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 .
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.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 April 30, 2026 has been entered.
Status of Claims
Claims 1 – 3, 5 and 7 – 14 are pending. Claims 4 and 6 are cancelled.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1 – 3, 5, 7, 10 and 13 – 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hong (U. S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0315416 A1) in view of Horibe (WO 2021/024738 A1).
Regarding Independent Claim 1, Hong teaches a cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) comprising: a cleaner body (suction head, 20); and a drum (drum brush, 60) that is rotatable in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the drum (60; Fig. 3; Paragraph [0025]), the drum (60) including: a drum body (drum body, 61) including: a first portion (Annotated Fig. 6) having a first diameter (Annotated Fig. 6) from a first end (Annotated Fig. 6) of the drum body (61), at a first side (39) of the cleaner body (20; Fig. 3), along the longitudinal axis (63) of the drum (60), a second portion (Annotated Fig. 6) having a second diameter (Annotated Fig. 6) from a second end (Annotated Fig. 6) of the drum body (61), at a second side (40) of the cleaner body (20; Fig. 3), along the longitudinal axis of the drum (60), and a collecting portion (slip pad, 70), and a coupling portion (blade, 90) protruding from the first portion (Annotated Fig. 6), the collecting portion (70), and the second portion (Annotated Fig. 6), and a brush member (brush, 80) extending uninterrupted between the first end (Fig. 6) of the drum body (61) and the second end (Fig. 6) of the drum body (61), and protruding outwardly from the drum body (61; Fig. 6), wherein the drum (60) is configured so that: a distance from the longitudinal axis of the drum (60) to an end tip of the brush member (80) is maintained across the first portion (Annoted Fig. 6), the collecting portion (70), and the second portion (Annotated Fig. 6), and rotation of the drum (60) guides intake of foreign substances into the cleaner body (20), and guides foreign substances wound about the drum (60) toward the collecting portion (70; Figs. 14 and 15; Paragraphs [0099] and [0100]), the brush member (80) is couplable to the coupling portion (90), and the coupling portion (90) is obliquely extending from the first end of the drum body (60; Fig. 6) to the collecting portion (70) in a second direction opposite to the first direction (Fig. 6) and is obliquely extending from the second end of the drum body (60) to the collecting portion (70) in the second direction (Fig. 6).
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Hong does not teach a first tapered portion having a first diameter that decreases from a first end of the drum body, at a first side of the cleaner body, along the longitudinal axis of the drum, a second tapered portion having a second diameter that decreases from a second end of the drum body, at a second side of the cleaner body, along the longitudinal axis of the drum; and a collecting portion at a position at which the first diameter of the first tapered portion and the second diameter of the second tapered portion are smallest.
Horibe, however, teaches the drum including: a drum body (Fig. 8); a first tapered portion (core rod portion, 161) having a first diameter that decreases from a first end of the drum body (Fig. 8), at a first side (124) of the cleaner body (120; Fig. 3), along the longitudinal axis of the drum (Fig. 8), a second tapered portion (core rod portion, 161) having a second diameter that decreases from a second end of the drum body (Fig. 8), at a second side (123) of the cleaner body (120; Fig. 3), along the longitudinal axis of the drum (Fig. 8); and a collecting portion (space, 118) at a position at which the diameter of the first tapered portion and the diameter of the second tapered portion are smallest (Fig. 8).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the drum of Hong to further include a first tapered portion having a first diameter that decreases from a first end of the drum body, at a first side of the cleaner body, along the longitudinal axis of the drum, a second tapered portion having a second diameter that decreases from a second end of the drum body, at a second side of the cleaner body, along the longitudinal axis of the drum; and a collecting portion at a position at which the first diameter of the first tapered portion and the second diameter of the second tapered portion are smallest, as taught by Horibe, to provide a drum body that directs the foreign material to the collection portion, thus improving the cleaning capabilities of the drum.
Regarding Claim 2, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) wherein the brush member (80) is obliquely formed between the first end of the drum body (61) and the second end of the drum body in a second direction opposite to the first direction (Fig. 6).
Regarding Claim 3, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) wherein the brush member (80 is obliquely extending from the first end of the drum body (61) to the collecting portion (70) in a second direction opposite to the first direction (Fig. 6)) and is obliquely extending from the second end of the drum body (61) to the collecting portion (70) in the second direction (Fig. 6).
Regarding Claim 5, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) of clam 4 as discussed above.
