim 4/12 requires that the retention member carries the tobacco out of the
housing into the cigarette tube. Exh. 1009 at 90.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 4/12 as shown in Chart IV-3 below
and therefore renders claim 4/12 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 91.
Chart IV-3: Claims 4 and 12 (dependent on claims 2 and 10)
Element Prior Art
at said second position, said retention member is slidably pushed out of said feeding opening of said housing into said cigarette paper tube for loading said tobacco leaves therein.
Chen FIG. 3 (Exh. 1006) shows pusher (3) (retention member) slidably pushed out of the feeding opening into a cigarette paper to load tobacco leaves in the tube.
Claim 5/11/18 requires that the reciprocating unit have a transmission wheel
with an eccentric shaft on the motor shaft, a connecting arm coupled to the driving
member, and a transmission arm with a transmitting slot slidably coupled to the
eccentric shaft and rotatably coupled to the connecting arm so that rotation of the
shaft drives the connecting arm and transmission arm to move reciprocatingly to
55
cause the tobacco feeder to slide between its first and second positions. Exh. 1009
at 92.
This claim 5/11/18 incorporates the following design which was known
since at least 1896 to convert circular motion into linear motion by a crank-pin on a
rotating disk working in the slot of a bell-crank. Exh. 1009 at 93.
Chen alone and in combination with Brown employs all of the features of
claim 5/11/18 in view of this and as shown in Chart IV-4 below and therefore
renders claim 5/11/18 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 94.
Chart IV-4: Claims 5, 11 and 18 (dependent on claims 2, 10 and 12)
Element Prior Art
reciprocating unit comprises a transmission wheel, having an eccentric shaft, coaxially coupling with said output shaft,
Chen FIGS. 2 and 3 (Exh. 1006) show a reciprocating unit in which crank wheel (9) has an unlabeled eccentric shaft attached to connector bar (8) coaxially coupling the crank wheel to the motor output shaft.
reciprocating unit comprises a connecting arm rotatably coupling with said driving member, and
Chen FIGS. 2 and 3 (Exh. 1006) show reciprocating unit of Chen as including a connecting arm in the form of connector bar
56
(8) that is rotatably coupled with oscillating bar (13) which serves as a driving member.
reciprocating unit comprises a transmission arm, having a transmitting slot slidably coupling with said eccentric shaft, rotatably coupling with said connecting arm, such that when said electric motor generates said rotational power at said output shaft, said connecting arm and said transmission arm are driven to move reciprocatingly through said transmission wheel so as to reciprocatingly drive said tobacco feeder to slide between said first and second position.
Chen FIGS. 2 and 3 (Exh. 1006) show reciprocating unit driven by an electric motor that rotates at its output shaft that causes pusher (3) to slide between a first position at the bottom of tobacco storage trough (1) (FIG.2) and a second position within the cigarette tube (FIG.3) and Brown teaches a structure to convert such rotation into linear motion by a crank-pin on a rotating disk working in the slot of a bell-crank. Exh. 1009 at 31.
Claim 6/13 requires that the tobacco feeder is slidably supported and
receives tobacco leaves from the tobacco cavity. Exh. 1009 at 95.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 6/13 as shown in Chart IV-5 below
and therefore renders claim 6/13 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 96.
Chart IV-5: Claims 6 and 13 (dependent on claims 2 and 12)
Element Prior Art
housing further has a sliding compartment communicating with said tobacco cavity for said tobacco feeder being slidably supported at said sliding compartment, such that when said tobacco leaves are disposed within said tobacco cavity, said tobacco leaves are filled at said inner wall of said retention member.
In Chen (Exh. 1006) FIGS. 2 and 3 cigarette forming slot (2) (tobacco feeder) is disposed in a sliding compartment communicating with tobacco storage trough (1) (tobacco cavity). FIGS. 2 and 3 show that cigarette forming slot (2) is mounted for sliding movement from within the Chen machine through the opening at cigarette tube clamp (5). The slot positioned so that tobacco
57
placed in trough (1) is filled at the inner wall of the slot. FIG. 2.
Claim 7/14/21 requires that a manual actuator be provided to actuate and
couple the coupling the feeding member with the retention member, that the
manual actuator is a pivotally mounted handle, and that the device is arranged so
that when the handle is actuated the feeding member slides toward the retention
member. Exh. 1009 at 97.
Kastner employs all of the features of claim 7/14/21 as shown in Chart IV-6
below and therefore renders claim 7/14/21 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 98.
Chart IV-6: Claims 7, 14 and 21 (dependent on claims 2, 12 and 19)
Element Prior Art
said cigarette filling arrangement further comprises a manual actuator for actuating said feeding member being shifted within said tobacco cavity to couple with said retention member,
Kastner includes a manual actuator in the form of handle 20 a handle drive 22 and a pressing unit for actuating compactor 32 which slides within tobacco slot 18 to couple with spoon 60 (retention member). Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 18-30 and FIG. 5.
said manual actuator comprises a handle member pivotally coupled with said housing and a pusher unit which is coupled between said handle member and said feeding member and is arranged in such a manner that when said handle member is manually actuated, said feeding member is driven to slide towards said retention member through said pusher unit.
