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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1, 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Arjomand (US 20120091131 A1)
Arjomand discloses:
1. An assembleable container (figs 1-7, which includes figs 1-6) for storing a liquid (capable of performing the above intended use), comprising: an upper main body having a first connector (adjacent 110 with portion adjacent 305; upper and lower is based on user orientation of the device); and a lower main body having a second connector configured to be coupled to the first connector of the upper main body (adjacent 105/115 with connector adjacent 245), wherein the upper main body and the lower main body are configured to be assembled and/or disassembled using the first connector and the second connector (capable of performing the above intended use), the first connector has a convex portion or a concave portion formed on an outer periphery of the upper main body (portion shown connecting such as in fig 2, 5), the second connector has a concave portion or a convex portion that is formed on an inner periphery of the lower main body and configured to fit into the convex portion or the concave portion of the first connector (as shown in fig 2, 5), such that concave portion or convex portion of the second connector fit into the first connector (fig 2, 5),when the first connector and the second connector are coupled to each other, a bottom surface of the first connector and a bottom surface of the second connector are disposed facing each other (surfaces facing each other as in fig 2, 5), and the first connector and the second connector are coupled so as to provide a leakage prevention portion for preventing the liquid from leaking (capable of performing the above intended use);
the upper main body is configured to be separated from the lower main body and stored in the lower main body (capable of performing the above intended use, as for example shown in fig 5), when storing the upper main body in the lower main body, the upper main body is configured to be fixed to and stored in the lower main body by inserting the first connector upside down through an opening of the lower main body (capable of performing the above intended use, as in fig 5), and by fitting the convex portion of the first connector into the concave portion of the second connector (capable of performing the above intended use, as in fig 5), in a case where the first connector has the convex portion and the second connector has the concave portion corresponding to the convex portion of the first connector, or by fitting the concave portion of the first connector into the convex portion of the second connector, in a case where the first connector has the concave portion and the second connector has the convex portion corresponding to the concave portion of the first connector (capable of performing the above intended use, as in fig 5).
6. The assembleable container according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the second connector has an inclined surface inclined downward toward an inner side in a radial direction (incline as in fig 5).
Potentially Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4, 5, 9-11 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be potentially allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to the claims have been considered but are moot because in view of the amendment the search has been updated and a new rejection has been made.
Conclusion
Applicant's submission of an information disclosure statement under 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) on 01/12/2026 prompted the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 609.04(b). 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 ANDREW D PERREAULT whose telephone number is (571)270-5427. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:00am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony Stashick can be reached at (571)272-4561. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANDREW D PERREAULT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3735