CTNF 18/272,928 CTNF 88964 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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 1-15 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. Claim 1, from which claims 2-14 depend and individually claims 8-11, contain the limitation magnetic and/or ferromagnetic which is a broad limitation “magnetic” followed by a narrower limitation “ferromagnetic” thus rendering the claim indefinite as to what is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1 and 8-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by ES 2321262 to Barragan . Barragan discloses: Regarding claims 1, 8-11 and 15 A Domestic appliance, for the thermal treatment of food products comprising at least (i.e. the hob/cooktop shown in all Figs.):- one or more cooking zones (12); - a power supply unit (“connected to a power supply through the connector 16) being controllable into at least a stand-by mode and a powered-on mode and being configured to supply an energy to the one or more cooking zones with an electric circuit (through 24,22,26,14) when being controlled in the powered on mode (Translation, paragraph starting “The control unit is connected automatically in a state of readiness…”); and a control group (16) coupled to the power supply unit and configured to control the power supply unit (see translation paragraph starting “the cooking further comprises”, specifically the final sentence “control the hob”) from the stand-by-mode into the powered-on mode; wherein the control group is controllable between a rest configuration (Fig. 1, detailing the “open switch”) and an active configuration at which control group is configured to set the power supply unit from the stand-by-mode into the powered-on mode (Fig. 2 shows the closed switch); wherein the control group comprises at least one magnetic switching device having a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic element (permanent magnet 26), the magnetic and/or ferromagnetic element being moveable between at least a rest state and an active state; wherein the control group is controlled in the rest configuration and the active configuration with the magnetic and/or ferromagnetic element being positioned in respectively the rest state and the active state (“The connector 16 is operable by a magnetic force”); wherein the magnetic and/or ferromagnetic element controls the which is biased in the rest/open state (Fig. 1) and is controllable by means of interaction with a metallic and/or magnetic and/or ferromagnetic activation device into the active/closed state (Fig. 1, it is biased into the open state; Fig. 2 shows the interaction with the metallic pot providing a magnetic force overcoming the bias and pulling the switch into the closed state). A plurality of magnetic switching devices for each control group comprises a movable elongated reed switch (the structure shown is known as a reed switch in the art, but it is also explicitly called such see ) carrying the magnetic element (“the connector is configured as a contact Reed”; 20 in the embodiment of Fig. 1 carrying magnet 26 is also reasonably considered a “reed” as it is a thin actuator/magnet combo). The switch movable between a first angular position and second angular position between a rest and active state (this is shown clearly in the contrast between open state Fig. 1 and closed state Fig. 2). Regarding claim 12 further comprising a support panel (10) comprising and/or at least partially carrying the one or more cooking zones (Fig. 5); wherein the support panel comprises a first face (top face of 10, that is the surface facing 18 as shown in Fig. 1) and a second face (bottom face of 10, i.e. surface facing 16) opposed to the first face (Fig. 1); wherein each cooking zone is configured to support at least one respective cooking vessel (18) facing and/or contacting thereby the first face (Fig. 1) of the support panel; wherein the magnetic switching device is arranged adjacent to and faces the second face (Figs. 1 and 2). Regarding claim 13 Wherein the activation device is a distinct activation device different from a cooking vessel (Product claims are distinguished by their structure not function. The device of Barragan teaches a pot 18, but it is the metal of the pot that actuates the magnet not the fact that it is shaped as cookware, as such there is no structural difference between the prior art and the claimed invention; further, the designation of cookware is arbitrary one could simply interpret a pot as a large metallic mug, etc…). Regarding claim 14 Wherein each of the one or more cooking zone comprises an induction coil (14) and one or more generators coupled to each induction coil for driving the coil (“generate alternating magnetic fields in the coils”). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 16-20 are allowed. The prior art fails to specifically teach or suggest teach an “auxiliary control switch” that “cannot be closed from its open configuration independent of the main control switch independent of the main control switch being actuated to close the main control switch against its bias via magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic activation element. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WOODY A LEE JR whose telephone number is (571)272-1051. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 0800-1630. 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, Edward "Ned" Landrum can be reached at 571-272-5567. 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. /WOODY A LEE JR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761 Application/Control Number: 18/272,928 Page 2 Art Unit: 3761 Application/Control Number: 18/272,928 Page 3 Art Unit: 3761 Application/Control Number: 18/272,928 Page 4 Art Unit: 3761