Kastner handle 20/handle drive 22 are rotatably mounted to the housing. Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 25-26. When the handle is manually rotated, pressure is supplied to slide the feeding member toward the spoon (retention member) Exh. 1005 at col. 5, l. 25-29.
58
Claim 8/15/19/22 requires that a compartment be provided for guiding the
feeding member to slide toward the retention member. Exh. 1009 at 99.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 8/15/19 as shown in Chart IV-7
below and therefore renders claim 3-10 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 100.
Chart IV-7: Claims 8, 15, 19 and 22
(dependent on claims 7, 14, 18 and 21)
Element Prior Art
housing further comprises a guiding compartment longitudinally extended from said tobacco cavity to guide said feeding member to slide towards said retention member.
Chen pressing block (6) is confined and guided to slide towards storage trough (1) to form a tobacco cylinder. Exh. 1006 at p. 4-5.
Claim 9 requires that the retention member extends from a driving member
having a pusher wall to push tobacco leaves toward the feeding opening of the
machine. Exh. 1009 at 101.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 8/15/19/22 as shown in Chart IV-8
below and therefore renders claim 8/15/19/22 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 102.
Chart IV-8: Claim 9 (dependent on claim 2)
Element Prior Art
said retention member is integrally extended from a circumferential side of said driving member such that when said tobacco leaves are retained at said inner wall of said retention member, said front pusher wall of said driving member is driven to push said tobacco
Chen FIG.2 (Exh. 5) shows cigarette forming slot (2) (retention member) integrally extending from an unlabeled driving member so that when tobacco is on the inner wall of the slot it’s unlabeled pusher wall is driven to push tobacco leaves toward the feeding opening of the Chen housing.
59
leaves towards said feeding opening of said housing.
Claim 16/20/23 requires that the edge of the tobacco cavity is provided with
a sharp cutting edge so that when the feeding member moves across this edge it
trims protruding tobacco leaves. Exh. 1005 at 103.
The movement of Chen pressing blocks 60 across the corresponding
tobacco-holding cavity creates a trimming action. Therefore Chen employs all of
the features of claim 16/20/23 in view of this and as shown in Chart IV-9 below
and therefore renders claim 16/20/23 obvious. Exh. 1005 at 104.
Chart IV-9: Claims 16, 20 and 23
(dependent on claims 12, 19 and 22)
Element Prior Art
an opening of said tobacco cavity forms a sharp cutting edge that when said feeding member is slid to couple with said retention member, said sharp cutting edge is adapted for trimming said tobacco leaves to receive in said tubular chamber.
Chen FIGS.2 and 3 (Exh. 1006) indicate that Chen pressing block (6) passes across an edge of a tobacco-holding cavity as the compactor/block moves to compress the tobacco. Moser teaches a sharp leading edge 774 on compression member 735 to cut loose tobacco during the compression process. Exh. 1004 at [0013] and FIG. 10C.
Claim 17/24/25 requires that a tube holder is provided on the feeding
opening to hold the cigarette tube. Exh. 1009 at 105.
Chen employs all of the features of claim 17/14/25 as shown in Chart IV-10
below and therefore renders claim 17/14/25 obvious. Exh. 1009 at 106.
60
Chart IV-10: Claims 17, 24 and 25 (dependent on claims 12, 21 and 1)
Element Prior Art
housing further comprises a tubular holder coaxially extended from said feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube encirclingly retaining with said tubular holder.
Chen FIG. 2 (Exh. 1006) shows an unlabeled tubular tube holder at cigarette clamp (5) which extends coaxially from the feeding opening to encircle and retain the cigarette tube.
XI. CONCLUSION
Challenged claims 1-25 are unpatentable, as shown above. Accordingly,
petitioner requests institution of an inter partes review.
Respectfully submitted, /Barry W. Sufrin/ ______________________________ Barry W. Sufrin, Reg. No. 27,398 Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3700 Chicago, Illinois 60606-1698 (312) 569-1000 (telephone) (312) 569-3000 (facsimile) Customer No.: 08968 Date: October 16, 2014
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies service pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §§42.6(e) and 42.105(b) on
the Patent Owner by Express Mail of a true and correct copy of this “Petition for
Inter Partes Review” and the Exhibits thereto at the following correspondence
address of record for U.S. Patent No. 8,261,752:
David and Raymond Patent Firm 108 N. Ynez Ave.
Suite 128 Monterey Park, CA 91754
Attn: Raymond Chan, David Lee and Albert Lum
Dated: October 16, 2014
/Barry W. Sufrin/ ______________________________ Barry W. Sufrin, Reg. No. 27,398 Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3700 Chicago, Illinois 60606-1698 (312) 569-1000 (telephone) (312) 569-3000 (facsimile) Customer No.: 08968