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 .
Response to Amendment
Applicant's submission filed on 06/16/2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 18 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 1 and 18 recite in part “an outer edge of door panel travels within the guide channel”. This is grammatically incorrect.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1, and 13-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Korean Document 20- 0256886 Y1., hereinafter Jeong Hae-guk.
Regarding claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses a door assembly (100, fig 1) (Examiner notes that, unless otherwise noted, the embodiment of fig 9 is relied upon. However, other figures may be referred to for illustration purposes.) comprising:
a first side column (at 120, fig 1) positioned proximate a first side of a doorway (See fig 1) and a second side column (at 120, fig 1) positioned proximate a second side of the doorway (See fig 1), wherein each side column comprises a pair of guide tracks having a first guide track (See annotated fig 9) and a second guide track (See annotated fig 9) bounding a guide channel (Interpreted herein as the space between the first guide track and the second guide track along their height and depth. See annotated fig 9) accessible from the doorway through a gap (See annotated fig 9), wherein an outer edge of door panel travels within the guide channel (See annotated fig 9) and the first guide track and the second guide track each include a first portion (See annotated fig 9) and a curved portion (See annotated fig 9), the curved portion of each guide track extending towards the opposing guide track and defining the gap (See annotated fig 9), the gap being positioned between the curved portion of the first guide track and the curved portion of the second guide track (See annotated fig 9);
a guide track holder (127b, fig 9) comprising a pair of u-shaped track holders (See annotated fig 9), wherein a first u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9) is coupled to the first guide track and a second u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9) coupled to the second guide track (See annotated fig 9), wherein the first u-shaped track holder comprises
a first portion (See annotated fig 9) extending parallel to the first portion of the first guide track and being fixed to the first portion of the first guide track along an entire length of the first portion of the first u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9),
a second portion (See annotated fig 9) connected to the first portion by a wraparound portion (See annotated fig 9), the second portion being fixed to a second portion (See annotated fig 9) of the first guide track and extending within the guide channel (See annotated fig 9) bound within the first guide track and the second guide track so that the first u-shaped track holder is fixed to the first guide track along three faces of the guide track (See annotated fig 9), and the second u-shaped track holder comprises
a first portion (See annotated fig 9) extending parallel to the first portion of the second guide track (See annotated fig 9) and being fixed to the first portion of the second guide track along an entire length of the first portion of the second u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9),
a second portion (See annotated fig 9) connected to the first portion by a wraparound portion (See annotated fig 9), the second portion being fixed to a second portion (See annotated fig 9) of the second guide track and extending within the guide channel (See annotated fig 9) bound within the first guide track and the second guide track (See annotated fig 9) so that the second u-shaped track holder is fixed to the second guide track along three faces of the guide track (See annotated fig 9),
and further wherein
each guide track (See annotated fig 9) is made from a material more flexible (as in fig 7; See also attached machine translation) than each guide track holder (127b, fig 9), and each guide track extends laterally a greater distance towards an interior of the doorway than each guide track holder (See annotated fig 9).
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Regarding claim 13.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the second portion (See annotated fig 9) of the first track holder and the second portion (See annotated fig 9) of the second track holder at least partially form a back surface of the guide channel (See annotated fig 9).
Regarding claim 14.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the guide track holder includes a connection portion, the connection portion connecting the first u-shaped track holder to the second u- shaped track holder.
Regarding claim 15.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 14.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the guide track holder (127b, fig 9) is formed as a single unitary body (See fig 9).
Regarding claim 16.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the second portion (See annotated fig 9) of each track holder includes a protrusion (See annotated fig 9), the protrusion mating with a notch (See annotated fig 9) formed in the second portion of the first guide track or the second guide track (See annotated fig 9).
Regarding claim 17.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the second portion of each track holder (See annotated fig 9) extends is fixed to the second portion of the first or second guide track along an entire length of each second portion of the second u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9), and each wraparound portion (See annotated fig 9) is fixed to a portion of the first or second guide track along its entire length (See annotated fig 9).
Regarding claim 18.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses a door assembly (100, fig 1) (Examiner notes that, unless otherwise noted, the embodiment of fig 9 is relied upon. However, other figures may be referred to for illustration purposes.) comprising:
a first side column (at 120, fig 1) positioned proximate a first side of a doorway (see fig 1) and a second side column (at 120, fig 1) positioned proximate a second side of the doorway (see fig 1), wherein each side column comprises a pair of guide tracks having a first guide track (See annotated fig 9) and a second guide track (See annotated fig 9) bounding a guide channel (Interpreted herein as the space between the first guide track and the second guide track along their height and depth. See annotated fig 9) accessible from the doorway through a gap (See annotated fig 9), wherein an outer edge of door panel travels within the guide channel (See annotated fig 9) and the first guide track and the second guide track each include a first portion (See annotated fig 9) and a curved portion (See annotated fig 9), the curved portion of each guide track extending towards the opposing guide track and defining the gap (See annotated fig 9), the gap being positioned between the curved portion of the first guide track and the curved portion of the second guide track (See annotated fig 9);
a guide track holder (See annotated fig 9) mounted to each side column, each guide track holder comprising a first u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9) integrated with a second u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9), wherein the first guide track extends into and is at least partially surrounded and engaged by the first u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9), and the second guide track extends into and is at least partially surrounded and engaged by the second u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9), such that a portion of each of the first u-shaped track holder and the second u-shaped track holder bounds a portion of the guide channel (See annotated fig 9).
