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 .
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 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mueller et al. in US Patent 5172711. Mueller teaches a device for enjoying an outdoor space, the device comprising: a parasol (12’) connected to a distal end of a pole (16’), a parasol fan (18) disposed along an inner surface of the parasol so as to direct airflow downward; and a net (86) disposed downward of the parasol fan, wherein the net defines a compartment between the net and a portion of the inner surface of the parasol that the parasol fan occupies.
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 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mueller as applied to Claim 1 above in view of Goodling in US Patent 11401728. Mueller teaches a solar panel (82) electrically connected to the pole (via 84) for powering one or more electronic devices, but is silent on the details of the panel or the use of a device charger. Goodling teaches an umbrella including a pole (111) and comprising a solar fabric (163) along an outer surface of the parasol for powering one or more electronic device chargers (153) operatively associated with the pole. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Mueller by using the solar panels to power device chargers as taught by Goodling in order to allow the user to charge their electronic device
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mueller as applied to Claim 1 above in view of Korman in US Patent 9006940. Mueller teaches a solar panel (82) electrically connected to the pole (via 84) for powering one or more electronic devices, but is silent on the use of a device charger. Korman teaches an umbrella including a solar panel (166) electrically connected (via 158) to a pole (154) for powering one or more electronic device chargers (160) operatively associated with the pole. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Mueller by using the solar panels to power device chargers as taught by Korman in order to allow the user to charge their electronic device.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Westman, and Covington teach umbrellas with fans. Weaver, Kelley, and Magalde et al. teach umbrellas with screens. Klein et al., Chaimovski et al., and Grierson teach umbrellas with solar panels.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NOAH C. HAWK whose telephone number is (571)272-1480. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5:30pm.
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NOAH C. HAWK
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3636
/Noah Chandler Hawk/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636