DETAILED ACTION
This is the Final Office Action for application number 18/350,007 - URINE BASED NUTRIENT-RECOVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS, filed on 7/11/23. Claims 1-24 are pending. This Final Office Action is in response to applicant’s reply dated 5/29/26. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Applicant's amendment necessitated any new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “valve positioned between the urine diversion device and the storage tank, wherein the valve is configured to prevent gases from passing from the storage tank to the urine diversion device,” of claims 7 & 16, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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 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) 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856).
Regarding Claim 24 McIntyre shows a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]); a valve (96) positioned between the urine diversion device and the storage tank, wherein the valve is configured to prevent gases from passing from the storage tank to the urine diversion device (¶ [0033]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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, 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(s) 1, 2, 4, 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570).
Regarding Claim 1 McIntyre shows a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); wherein the body is configured to be mounted within a wall cavity (¶ [0023]; The urinal 10 may preferably be fully or partially recessed into a cavity (not shown) of the wall such that it is substantially concealed. If the wall cavity variant is used, the depth of the cavity is preferably in the order of 70 mm to 75 mm) between wall studs (inherent if 70mm to 75 mm (2.75 to 3.0 inches within the wall); but fails to show one or more flanges extending from an exterior surface of the body, each flange having one or more apertures configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud. However, Brooks shows a similar wall urine diversion device. Brooks details wherein the body is configured to be mounted within a wall cavity between wall studs (note, col. 2, lines 30-33)); and shows one or more flanges (at 5) extending from an exterior surface of the body (Fig. 3), each flange having one or more apertures (5) configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud (note, col. 2, lines 30-33). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more flanges extending from and exterior surface of the body, each flange having one or more apertures configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud, for the purpose of being able to mount the device flush with the bathroom wall for increased aesthetics and ease of connection to hidden plumbing as shown by Brooks.
McIntyre shows a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]).
Regarding Claim 2 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 wherein the lower side of the body curves away from a center of the cavity (Fig. 7 at least from left and right towards the side walls).
Regarding Claim 4 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 wherein the cover has one or more raised edges (36).
Regarding Claim 5 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 wherein the urine diversion device is in fluid communication with a tubular member via the lower side aperture (Fig. 13, ¶ [0031-0032]; plumbing as is conventionally known) the tubular member configured to direct urine from the wall cavity to a location outside the wall cavity (conventionally known plumbing outlets to a sewage system outside of the wall; ¶ 0031 & 0038]; and out through outlet 18 to a sewage system or the like).
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) in view of Yang (US 11,457,778).
Regarding Claim 3 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 but fails to show wherein the bezel has one or more recesses on an exterior surface. However, Yang shows a urinal device (Fig. 3) with one or more recesses (211) on an exterior surface of a bezel (at 29). Yang shows using the hand slot for user convenience for grasping the urinal pan (3) and rotating the pan downwards for use (note, col. 5, lines 5-17). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more recesses in the bezel exterior surface for the convenience of the user rotating the cover as shown by Yang.
Claim(s) 6, 7, 9, 11-12, 14-16 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825).
Regarding Claim 6 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 5 but fails to show wherein the urine diversion device is in fluid communication with a storage tank. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 7 McIntyre as combined shows the urine diversion device of claim 6 further comprising a valve (96) positioned between the urine diversion device and the storage tank, wherein the valve is configured to prevent gases from passing from the storage tank to the urine diversion device (¶ [0033]).
