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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 20 depends upon itself.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claims 15-20 are construed to be indefinite because the claim 15 recitation of “the other” lacks a positive antecedent basis. Since claims 16-17 depend upon an indefinite claim, those claims are construed to be indefinite by dependency. Claim 18 is construed to be indefinite because the recitation “the folding chair” lacks a positive antecedent basis. Since claims 19-20 depend upon an indefinite claim, those claims are construed to be indefinite by dependency. Furthermore claim 20 is construed to be indefinite because that claim depends upon itself.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowable over the prior art of record because a towel for drying a user or a method of covering a beach chair with a towel with all the independently claimed features including plural fasteners, ties, or connectors coupled together forming a pocket to receive a foot or back portion of a chair is not found in the prior art either singly or in combination.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Other references cited in this action, may teach one or more claim features, but do not rise to a level of anticipation, obviousness, and/or double patenting such that a rejection would be proper or reasonable under current Office practice and procedure. Reference A, cited with this action, is a patent publication from the same inventive entity as the current application. References B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, cited with this action teach towel type devices.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Craig Schneider can be reached at 571 272 3607. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Thursday, January 15, 2026
/STEPHEN M GRAVINI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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