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.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Moore (U.S. Pub. No. 20110011823).
Regarding Claim 1, Moore discloses a beverage container (figure 6) comprising: an open top vessel 215 (figure 6), the open top vessel comprising a first outside face (figure 6), a first inside face (Figure 6), and a first threaded connection positioned on the first inside face 240 (Figure 6), a handle610 (figure 6) comprising a ring (Figure 6), the ring comprising a second outside face (Figure 6), a second inside face (figure 6) and a first bottom extension (Figure 6), the first bottom extension comprising a second threaded connection 630 (Figure 6), the second threaded connection configured to mate with the first threaded connection (Figure 6), the second inside face comprising a third threaded connection 620 (figure 6), the second outside face comprising a surface that creates a smooth transition between the first outside face and the second outside face when the ring is mated to the vessel (Figure 6), a cap 205/210 (figure 6) comprising a second bottom extension (Figure 6), the second bottom extension comprising a fourth threaded connection 235 (Figure 6) configured to mate interchangeably with both the first threaded connection and the third threaded connection (paragraph 24).
Applicant is duly reminded that a complete response must satisfy the requirements of 37 C.F. R. 1.111, including: “The reply must present arguments pointing out the specific distinctions believed to render the claims, including any newly presented claims, patentable over any applied references. A general allegation that the claims “define a patentable invention” without specifically pointing out how the language of the claims patentably distinguishes them from the references does not comply with the requirements of this section. Moreover, “The prompt development of a clear Issue requires that the replies of the applicant meet the objections to and rejections of the claims.” Applicant should also specifically point out the support for any amendments made to the disclosure. See MPEP 2163.06 II(A), MPEP 2163.06 and MPEP 714.02. The ''disclosure'' includes the claims, the specification and the drawings.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIZABETH J VOLZ whose telephone number is (571)270-5430. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 11am-7pm est.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NATHAN JENNESS can be reached at (571)270-5055. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ELIZABETH J VOLZ/Examiner, Art Unit 3733
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