Regarding Claim 9 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 but fails to show further comprising at least one of a volume indicator light and speaker,. configured to issue an alert when a storage tank in fluid communication with the urine diversion device reaches a target volume. Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara. Birbara further shows using an alarm (speaker) when the fluid in the reservoir is approaching the capacity of the reservoir/tank (¶ [0057]; configured to issue and alert when the storage tank reaches a target volume, aka capacity). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a volume indicator such as an sound alarm (speaker) for alerting the user that the reservoir has reached capacity as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 11 McIntyre shows a urine diversion system (Figs. 1-14) comprising: a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); wherein the body is configured to be mounted within a wall cavity (¶ [0023]; The urinal 10 may preferably be fully or partially recessed into a cavity (not shown) of the wall such that it is substantially concealed. If the wall cavity variant is used, the depth of the cavity is preferably in the order of 70 mm to 75 mm) between wall studs (inherent if 70mm to 75 mm (2.75 to 3.0 inches within the wall); but fails to show one or more flanges extending from an exterior surface of the body, each flange having one or more apertures configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud. However, Brooks shows a similar wall urine diversion device. Brooks details wherein the body is configured to be mounted within a wall cavity between wall studs (note, col. 2, lines 30-33)); and shows one or more flanges (at 5) extending from an exterior surface of the body (Fig. 3), each flange having one or more apertures (5) configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud (note, col. 2, lines 30-33). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more flanges extending from and exterior surface of the body, each flange having one or more apertures configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud, for the purpose of being able to mount the device flush with the bathroom wall for increased aesthetics and ease of connection to hidden plumbing as shown by Brooks.
McIntyre shows a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]). But McIntyre fails to show and a storage tank in communication with the body. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 12 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 wherein the lower side of the body curves away from a center of the cavity (Fig. 7 at least from left and right towards the side walls).
Regarding Claim 14 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 wherein the cover has one or more raised edges (36).
Regarding Claim 15 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 wherein the urine diversion device is in fluid communication with a tubular member via the lower side aperture (Fig. 13, ¶ [0031-0032]; plumbing as is conventionally known) but fails to show wherein the urine diversion device is configured to direct urine from the wall cavity to a storage tank. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 16 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 15 further comprising a valve (96) positioned between the urine diversion device and the storage tank, wherein the valve is configured to prevent gases from passing from the storage tank to the urine diversion device (¶ [0033]).
Regarding Claim 18 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 but fails to show further comprising at least one of a volume indicator light and speaker,. configured to issue an alert when a storage tank in fluid communication with the urine diversion device reaches a target volume. Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara. Birbara further shows using an alarm (speaker) when the fluid in the reservoir is approaching the capacity of the reservoir/tank (¶ [0057]; configured to issue and alert when the storage tank reaches a target volume, aka capacity). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a volume indicator such as an sound alarm (speaker) for alerting the user that the reservoir has reached capacity as shown by Birbara.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) in view of Lor (US 11,306,471) in view of Hamil et al. (US 9,441,353).
Regarding Claim 8 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 but fails to show wherein the body and the cover have magnets, wherein the one or more magnets of the body are received in one or more slots in the body and are configured to mate with one or more magnets of the cover to maintain the cover in a closed position.. However, Lor shows using magnets for opening and closing the cover (note, col. 6, lines 58-59). Turning attention to Hamil. Hamil shows mating magnets (117, 143, 144), received in one or more slots in a body and configured to mate with one or more other magnets to maintain a cover (115) in a closed position (see Fig. 1, inset magnets implicit in the flush closure of Fig. 1). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include magnets for the cover and body for closure of the cover to the body as shown by Lor and Hamil.
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Yang (US 11,457,778).
Regarding Claim 13 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 1 but fails to show wherein the bezel has one or more recesses on an exterior surface. However, Yang shows a urinal device (Fig. 3) with one or more recesses (211) on an exterior surface of a bezel (at 29). Yang shows using the hand slot for user convenience for grasping the urinal pan (3) and rotating the pan downwards for use (note, col. 5, lines 5-17). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more recesses in the bezel exterior surface for the convenience of the user rotating the cover as shown by Yang.
Claim(s) 10 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Lor (US 11,306,471).
Regarding Claim 10 McIntyre as combined with Birbara shows the urine diversion device of claim 9 further comprising a communication interface operable to communicate a volume (¶ [0057]; sensor float 161 and circuit board 188) but fails to show wherein the communication interface comprises at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity. However, Lor shows interface connection to a similar urinal through wireless connectivity, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cell phone (note, col. 8 lines 65-67 and col. 9, lines 0-27). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre as combined to include wireless connectivity and interface for the purpose of using well-known systems such as cell phones and Bluetooth and WIFI for communication with a user as detailed by Lor.
