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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 40 – distribution cavity. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 11 objected to because of the following grammatical errors:
Claim 1, line 10 reads in part, “at least one of the measure humidity of temperature”, appears it should read “or”.
Claim 10, line 3 reads “receive a signal form the at least one sensor” appears is should read “from”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
GROUND 1: Claim(s) 1-2, 4-8, 11 and 14-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0374058 to Blond et al.
In regard to claim 1, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel 1 comprising: a cooking body 2 defining a cooking chamber (See Fig. 1); a lid 3 removably couplable to the cooking body (See para 0033), the lid having: a lid body extending between an inner surface confronting the cooking chamber, and an outer surface, the lid body having a centerline axis extending between the inner surface and the outer surface (see Fig. 1); and a liquid reservoir 6 provided within the lid body (See para 0036); and at least one sensor 29 configured to measure at least one of a humidity or a temperature of the cooking chamber (see paras 0038-0039, 0084); wherein a liquid within the liquid reservoir is selectively supplied to the cooking chamber based on at least one of the measured humidity or temperature of the cooking chamber (see paras 0053-0060).
In regard to claim 2, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises an actuator 28 configured to selectively supply a liquid within the liquid reservoir to the cooking chamber.
In regard to claim 4, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises a plurality of outlets 15/115 provided along the inner surface and being fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir (see Figs. 1-2).
In regard to claim 5, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises a distribution cavity 20/120 formed within the lid body and fluidly coupling the liquid reservoir to the plurality of outlets (See Figs 1-3).
In regard to claim 6, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises a distribution duct 121 provided within the distribution cavity (See Figs. 2-3 and paras 0067-0071).
In regard to claim 7, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the distribution duct is formed as a singular wall extending circumferentially about the centerline axis (See Figs. 2-3 and paras 0067-0071).
In regard to claim 8, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the plurality of outlets are arranged in a plurality of concentric rows radially spaced with respect to one another, with respect to the centerline axis (see Figs. 1-3).
In regard to claim 11, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, further comprising a controller module 28/128 communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller module configured to: receive a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of at least one of the temperature or the humidity of the cooking chamber; and automatically selectively fluidly couple the liquid reservoir to the cooking chamber based on the received signal (See paras 0053-0060 and 0081-006).
In regard to claim 14, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the controller module is provided within the lid body (see Figs. 1-4).
In regard to claim 15, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the at least one sensor is provided along the lid body (see Figs. 1-4 and para 0086).
In regard to claim 16, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises a power source 50 operably coupled to the at least one sensor (see para 0038).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
GROUND 2: Claim(s) 1-3, 11-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over EP 4088629 to Yang in view of CN 203207777 to Zhongshan.
In regard to claims 1 and 15-19, Yang discloses a cooking vessel 10 comprising: a cooking body 12 defining a cooking chamber (See Fig. 2); a lid 13 removably couplable to the cooking body (See para 0030), the lid having: a lid body extending between an inner surface confronting the cooking chamber, and an outer surface, the lid body having a centerline axis extending between the inner surface and the outer surface (see Fig. 3); and a liquid reservoir 21 provided within the lid body (See Figs. 4-6 and para 0033); and at least one sensor 25 configured to measure at least one of a humidity or a temperature of the cooking chamber; wherein a liquid within the liquid reservoir is selectively supplied to the cooking chamber based on at least one of the measured humidity or temperature of the cooking chamber (See paras 0046-0048). Yang discloses a temperature sensor provided in the cooking pot but is silent with respect to the sensor being provided in the lid as claimed in the instant invention. Zhongshan teaches of an analogous cooking vessel comprising a body 1 and lid 2, wherein the lid is equipped with both a humidity sensor 5 and a temperature sensor 4 which provide feedback to controller 6 (See Figs. 1-2). It would have been obvious to one skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the cooking vessel of Yang to include both humidity and temperature sensors on the lid thereof, to ensure more accurate and precise measurements throughout the entire cooking vessel and thereby prevent undesirable cooking conditions by control over energy/power application as taught by Zhongshan. With regard to claim 18, Yang discloses a cooking appliance 10 comprising, a cook surface 14 with a heating zone 16 configured to receive the cooking vessel described above (see Fig. 3 and para 0029).
In regard to claim 2, Yang discloses a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises an actuator 22 configured to selectively supply a liquid within the liquid reservoir to the cooking chamber (See Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 3, Yang discloses a cooking vessel, wherein the actuator is an electrovalve (See paras 0036-0042 and 0046-0049).
In regard to claims 11 and 20, Yang discloses a cooking vessel, further comprising a controller module communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller module configured to: receive a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of at least one of the temperature or the humidity of the cooking chamber; and automatically selectively fluidly couple the liquid reservoir to the cooking chamber based on the received signal (See paras 0036-0042 and 0046-0052).
In regard to claims 12-14, Yang discloses a cooking vessel comrping a controller module (See rejections above) but are silent with respect to wherein the controller module is configured to communicate through a wireless communication. Zhongshan teaches of an analogous cooking vessel both a humidity sensor 5 and a temperature sensor 4 which provide feedback to controller 6 (see rejections above) and which provide feedback to a user through wireless communications. It would have been obvious to one skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the cooking vessel of Yang to include wireless communications to enable feedback control over the cooking appliance and cooking surfaces thereof as taught by Zhongshan.
GROUND 3: Claim(s) 9-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0374058 to Blond et al. in view of CN 206381064 to Gu.
In regard to claims 9-10, Blond et al. disclose a cooking vessel, wherein the lid comprises a plurality of outlets 15/115 provided along the inner surface and being fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir (see Figs. 1-2), but are silent with respect to wherein: a first outlet of the plurality of outlets includes a first cross-sectional area when viewed along a plane perpendicular to the centerline axis and intersecting the first outlet; and a second outlet of the plurality of outlets includes a second cross-sectional area, larger than the first cross-sectional area, when viewed along a plane perpendicular to the centerline axis and intersecting the second outlet and wherein the first outlet is provided radially inward from the second outlet. It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to make the different portions of the plurality of outlets of whatever form or shape was desired or expedient. A change in form or shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art, absent any showing of unexpected results. In re Dailey et al., 149 USPQ 47. Additionally, a change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955). Evidence that arranging the plurality of outlets on a radial pattern is seen in Gu Fig. 13, and is considered to be well known at the time the invention was filed, as the radial dispersing of outlets holes ensures even distribution of steam over the cooking body.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW J KASZTEJNA whose telephone number is (571)272-6086. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 7AM--3PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eileen Lillis can be reached at 571-272-6928. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MATTHEW J KASZTEJNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3993
Prosecution Insights