Regarding claim 19.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 18.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses each u-shaped track holder comprises a first portion (See annotated fig 9) extending parallel to the first portion of the first or second guide track (See annotated fig 9) and being fixed to the first portion of the first or second guide track along an entire length of the first portion of each u-shaped track holder (See annotated fig 9), and
a second portion (See annotated fig 9) connected to the first portion by a wraparound portion (See annotated fig 9), the wraparound portion being fixed to an end of the guide track and the second portion being fixed to a second portion of the first or second guide track (See annotated fig 9) and extending within the guide channel (See annotated fig 9) bound within the first guide track and the second guide track so that each u-shaped track holder is fixed to the first or second guide track along three faces of the guide track (See annotated fig 9).
Regarding claim 20.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 18.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the second portion of each track holder includes a protrusion (See annotated fig 9), the protrusion mating with a notch (See annotated fig 9) formed in the second portion of the first guide track or the second guide track (See annotated fig 9).
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) 2, 6, and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeong Hae-guk in view of US Pat. 4,884,617 – Coenraets.
Regarding claim 2.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose a lower portion of the gap of each pair of guide tracks is reduced in width from a remainder of the gap, the lower portion of the gap forming a reduced gap portion, the reduced gap portion of each pair of guide tracks allowing access to the guide channel from the doorway.
However, Coenraets teaches a lower portion of the gap (below 23 in fig 5) of each pair of guide tracks is reduced in width from a remainder of the gap (above 23 in fig 5), the lower portion of the gap forming a reduced gap portion, the reduced gap portion of each pair of guide tracks allowing access to the guide channel from the doorway (See fig 5).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the reduced gap width of Coenraets. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of providing more secure retention of the sheet when in a deployed state.
Regarding claim 6.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose a lower portion of each guide track (below 23, fig 5) is more rigid than any remaining portion of the guide track.
However, Coenraets teaches a lower portion of each guide track (below 23, fig 5) is more rigid than any remaining portion of the guide track (above 23, fig 5) (the increase in material at 7 and 8 would contribute to an increase in rigidity below 23 in fig 5).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the more rigid lower portion of Coenraets. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of providing more secure retention of the sheet when in a deployed state.
Regarding claim 9.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose each guide track holder is constructed from one or more of metal, aluminum, or steel.
However, Coenraets teaches each guide track holder (in 12, fig 6) is constructed from one or more of metal, aluminum, or steel (Column 3, line 3; metal).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the metal of Coenraets. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of providing more secure attachment of the track to the support structure.
Claim(s) 3-5, and 10-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeong Hae-guk in view of US Pat. 8,109,317 – Bostyn.
Regarding claim 3.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose an interior surface of each of the first guide track and the second guide track from each pair of guide tracks is curved.
However, Bostyn teaches an interior surface of each of the first guide track and the second guide track from each pair of guide tracks is curved (See fig 4).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the curved surfaces of Bostyn. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of allowing for smoother breakaway and refeeding of the panel.
Regarding claim 4.
The combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Bostyn teaches all limitations of claim 3.
The combination, in Bostyn, further teaches the interior surface which is curved of each first guide track and second guide track is located adjacent the gap (See fig 4).
Regarding claim 5.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose each guide track is constructed using an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer.
However, Bostyn teaches each guide track is constructed using an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer (Column 3, lines 30-37; The slideway …may be made … of high density polyethylene).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the ultrahigh molecular weight polymer of Bostyn. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of reducing the operating friction of the shutter.
Regarding claim 10.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the first portion of the first track holder (See annotated fig 9) extends laterally across the exterior portion of the first guide track coupled thereto a first distance (See annotated fig 9) along a lower portion of the first guide track (See annotated fig 9).
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose a second distance along any remaining portion of the first guide track, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
However, Bostyn teaches the first portion of the first track holder (14, fig 4) extends laterally across the exterior portion of the first guide track (12 or 13, fig 4) coupled thereto a first distance (at 21, fig 8) along a lower portion of the first guide track (See fig 6), and
a second distance (as in fig 4) along any remaining portion of the first guide track (See fig 4), wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance (See fig 6).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the holder extension distances of Bostyn. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of selectively increasing rigidity of the system in areas where such rigidity is desirable.