Hong does not explicitly teach wherein the coupling portion is formed to have a height that increases in a direction from the first end of the drum body toward the collecting portion, and that increases in a direction from the second end of the drum body toward the collecting portion.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the drum of Hong to further include the coupling portion is formed to have a height that increases in a direction from the first end of the drum body toward the collecting portion, and that increases in a direction from the second end of the drum body toward the collecting portion, as claimed, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size/shape of a component. A change in size/shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art (MPEP 2144.04).
Regarding Claim 7, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) wherein the collecting portion (70) is located at a center of the drum body (61) along the longitudinal axis of the drum (60), and has a constant diameter (Fig. 6).
Regarding Claim 10, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) wherein the brush member (80) includes: a plurality of brush members (81) , and the plurality of brush members (81) are spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the drum body (61; Fig. 6).
Regarding Claim 13, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) wherein the brush member includes a bristle or a blade (Paragraph [0103]).
Regarding Claim 14, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) wherein the blade includes an elastic material (Paragraph [0067]).
Claims 8 – 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hong (U. S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0315416 A1) in view of Horibe (WO 2021/024738 A1) and Choi et al. (U.S. Patent No. 2018/0184862 A1.
Regarding Claim 8, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) of claim 7 as discussed above.
Hong does not teach wherein the drum body includes: a partition portion located at a longitudinal center of the drum body and protruding outwardly along a circumferential direction of the drum body, and the partition portion divides the collecting portion into a first collecting portion and a second collecting portion.
Choi, however, teaches wherein the drum body (21) includes: a partition portion (23) located at a longitudinal center of the drum body (Fig. 4) and protruding outwardly along a circumferential direction of the drum body (21; Fig. 4), and the partition portion (23) divides the collecting portion (213) into a first collecting portion and a second collecting portion (First collection portion formed on a front of the drum body and the second collection portion formed on a rear side of the drum body separated by grinder, 23; Fig. 4).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the drum of Hong to further include : a partition portion located at a longitudinal center of the drum body and protruding outwardly along a circumferential direction of the drum body, and the partition portion divides the collecting portion into a first collecting portion and a second collecting portion, as taught by Choi, since it has been held that constructing a formerly integral structure in various elements involves only routine skill in the art (MPEP 2144.05).
Regarding Claim 9, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner (vacuum cleaner, 1; Fig. 1) of claim 8 as discussed above.
Hong does not teach wherein the first collecting portion and the second collecting portion are formed symmetrically with respect to the partition portion, and have a constant diameter.
Choi, however, teaches the cleaner (Fig. 1) wherein the first collecting portion (213; Fig. 4) and the second collecting portion (213; Fig. 4) are formed symmetrically with respect to the partition portion (23), and have a constant diameter (Fig. 4).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the drum of Hong to further include : the first collecting portion and the second collecting portion are formed symmetrically with respect to the partition portion, and have a constant diameter, as taught by Choi, since it has been held that constructing a formerly integral structure in various elements involves only routine skill in the art (MPEP 2144.05).
Claims 11 – 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hong (U. S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0315416 A1) in view of Horibe (WO 2021/024738 A1)and Lee et al. (U. S. Patent Publication No. 2021/0330153 A1).
Regarding Claim 11, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner of clam 10 as discussed above.
Hong does not teach wherein the drum includes: a rib protruding in a radial direction from the drum body along an outer circumferential surface of the drum body between respective brush members among the plurality of brush members.
Lee, however, teaches the drum (121) includes: a rib (121c) protruding in a radial direction from the drum body along an outer circumferential surface of the drum body (121) between respective brush members (121b) among the plurality of brush members (Fig. 5B).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the drum of Hong to further include a rib protruding in a radial direction from the drum body along an outer circumferential surface of the drum body between respective brush members among the plurality of brush members, as taught by Lee, to prevent foreign substances from getting tangled in the brush portion.
Regarding Claim 12, Hong, as modified, teaches the cleaner of clam 11 as discussed above.
Hong as modified by Lee does not explicitly teach wherein the rib is formed such that a height from the longitudinal axis of the drum to an end tip of the rib increases from the collecting portion to the first end the drum body, and from the collecting portion to the second end of the drum body.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the drum of Hong to further include wherein the rib is formed such that a height from the longitudinal axis of the drum to an end tip of the rib increases from the collecting portion to the first end the drum body, and from the collecting portion to the second end of the drum body, as claimed, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size/shape of a component. A change in size/shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art (MPEP 2144.04).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Applicants Arguments/Remarks dated April 30, 2026 with respect to the rejection of claims 1 – 14 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new grounds of rejection is made in view of Hong.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KATINA N HENSON whose telephone number is (571)272-8024. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday; 5:30am to 3:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Monica Carter can be reached at 571-272-4475. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KATINA N. HENSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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