Regarding Claim 19 McIntyre as combined with Birbara shows the urine diversion device of claim 18 further comprising a communication interface operable to communicate a volume (¶ [0057]; sensor float 161 and circuit board 188), but fails to show wherein the communication interface comprises at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity. However, Lor shows interface connection to a similar urinal through wireless connectivity, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cell phone (note, col. 8 lines 65-67 and col. 9, lines 0-27). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre as combined to include wireless connectivity and interface for the purpose of using well-known systems such as cell phones and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for communication with a user as detailed by Lor.
Claim(s) 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) ) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Lor (US 11,306,471) in view of Hamil et al. (US 9,441,353).
Regarding Claim 17 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 but fails to show wherein the body and the cover have magnets. However, Lor shows using magnets for opening and closing the cover (note, col. 6, lines 58-59). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include magnets for the cove and body for closure of the cover to the body as shown by Lor. Turning attention to Hamil. Hamil shows mating magnets (117, 143, 144), received in one or more slots in a body and configured to mate with one or more other magnets to maintain a cover (115) in a closed position (see Fig. 1, inset magnets implicit in the flush closure of Fig. 1). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include magnets for the cover and body for closure of the cover to the body as shown by Lor and Hamil.
Claim(s) 20-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Brooks (US 8,904,570) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Bansal et al. (US 2019/0352892).
Regarding Claim 20 McIntyre shows a method of processing urine comprising: providing a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); wherein the body is configured to be mounted within a wall cavity (¶ [0023]; The urinal 10 may preferably be fully or partially recessed into a cavity (not shown) of the wall such that it is substantially concealed. If the wall cavity variant is used, the depth of the cavity is preferably in the order of 70 mm to 75 mm) between wall studs (inherent if 70mm to 75 mm (2.75 to 3.0 inches within the wall); but fails to show one or more flanges extending from an exterior surface of the body, each flange having one or more apertures configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud. However, Brooks shows a similar wall urine diversion device. Brooks details wherein the body is configured to be mounted within a wall cavity between wall studs (note, col. 2, lines 30-33)); and shows one or more flanges (at 5) extending from an exterior surface of the body (Fig. 3), each flange having one or more apertures (5) configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud (note, col. 2, lines 30-33). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more flanges extending from and exterior surface of the body, each flange having one or more apertures configured to receive a fastener for securing the body to a wall stud, for the purpose of being able to mount the device flush with the bathroom wall for increased aesthetics and ease of connection to hidden plumbing as shown by Brooks.
McIntyre shows a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]). But McIntyre fails to show and a storage tank in communication with the body. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara. McIntyre fails to show collecting urine from the storage tank; and pasteurizing collected urine. However, Bansal shows collecting urine from the storage tank and pasteurizing collected urine (¶ [0025]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include collecting the urine form the storage tank and pasteurizing the collected urine for application as fertilizer as shown by Bansal (¶ [0025]).
Regarding Claims 21-23 McIntyre shows method of claim 20 but fails to show the step of communicating a volume of the storage tank and the step of issuing at least one of an audible and visual alarm and communicating the volume of the storage tank to the central location. However, Birbara shows the step of issuing an audible alarm (speaker) when the fluid in the reservoir is approaching the capacity of the reservoir/tank (¶ [0057]). Birbara shows a communication interface operable to communicate a volume (¶ [0057]; sensor float 161 and circuit board 188) and the step of communicating the volume of the storage tank (via the sensor float 161) to a central location (circuit board 188; which then sounds the alarm). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a volume indicator such as an sound alarm (speaker) and a central location for communicating the volume of fluid in the storage tank and for alerting the user that the reservoir has reached capacity as shown by Birbara.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 5/29/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicants arguments with regard to the current amendment have been addressed above in the body of this action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Beeson et al. (US Pub. 2010/0275352) shows a urine collection system with a valve.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached on 571-270-3735. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 7/30/2026
Prosecution Insights