Regarding claim 11.
The combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Bostyn teaches all limitations of claim 10.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses the first portion of the second track holder extends laterally across the exterior portion of the second guide track coupled thereto a first distance along a lower portion of the second guide track.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose a second distance along any remaining portion of the second guide track,
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
However, Bostyn teaches the first portion of the second track holder (14, fig 4) extends laterally across the exterior portion of the second guide track (12 or 13, fig 4) coupled thereto a first distance (See fig 4) along a lower portion of the second guide track, and
a second distance along any remaining portion of the second guide track, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance (See fig 4).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the holder extension distances of Bostyn. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of selectively increasing rigidity of the system in areas where such rigidity is desirable.
Regarding claim 12.
Jeong Hae-guk discloses all limitations of claim 1.
Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose the first portion of each track holder extends laterally across a majority of the exterior portion of the first guide track or the second guide track coupled thereto.
However, Bostyn teaches the first portion of each track holder (14, fig 4) extends laterally across a majority of the exterior portion of the first guide track or the second guide track (12 or 13, fig 4) coupled thereto.
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Jeong Hae-guk with the holder extension distances of Bostyn. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of selectively increasing rigidity of the system in areas where such rigidity is desirable.
Claim(s) 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Coenraets, as applied to claim 6 above, and in further view of PG Pub. US 2007/0148429 A1 – McGrath et al., hereinafter McGrath.
Regarding claim 7.
The combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Coenraets teaches all limitations of claim 6.
Jeong Hae-guk further discloses each of the first guide track and the second guide track of each pair of guide tracks is an extrusion (the examiner notes that the method of forming an apparatus is not germaine to patentability of apparatus itself. Even though product-by-process claims are limited by and defined by the process, determination of patentability is based on the product itself. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product of the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process." In re Thorpe, 777 F.2d 695, 698, 227 USPQ 964, 966 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (citations omitted).
MPEP 2113 [R-1] Product-by-Process Claims
PRODUCT-BY-PROCESS CLAIMS ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE
MANIPULATIONS OF THE RECITED STEPS, ONLY THE STRUCTURE
IMPLIED BY THE STEPS) (in the instant case, the tracks of Coenraets are of a shape which is readily extrudable. See fig 6)
The combination, in Coenraets, further teaches a lower portion (below 23, fig 5) of each guide track is more rigid than any remaining portion of the guide track (above 23, fig 5) (The increase of material in 7 and 8 would increase the rigidity of the lower portion as compared to any remaining portion of the guide track (See fig 5)).
However, the combination does not teach an individual extrusion comprising multiple materials, wherein a material used for the lower portion of each [extrusion] is more rigid than a material used for any remaining portion of each guide track.
However, McGrath teaches an individual extrusion comprising multiple materials (including HDPE and glass fibers), wherein a material used for the lower portion of each [extrusion] is more rigid than a material used for any remaining portion of each [extrusion] (Paragraph [0104]).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to further modify the combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Coenraets with the sequential coextrusion of McGrath. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of reducing the cost of the part as recited in paragraph [0104] of McGrath.
Regarding claim 8.
The combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Coenraets teaches all limitations of claim 6.
The combination does not teach one or more additives applied to each first guide track and each second guide track, wherein the one or more additives make a portion of each guide track more flexible than any remaining portion of the guide track, or make a portion of each guide track more rigid than any remaining portion of the guide track.
However, McGrath teaches an individual extrusion comprising multiple materials (including one or more additives), wherein a material used for the lower portion of each [extrusion] is more rigid than a material used for any remaining portion of each [extrusion] (Paragraph [0104]).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art, with a reasonable expectation of success, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to further modify the combination of Jeong Hae-guk and Coenraets with the sequential coextrusion of McGrath. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to yield the predictable result of reducing the cost of the part as recited in paragraph [0104] of McGrath.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Jeong Hae-guk does not disclose the second portion of the respective track holders extending within the guide channel. This is not persuasive, as claim terms are given their broadest reasonable interpretation, consistent with the applicant’s specification, and the guide channel of Jeong Hae-guk has been interpreted herein as the space between the first guide track and the second guide track along their height and depth (See annotated fig 9). As can be seen in annotated fig 9 of Jeong Hae-guk, the second portions (respective sides of the “T” shaped projection) of the first and second track holders, extend in the space between the first guide track and the second guide track along their height and depth, providing a boundary at the rear of the channel.
Conclusion
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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN W HANES JR whose telephone number is (571)272-8840. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST.
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/J.W.H./Examiner, Art Unit 3634
/DANIEL P CAHN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3634
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