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 .
This Final-Office action is in response to the Amendment filed on 2/12/2026. Claims 21-40 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
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.
Claim(s) 21-33, and 38-40 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20110169389 to Jeffries et al (hereinafter Jeffries) in view of USP 8317278 to Enos.
Jeffries discloses (Claim 21). A drawer release comprising (Figs. 1-6): a drawer slide 530,570; and a drawer coupled to the drawer slide 530,570; a second locking element 540,545 coupled to the drawer; and a handle 10 coupled to the drawer, wherein a pulling motion applied to the handle 10 causes the second locking element 540 to pivot relative to the drawer to move the drawer release between a first orientation in which the second locking element 540 prevents sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide and a second orientation in which the second locking element allows sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide, and a pushing motion applied to the handle does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation (as can be seen in the below annotated Fig. 3A, a pushing motion applied to the handle 200 would move pin 310 upward and away from lever surface 550 of lever 540; therefore, does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation);
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(Claim 22). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the handle 10 includes (Fig. 1) a third locking element 310,315 that engages a portion of the second locking element 540 as the drawer release moves between the first and second orientations; (Claim 23). The drawer release recited in claim 22, wherein (such as shown in Figs. 1-2C) a first portion 100 of the handle includes a channel 140, a second portion 200 of the handle 10 having a first end rotatably positioned in the channel and an opposite second end that engages the second locking element 540; (Claim 24). The drawer release recited in claim 23, wherein the second end defines the third locking element 310,315; (Claim 25). The drawer release recited in claim 24, wherein the third locking element 310,315 engages a portion of the second locking element 540 as the drawer release moves between the first and second orientations; (Claim 26). The drawer release recited in claim 23, wherein the second end engages a portion of the second locking element 540 as the drawer release moves between the first and second orientations; (Claim 27). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the handle 10 includes a third locking element 310,315 that moves downwardly to move the drawer release from the first orientation to the second orientation; (Claim 28). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the handle 10 includes a third locking element 310,315 that engages a top surface 550 (Figs. 3A-B) of a portion of the second locking element 540 and pushes the portion of the second locking element downwardly to move the drawer release from the first orientation to the second orientation; (Claim 29). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the drawer slide defines a channel, the drawer including a rail 533 coupled to the side of the a frame of the drawer, the rail being positioned in the channel, the second locking element 540 being coupled to the rail 533; (Claim 30). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the drawer slide includes opposite inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface defining a channel, the drawer including a rail 533 coupled to the side of the a frame of the drawer, the rail 533 being positioned in the channel; (Claim 32). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the drawer release is biased to the first orientation; (Claim 33). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the handle includes a third locking element 310 and the drawer release is biased to the first orientation by a spring 320 that engages the third locking element 310; (Claim 38). The drawer release recited in claim 21, wherein the second locking element is a lever; (Claim 39). A drawer release comprising (Figs. 1-6): a member 531; and a drawer coupled to the member; a second locking element 540 coupled to the drawer; and a handle 10 coupled to the drawer, the handle 10 comprising a first portion 100 and a second portion 200, wherein pulling the second portion 200 causes the second locking element 540 to pivot relative to the drawer to move the drawer release between a first orientation in which the second locking element prevents sliding movement of the drawer relative to the member and a second orientation in which the second locking element allows sliding movement of the drawer relative to the member, and a pushing motion applied to the handle does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation (as can be seen in the below annotated Fig. 3A, a pushing motion applied to the handle 200 would move pin 310 upward and away from lever surface 550 of lever 540; therefore, does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation); (Claim 40). A drawer release comprising (Figs. 1-6): a member; and a drawer coupled to the member; a locking element 540 coupled to the drawer; and a handle 10 coupled to the drawer, the handle 10 comprising a first portion 100 and a second portion 200, wherein pulling the second portion 200 causes the locking element 540 to pivot relative to the drawer to move the drawer release between a first orientation in which the locking element prevents sliding of the drawer relative to the member and a second orientation in which the locking element allows sliding movement of the drawer relative to the member, and a pushing motion applied to the handle does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation (as can be seen in the below annotated Fig. 3A, a pushing motion applied to the handle 200 would move pin 310 upward and away from lever surface 550 of lever 540; therefore, does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation).
