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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 22-23 and 25-37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 22 is construed to be indefinite because the recitation “the guide procedure” lacks a positive antecedent basis. Claim 23 is construed to be indefinite because the recitation “the command” (plural occurrences) fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention, since that recitation does not make clear whether the command is a determination command or locking command. Claim 25 is construed to be indefinite because the recitation “the repeated input” lacks a positive antecedent basis. Claim 26 is construed to be indefinite because the recitation “the input” fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention, since that recitation does not make clear whether the command is a manipulation unit or locking command. Since claims 27-37 are dependent upon an indefinite claim, those claims are construed to be indefinite by dependency.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 28-37 are allowable over the prior art of record because the laundry treating apparatus with all the independently claimed features including either a setting unit outside a handle receiving input of a locking command or a manipulation unit coupled to a cabinet receiving input of a command for selecting a course for rotating a drum is not found in the prior art of record, either singly or in combination.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Other prior art references cited with this action may teach one or more claim features but do not rise to a level of anticipation, obviousness, and/or double patenting such that a rejection would be proper or reasonable under current Office practice and procedure. References A, B, C, D, E, N, O, P, cited with this action, are patent publications from the same inventive entity as the current application. References F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, cited with this action, are patent publications that teach laundry treating apparatus.
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Friday, July 3, 2026
/STEPHEN M GRAVINI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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