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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04/20/2026 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 04/22/2026 is acknowledged. The submission is in compliance with the provision of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-2 and 12-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN114672977 (hereinafter CN’977) in view of CN207958774 (hereinafter CN’774) and Kwak (US 2019/0390396).
Regarding claim 1, CN’977 teaches a robotic device comprising:
an air blowing unit comprising a supply and exhaust pump (figs. 4-9, suction and blower mechanism 3), an air supply pipe (fig. 5, blower 32 in a shape of a pipe), an exhaust pipe (fig. 5, suction fan 33 in a shape of a pipe), and a valve (fig. 5, switch 34),
wherein the air supply pipe (32) comprising a first end connected to the supply and exhaust pump (3) and a second end connected to the valve (34) (fig. 5, machine translation, the suction and blower mechanism includes an installation backboard and a blower fixedly installed on one side of the installation backboard; a suction fan is also provided on one side of the blower; the opening at the same end of the blower and the suction fan is connected to the suction and blower installed on the installation backboard),
wherein the exhaust pipe (33) comprises a first end connected to the supply and exhaust pump (3) and a second end connected to the valve (34) (fig. 5, machine translation),
wherein air the blowing unit (3, 32, 33) is configured to inflate the clothing by inserting gas into the airbag via the air supply pipe using the supply and exhaust pump to expand the airbag (machine translation),
wherein the air blowing unit (3, 32, 33) is further configured to deflate the airbag by extracting the gas from the airbag via the exhaust pipe using the supply and exhaust pump (machine translation), and
wherein the valve (34) is configured to switch between insertion of the gas via the air supply pipe and extraction of the gas via the exhaust pipe (machine translation).
CN’977 does not teach the air blowing unit comprising a heater, wherein the heater is configured to heat air supplied by the supply and exhaust pump to dry the clothing.
However, in the same field of endeavor, CN’774 teaches the pump control system is connected to the steam generating device 13, which introduces high temperature steam of 1000 C for drying (machine translation, para. [0030]-[0031]).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine CN’977 with a heater as taught by CN’774 for the benefit of drying the clothing and removing the wrinkles while the clothing is over the inflatable airbag.
The modified structure CN’977-CN’774 does not teach an insertion unit configured to insert the deflated airbag into an inside of the clothing and an extraction unit configured to extract the deflated airbag from the inside of the clothing.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Kwak teaches a robot is configured to hang the clothes on the hanger (para. [0021]) and the robot is configured to extract the hanger from the clothing (the robot arms are configured to grip and move the hanger to a specific location, as shown in figs. 1A-1B, the clothes are moved and folded at a folding unit, where the clothes are spread and folded without the hanger).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774 with a robot as taught by Kwak for the benefit of fully automating a series of processes of folding the clothes which provides rapidly and exactly spreading wrinkles of the clothes (Kwak, para. [0010]).
Regarding claim 2, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak teaches the air blowing unit is further configured to dry the clothing by increasing a temperature of the gas inserted into the airbag (CN’774, machine translation, para. [0031], the steam pump control system passes through the steam outlet micropores and is introduced into the high temperature steam of 1000 C for drying).
Regarding claim 12, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak does not teach the insertion unit is further configured to insert the airbag into the clothing through a hanger on which the clothing is hung.
However, CN’977 teaches the hanger comprises an airbag system and Kwak teaches the insertion unit is configured to insert the hanger into the clothing (para. [0021]).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak with the insertion unit as taught by Kwak for the benefit of fully automating a series of processes of folding the clothes which provides rapidly and exactly spreading wrinkles of the clothes (Kwak, para. [0010]).
Regarding claim 13, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak does not teach a washing unit configured to wash the clothing while the clothing is hung on the hanger.
However, CN’774 teaches a washing unit configured to wash the clothing while the clothing is hung on the hanger (machine translation, para. [0034], the laundry rack of the utility model can be placed in a water tank having a certain height for washing, taking out from the water tank and then drying/ironing and other clothes finishing).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak with a washing unit as taught by CN’774 for the benefit of providing a washing apparatus upstream of the drying device in the automated laundry facilities.
Regarding claim 14, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak teaches a drying unit (CN’977, fig. 4, drying mechanism 9 comprising a dryer 91) configured to dry the clothing while the clothing is hung on the hanger.
Claims 4 and 6-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN114672977, CN207958774 and Kwak (US 2019/0390396), as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Saji (US 2009/0045231).
Regarding claim 4, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak does not teach a folding unit configured to fold the clothing by a folding a mounting plate on which the clothing is mounted.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Saji teaches a folding unit (fig. 4) configured to fold the clothing by folding a mounting plate (figs. 7-9, plates 232, 420) on which the clothing is mounted (figs. 7-9, clothing is mounted on plates 232 and 420).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak with a folding unit as taught by Saji so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Regarding claim 6, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji does not teach the folding unit is configured to fold the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate.
However, Saji teaches the folding unit is configured to fold the mounting plate (fig. 7, plate 232 is folded) while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate (fig. 8).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji with the teaching of Saji that the folding unit is configured to fold the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Regarding claim 7, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji does not teach the folding unit is configured to fold the mounting plate while the clothing is heated and pressed on the mounting plate.
However, Saji teaches the folding unit is configured to fold the mounting plate while the clothing is heated (fig. 18, para. [0103], steam is let out from the air outlets 200h before start of the folding operation) and pressed (figs. 7-9) on the mounting plate.
