DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1, 4-6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-13 of U.S. Patent No. 11,340,213. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other. This rejection was applied to claims 1-17 in Paragraphs 2-3 of the Non-Final Rejection mailed 06/18/25; maintained for claims 1-15 and 17 in Paragraphs 2-3 of the Final Rejection mailed 10/01/25; and then maintained again in Paragraphs 6-7 of the Non-Final Rejection mailed 05/13/26. The rejection remains in effect for claims 1, 4-6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17. Please see Response to Arguments below.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 08/13/26, with respect to the rejection(s) of claims under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen et al. (US 2013/0068649) in view of Daykin (US 2005/0133396) have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicant has amended claim 1 to recite the additional features of “wherein a length of the first element is greater than a height of the second element or the third element, the first element is located on the cover, the second element and the third element are located on the cup body, wherein when the cover is rotated to the specified location, the first element is blocked by the second element to cause an elastic deformation, and upon passing the second element, the deformed first element restores and collides with the third element to generate vibrations that produces a sound so as to prompt that the cover is covering the specified location and provides a timing signal for testing”. Applicant then argued the additional features are not taught or suggested by the cited prior art. See pages 5-6 of Applicant’s remarks. The Examiner agrees; therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn.
Applicant's arguments, filed 08/13/26, with respect to the rejection(s) of claims under Double Patenting have been fully considered. The Examiner notes Applicant’s comments directed to submitting a terminal disclaimer on page 7 of Applicant’s Remarks. The Examiner contacted Applicant's Representative, Nan Carr, to inform Applicant that the application contains allowable subject matter and would be allowable if Applicant were to overcome the remaining Double Patenting rejection. The Examiner requested Applicant submit a Terminal Disclaimer by electronic submission, but Applicant requested the Examiner send an action. See attached Interview Summary.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 4-6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, and 17 would be allowable upon overcoming the rejection(s) under Double Patenting set forth in this Office action. Applicant has amended claim 1 to recite the additional features of “wherein a length of the first element is greater than a height of the second element or the third element, the first element is located on the cover, the second element and the third element are located on the cup body, wherein when the cover is rotated to the specified location, the first element is blocked by the second element to cause an elastic deformation, and upon passing the second element, the deformed first element restores and collides with the third element to generate vibrations that produces a sound so as to prompt that the cover is covering the specified location and provides a timing signal for testing”. The Examiner submits these features are not taught or suggested by the cited prior art.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DWAYNE K HANDY whose telephone number is (571)272-1259. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10AM-7PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles Capozzi can be reached at 571-270-3638. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DWAYNE K HANDY/Examiner, Art Unit 1798 September 29, 2026
/CHARLES CAPOZZI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1798
