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 .
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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 11-24-2025 has been entered.
Drawings
The replacement sheets of drawings were received on 11-12-2025. These drawings have been entered and are acceptable.
Status of Claims
Claims 2-13 and 15-19 are pending.
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.
Claims 8 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McClive (US#3344494).
Regarding claim 8, McClive discloses a casket 20 top 21 (lid) interior arrangement comprising: a backer board including a center wall 25 having a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge, a first side wall 27 of first side 30 coupled (e.g. stapled, col. 2, lines 42-47) to the center wall and extending away from the first edge, and a second side wall 27 of second side 31 coupled (e.g. stapled, col. 2, lines 42-47) to the center wall and extending away from the second edge, the first side wall and the second side wall configured to engage a nook (defined by flanges 24) in an underside of a casket lid 21 under a tension configured to hold the center wall in a predetermined position (see Fig. 4 and col. 2, line 63, to col. 3, line 4); at least a first roll 34,35 (wadding and fabric combination of first side 30) and a second roll 34,35 (wadding and fabric combination of second side 31), the first roll coupled (stitching or fastenings, col. 2, lines 57-62) to the backer board “proximate” the first edge, and the second roll coupled (stitching or fastenings, col. 2, lines 57-62) to the backer board “proximate” the second edge; the first roll configured to cover at least an exposed portion (visible portion facing casket interior) of the first side wall when said first side wall and the first roll engage the nook on the underside of the casket lid (see Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 18, wherein the first side wall 27 of first side 30 is configured to engage a corner of the nook in the underside of the casket lid (see Fig. 4).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-7 and 15-17 are allowed.
Claims 9-13 and 19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claims 3 and 15, see the previously stated reasons for allowance in the NOA mailed 08-22-2025.
Regarding claims 9 and 19, McClive teaches away from the first side wall, center wall, and second side wall being formed from the same blank.
Regarding claim 12, McClive teaches away from wherein the first wall has a fold back portion that is folded back behind the center wall, and a main portion that is further folded back from the fold back portion to extend away from the center wall and the fold back portion.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM L MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-7068. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 - 6:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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WILLIAM L. MILLER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3677
/WILLIAM L MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677