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 .
Detailed Action
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.
Applicant’s submission filed on October 31, 2025 has been entered.
Drawing Objection
The drawings are objected to because:
In Fig.7, the leadline for reference numeral “310” should be extended to point to the cutout of the cover 300. Note Fig.6.
In Figs.8, 10, 12 and 13, reference numeral “220” has not been descried in the specification.
In Fig.12, reference numeral “210” (the lower one) should read --110a,110b--. Note Fig.5.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
1. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
2. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
(1) In claims 1 and 11, line 6, “the at least one razor blade” has no antecedent basis.
(2) In claims 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10, line 2, “a razor blade” is vague. The phrase should read --the razor blade--. Note line 6 of claim 1.
(3) In claim 8, lines 2, “a cutting edge” and “at least one razor blade” are vague. The phrases should read --the cutting edge-- and --the at least one razor blade--, respectively.
(4) In claim 14, line 3, “at least one razor stop extrude” and “a razor blade” are vague. The phrases should dread --the at least one razor stop extrude-- and --the razor blade--, respectively.
(5) In claim 16, line 2, “a razor” is vague. Is it in addition to the shaving razor” cited at line 1 of the claim? It appears “a razor” should read –the razor blade--. Note claim 7.
(6) In claim 17, lines 1-2, “the at least one separation member” has no clear antecedent basis. The phrase should read --the separation member--. Note line 3 of claim 11.
(7) In claim 17, line 2, “a cutting edge” and “at least one razor blade” should read
--the cutting edge-- and --the at least one razor blade--, respectively. Note line 6 of claim 11.
(8) In claims 18 and 19, line 2, “a razor blade” is vague and should read --the razor blade--. Note line 6 of claim 11.
(9) In claim 20, line 6, “at least one razor stop extrude” should read --the at least one razor stop extrude--. Note line 5 of claim 20.
(10) In claim 20, line 10, “the eat one razor blade” has no antecedent basis.
Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
1. Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
2. Independent claims 1, 11 and 20 as amended overcome the prior rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 103 because none of the prior art of record taken alone or in combination thereof shows or fairly suggests the claimed shaving razor (1) comprising, among other things, a head (100) including a frame (200) and a cover (300) pivotally attached to the frame (200); and at lest one locking feature (210, see Figs.4-5 of this instant application) provided on an outer lateral surface of the frame (200) extending substantially perpendicular to a cutting edge of at least one razor blade of the shaving razor (1), wherein the at least one locking feature (210) is configured to move between at least two different positions, wherein in a first position (see Figs.4-5 of this instant application), the at least one locking feature (210) engages with the cover (300) to secure the cover (300) to the frame (200), and in a second position (see Figs.6-7 of this instant application), the at least one locking feature (210) is disengaged from the cover (300) to allow the cover (300) to be rotatable away from the frame (200, see Figs.8-9 of this instant application).
Prior Art Citation
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0139103 shows a shaving razor (1, see Fig.1A) comprising a head portion (13, see Fig.4A) including a frame (14) and a cover (15) pivotally attached to the frame (14); and at least one locking feature (28) provided on the cover (15) engageable with the frame (14) to secure the cover (15) to the frame (14).
Point of Contact
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HWEI-SIU PAYER whose telephone number is (571)272-4511. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday -Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Boyer Ashley can be reached at telephone number 571-272-4502. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HWEI-SIU C PAYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724
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