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 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.
Claim(s) 14-27 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Li et al (CN 108378678) with references made to attached machine translation.
Regarding claim 14, Li discloses, A cooking pan (See Fig 1, Pan, or Pot), comprising:
a pan body comprising a cooking surface and a heating surface opposite the cooking surface (Fig 1 shows a pan body 4 having a cooking surface and a heating surface at 44, Fig 6, opposite the cooking surface);
a handle coupled to the pan body (Handle 62 is coupled to the pan body at 43 via a side lug, See Paragraph [0042], [0045]);
a thermal probe extending between the pan body and the handle (thermal probe 5 extends from the handle 62 to the pan body 4. See Paragraph [0038], [0044]); and
a shield surrounding at least a portion of the thermal probe, the shield arranged to block the thermal probe from at least one of radiant heat and impacts. (Cast aluminum cover 61 surrounds at least a portion of the thermal probe 5 and is insulated for blocking radiant heat. The cast aluminum material would also protect against impacts. See Paragraphs [0011], [0038], [0045])
Li discloses regarding claim 15, Fig 1 shows the thermal probe 5 having a curved portion and the shield or cover 61 forming a boot with upper and lower portions extending at an angle relative to each other, matching the curve of the probe 5. Regarding claim 16, Fig 8 clearly shows the cover 61 having upper lateral sides and the lower portion has an elongated extension extending to the pan body. (“The heat shield 61 to be matched with the pot 4 peripheral radian of the arc structure” See Paragraph [0045]) Regarding claim 17, element 43 contains a recess which is received via 613 of the shield or cover 61, See Figs 1, 9. Regarding claim 18, The figures show the shield 61 attached to the handle 62. Regarding claim 19, temperature sensing gauge/head 52 is mounted in the handle and coupled to the thermal probe and indicates the temperature of the pan body. (See Paragraphs [0045], [0046], [0059]) Regarding claim 21, Figs 1 and 8 show the shield being a single piece. Regarding claim 21, radial slot functions as a hole for inserting the probe 5 into the pan bottom. (See Figs 6 and Paragraph [0044]) Regarding claim 22, the grasping portion, attachment portion and lower surface of the attachment portion to the heating surface of the pan body are shown in Figs 1-8.
Li discloses, regarding claim 23, A cooking pan, comprising: a pan body having a base portion with an upper cooking surface and a lower heating surface, and a sidewall extending upward from the base portion (Fig 1 shows a pan body 4 having a cooking surface and a heating surface at 44, Fig 6, opposite the cooking surface with a sidewall extending upward from the base);
a handle having an attachment portion coupled to the sidewall of the pan body and an elongate grasping portion extending outward from the attachment portion (Handle 62 is coupled to the pan body at 43 via a side lug, See Paragraph [0042], [0045] the grasping portion, attachment portion and lower surface of the attachment portion to the heating surface of the pan body are shown in Figs 1-8);
a shield positioned along the sidewall of the pan body and extending between a lower surface of the attachment portion of the handle and the lower heating surface of the pan body. (Cast aluminum cover 61 surrounds at least a portion of the thermal probe 5 and is insulated for blocking radiant heat. The cast aluminum material would also protect against impacts. See Paragraphs [0011], [0038], [0045])
Regarding claim 24, temperature sensing gauge/head 52 is mounted in the handle and coupled to the thermal probe and indicates the temperature of the pan body. (See Paragraphs [0045], [0046], [0059]) Radial slot functions as a hole for inserting the probe 5 into the pan bottom. (See Figs 6 and Paragraph [0044]) Regarding claim 25, Cast aluminum cover 61 surrounds at least a portion of the thermal probe 5 and is insulated for blocking radiant heat. The cast aluminum material would also protect against impacts. (See Paragraphs [0011], [0038], [0045]) Fig 1 shows the thermal probe 5 having a curved portion and the shield or cover 61 forming a boot with upper and lower portions extending at an angle relative to each other, matching the curve of the probe 5. Fig 8 clearly shows the cover 61 having upper lateral sides and the lower portion has an elongated extension extending to the pan body. Regarding claim 26, radial slot functions as a hole for inserting the probe 5 into the pan bottom. (See Figs 6 and Paragraph [0044]) Regarding claim 27, Fig 8 clearly shows the cover 61 having upper lateral sides and the lower portion has an elongated extension, defining a hollow cavity, extending to the pan body.
Conclusion
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/BRIAN W JENNISON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761 1/9/2026