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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 03/24/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 3, 5, 8, 10-20-and 22-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Pub No.: US 20200292227 (“Thayyullathil et al.”).
Regarding Claims 1, 3, 5, 8, 10-19 Thayyullathil et al. discloses Claim 1-A trim system for a door (2) or drawer of an electrical appliance, the trim system comprising:
an engagement structure (6, 7) having a retainer (7) having a first engagement surface (19), the first engagement surface (19) provided on a first tab (19, left) and having a plurality of ratchet teeth (along 19), wherein the first tab (19, left) has a free end and an opposite, fixed end (best seen in Fig. 7), attached to a main body of the engagement structure (6, 7); and a trim member (8, 9) having a first, outward facing, surface (9) and a second, inward facing, surface (inner part of 9); wherein the second surface of the trim member (8, 9) includes a protrusion (18, as seen in Figs. 3-9) configured to engage with the first engagement surface (19) of the retainer (7), such that the trim member (8, 9) is secured to the engagement structure (6, 7) by movement of the protrusion (18) in a direction extending from the fixed end to the free end of the first tab (19, left) (left); and wherein the protrusion (18) has a first tooth (22) configured to engage the plurality of ratchet teeth (along 19) of the first engagement surface (19); and wherein the retainer (7) comprises a retaining clip (23), the retaining clip (23) formed by the first engagement surface (19) and a second engagement surface (19) opposing the first engagement surface (19), the second engagement surface (19) having one or more ratchet tooth/teeth (along 19), and second tooth (22) wherein the protrusion (18) also has a configured to engage the one or more ratchet tooth/teeth (along 19) of the second engagement surface (19); Claim 3-wherein the first engagement surface (19) has at least two ratchet teeth (along 19), each of which is engageable with the first tooth (22), the at least two ratchet teeth (along 19) arranged spaced apart such that the protrusion (18) may be secured within the retainer (7) to at least a first and second extent; Claim 5-wherein the second engagement surface (19) is provided on a second tab (19, right); Claim 8-wherein the second tab (19, right) has a free end and an opposite, fixed end, attached to a main body of the engagement structure (6, 7), wherein the free end of the second tab (19, right) on which the second engagement surface (19) is provided is arranged to receive the protrusion (18) of the trim member (8,9) as the protrusion (18) is moved to secure the trim member (8,9) to the engagement structure (6, 7); Claim10-wherein each of the plurality of ratchet teeth (along 19) of the first engagement surface (19), or the first tooth (22), or both, have an insertion face and a removal face, wherein the removal face is inclined more steeply than the insertion face such that removal of the protrusion (18) from the retainer (7) is impeded relative to its insertion; Claim 11-wherein each of the one or more ratchet tooth/teeth (along 19) of the second engagement surface (19), or the second tooth (22), or both, have an insertion face and a removal face, wherein the removal face is inclined more steeply than the insertion face such that removal of the protrusion (18) from the retaining clip (23) is impeded relative to its insertion; Claim 12- wherein the trim member (8,9) and/or engagement structure (6, 7) is/are substantially elongate, extending predominantly in a longitudinal direction; Claim 13-wherein the plurality of ratchet teeth (along 19) of the first engagement surface (19) are displaced across a lateral width of the engagement structure (6, 7), substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal extension direction of the engagement structure (6, 7); Claim 14-wherein the engagement structure (6, 7) further comprises one or more abutments (at each side) configured to prevent relative movement of the trim member (8,9) in the longitudinal direction of its extension; Claim 15-wherein the engagement structure (6, 7) is provided on an exposed top or bottom surface of a door (2) (via 3); Claim 16-wherein the protrusion (18) comprises a right angle (18 extends from 9 at a right angle), having a first portion extending in a direction substantially normal to the second surface of the trim member (8,9), and a second portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the second surface of the trim member (8,9); Claim 17-wherein the first tooth (22) of the protrusion (18) is located on a first surface of the second portion, parallel to the second surface of the trim member (8,9); Claim 18-wherein the protrusion (18) comprises a right angle (18 extends from 9 at a right angle), having a first portion extending in a direction substantially normal to the second surface of the trim member (8,9), and a second portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the second surface of the trim member (8,9), wherein the first tooth (22) of the protrusion (18) is located on a first surface of the second portion, parallel to the second surface of the trim member (8,9), and wherein the second tooth (22) of the protrusion (18) is located on a second surface of the second portion, opposite the first surface; Claim 19-wherein, when the protrusion (18) is located in and engaged by the retaining clip (23), the first and second engagement surface (19)s of the retaining clip (23) are parallel to the second surface of the trim member (8,9).
Regarding Claims 20 and 22-23, Thayyullathil et al. discloses Claim 20- an electrical appliance comprising: a cabinet (1) having an opening closable by a door (2) or drawer fitted thereto, and a trim system for the door (2) or drawer, the trim system comprising: an engagement structure (6, 7) having a retainer (7) having a first engagement surface (19), the first engagement surface (19) provided on a first tab (19, left) and having a plurality of ratchet teeth (along 19), wherein the first tab (19, left) has a free end and an opposite, fixed end, attached to a main body of the engagement structure (6, 7); and a trim member (8,9) having a first outward facing surface and a second inward facing surface; wherein the second surface of the trim member (8,9) includes a protrusion (18) configured to engage with the first engagement surface (19) of the retainer (7), such that the trim member (8,9) is secured to the engagement structure (6, 7) by movement of the protrusion (18) in a direction extending from the fixed end to the free end of the first tab (19, left); and wherein the protrusion (18) has a first tooth (22) configured to engage the plurality of ratchet teeth (along 19) of the first engagement surface (19); and wherein the retainer (7) comprises a retaining clip (23), the retaining clip (23) formed by the first engagement surface (19) and a second engagement surface (19) opposing the first engagement surface (19), the second engagement surface (19) having one or more ratchet tooth/teeth (along 19), and wherein the protrusion (18) also has a second tooth (22) configured to engage the one or more ratchet tooth/teeth (along 19) of the second engagement surface (19); Claim 22-wherein the second engagement surface (19) is provided on a second tab (19, right); Claim 23- wherein the second tab (19, right) has a free end and an opposite, fixed end, attached to a main body of the engagement structure (6, 7), wherein the free end of the second tab (19, right) on which the second engagement surface (19) is provided is arranged to receive the protrusion (18) of the trim member (8,9) as the protrusion (18) is moved to secure the trim member (8,9) to the engagement structure (6, 7).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C 103(a) as being unpatentable over Thayyullathil et al. as applied to claim 1 above, alone.
Thayyullathil et al. discloses the engagement structure (6, 7) is formed by injection moulding plastics but does not expressly disclose the trim member (8,9) is formed from metal. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilized a trim made of metal where the internal engagement member is made of an injection moulding plastic, for aesthetic appeal and to maintain consistency with the other stainless steel components of the refrigerator.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1,3, 5, 8-20 and 22-23 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIMBERLEY S WRIGHT whose telephone number is (571)270-3328. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 11:30-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Daniel Troy can be reached on 5712703742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KIMBERLEY S WRIGHT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
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