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The differences being that Jeffries fails to clearly disclose the limitations in (i) claims 21, 39, 40 of the first drawer slide/member 531 including a first locking element/flange, the second locking element 540 engages the first locking element to prevent sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide and a second orientation in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the first locking element to allow sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide; (ii) claim 30 of the first locking element including a flange that extends into the channel; (iii) claim 31; (iv) claim 38 of the first locking element is a flange.
Regarding (i)-(ii), and (iv), Enos discloses a drawer release comprising: a drawer slide 30 including a first locking element 34; a drawer coupled to the drawer slide; a second locking element 61 coupled to the drawer; a handle 40, wherein a pulling motion applied to the handle 40 causes the second locking element 61 to pivot relative to the drawer to move the drawer release between a first orientation in which the second locking element 61 engages the first locking element 34 to prevent sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide and a second orientation in which the second locking element 61 is spaced apart from the first locking element 34 to allow sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide; wherein the drawer slide includes opposite inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface defining a channel, the drawer including a rail 10 coupled to the side of the a frame of the drawer, the rail 10 being positioned in the channel, the first locking element 34 including a flange that extends into the channel.
Therefore, it would have been obvious and well within the level of one skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, in view of Enos, to modify Jeffries to include the limitations in (i) claims 21, 39, 40 of the first drawer slide/member 531 including a first locking element/flange, the second locking element 540 engages the first locking element to prevent sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide and a second orientation in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the first locking element to allow sliding movement of the drawer relative to the drawer slide; (ii) claim 30 of the first locking element including a flange that extends into the channel; (iv) claim 38 of the first locking element is a flange with a reasonable expectation of success in order to increase the overall versatility of the drawer release.
Regarding (iii) claim 31, Jeffries, as modified in view of Enos, would include wherein the inner surface defines a top surface of the flange and the outer surface defines an opposite bottom surface of the flange. It would have been obvious and well within the level of one skilled in the art to modify Jeffries to include the limitations in claim 31 of wherein the outer surface defines a top surface of the flange and the inner surface defines an opposite bottom surface of the flange with a reasonable expectation of success in order to increase the overall versatility of the drawer release, since it has been held that a mere reversal of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. In re Einstein, 8 USPQ 167.
Claim(s) 34-37 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeffries, as modified, as applied to claim 21 above, and further in view of USP 7896452 to Chang.
Jeffries, as modified, discloses all the elements as discussed above except for the limitations recited in the above listed claims.
Regarding claims 34-35 and 37, Chang discloses a drawer release comprising: a first drawer slide; a second drawer slide; a locking element coupled to the second drawer slide; the locking element includes a first lever 30 and a second lever 20 that is coupled to the first lever 30; wherein the first lever 30 is coupled to the second lever 20 by a wire 31; wherein rotation of the first lever 30 causes the second lever 20 to rotate.
Therefore, it would have been obvious and well within the level of one skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, in view of Chang, to modify Jeffries, as modified to include the limitations in claim 34 of wherein the second locking element includes a first lever and a second lever that is coupled to the first lever; claim 35 of wherein the first lever is coupled to the second lever by a wire; and claim 37 of wherein rotation of the first lever causes the second lever to rotate with a reasonable expectation of success in order to increase the overall versatility of the drawer release.
Regarding claim 36, it is inherent that Jeffries, as modified, meets the limitations recited therein of wherein the third second locking element engages the first lever and the second lever engages the first locking element when the drawer release is in the first orientation.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/12/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. In response to applicant’s arguments that the drawer release of Jeffries allows either a pushing motion or a pulling motion to move the drawer release, the examiner respectfully take the position that (i) push-pull drawer slides embodiment is shown in Figs. 12+ of Jeffries, while the rejections are based on the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6; (ii) as can be seen in the above annotated Fig. 3A, a pushing motion applied to the handle 200 would move pin 310 upward and away from lever surface 550 of lever 540; therefore, does not move the drawer release between the first orientation and the second orientation.
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 HANH VAN TRAN whose telephone number is (571)272-6868. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DANIEL TROY can be reached at (571)270-3742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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HVT
April 20, 2026
/HANH V TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
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