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji with the teaching of Saji that the folding unit is configured to fold the mounting plate while the clothing is heated and pressed on the mounting plate so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Regarding claim 8, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak does not teach a folding unit configured to fold the clothing by folding the airbag while the airbag is inserted in the clothing.
However CN’977 teaches the hanger comprises an airbag system and Saji teaches the hanger comprises a folding unit configured to fold the clothing by folding sections of the hanger while the hanger is inserted in the clothing (fig. 7).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak with the teaching that a folding unit is configured to fold the clothing by folding the section of the hanger while the hanger is inserted in the clothing as taught by Saji so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Regarding claim 9, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji does not teach the airbag has a folding line for folding.
However, CN’977 teaches the hanger comprises an airbag system and Saji teaches the hanger has a folding line (fig. 6, folding line 232a) for folding.
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji with the teaching that the hanger has a folding line for folding as suggested by Saji so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Regarding claim 10, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji does not teach the folding unit comprises a robot arm that is further configured to fold the airbag at the folding line.
However, Saji teaches the folding unit comprises a robot arm (fig. 6, arm 222) and is further configured to fold the airbag at the folding line (fig. 6, at the line 222a).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji with the teaching that the folding unit comprises a robot arm and is further configured to fold the airbag at the folding line as suggested by Saji so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Regarding claim 11, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji does not teach the folding unit comprises an actuator provided at the folding line and configured to fold the airbag at the folding line.
However, Saji teaches the folding unit comprises an actuator (fig. 6, element 234) provided at the folding line and configured to fold the airbag at the folding line.
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji with the teaching that the folding unit comprises an actuator provided at the folding line and configured to fold the airbag at the folding line as suggested by Saji so that the garment is automatically folded while being suspended on a hanger and the floor area occupied by the garment folding apparatus is reduced (Saji, para. [0028]).
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN114672977, CN207958774, Kwak (US 2019/0390396) and Saji (US 2009/0045231), as applied to claim 4 above, and further in view of Saji (US 2009/0120972)(hereinafter Saji’972).
Regarding claim 5, the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji does not teach the air blowing unit is configured to remove the gas from the airbag on the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Saji’972 teaches the air blowing unit is configured to remove the gas from the airbag on the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate (fig. 28, para. [0206], [0217]).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified structure CN’977-CN’774-Kwak-Saji with the teaching that the air blowing unit is configured to remove the gas from the airbag on the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate as suggested by Saji’972 for the benefit of providing a garment folding apparatus capable of automatically folding garments (Saji’972, para. [0001]).
Claims 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN114672977 in view of CN207958774.
Regarding claim 15, CN’977 teaches a method performed by a robotic device, the method comprising:
inserting a deflated airbag into an inside of clothing (machine translation, step S1, put the inflatable hanger into the clothing);
inflating the clothing (machine translation, step S2, start the blower to inflate the airbag) by inserting via an air supply pipe (fig. 5, blower 32 in a shape of a pipe) using a supply and exhaust pump (figs. 4-9, suction and blower mechanism 3), gas into the airbag to expand the airbag, the air supply pipe comprising a first end connected to the supply and exhaust pump (fig. 5, machine translation, the suction and blower mechanism includes an installation backboard and a blower fixedly installed on one side of the installation backboard; a suction fan is also provided on one side of the blower; the opening at the same end of the blower and the suction fan is connected to the suction and blower installed on the installation backboard);
deflating the airbag (machine translation, step S5, start the suction fan to extract air from the airbag) by removing via an exhaust pipe (fig. 5, suction fan 33 in a shape of a pipe) using the supply and exhaust pump (figs. 4-9, suction and blower mechanism 3), the gas from the airbag, the exhaust pipe comprising a first end connected to the supply and exhaust pump (fig. 5, machine translation);
extracting the deflated airbag from the inside of the clothing (machine translation, step S5, the user can take out the clothes); and
switching, using a valve (figs. 4-9, switch 34), between insertion of the gas via the air supply pipe and extraction of the gas via the exhaust pipe, the air supply pipe (32) comprising a second end connected to the valve, the exhaust pipe (33) comprising a second end connected to the valve (fig. 5, machine translation).
CN’977 does not teach the air blowing unit comprising a heater, wherein the heater is configured to heat air supplied by the supply and exhaust pump to dry the clothing.
However, in the same field of endeavor, CN’774 teaches the pump control system is connected to the steam generating device 13, which introduces high temperature steam of 1000 C for drying (machine translation, para. [0030]-[0031]).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine CN’977 with a heater as taught by CN’774 for the benefit of drying the clothing and removing the wrinkles while the clothing is over the inflatable airbag.
Regarding claim 16, the modified method CN’977-CN’774 teaches drying the clothing by increasing a temperature of the gas inserted into the airbag (CN’774, machine translation, para. [0031], the steam pump control system introduces steam through the steam outlet holes for drying).
Claims 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN114672977 and CN207958774, as applied to claim 15 above, and further in view of Saji (US 2009/0120972).
Regarding claim 18, the modified method CN’977-CN’774 does not teach after the airbag is extracted, folding the clothing by folding a mounting plate on which the clothing is mounted.
However, Saji’972 teaches after the airbag is extracted, folding the clothing by folding a mounting plate on which the clothing is mounted (figs. 28-30).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified method CN’977-CN’774 with the teaching of Saji’972 that after the airbag is extracted, folding the clothing by folding a mounting plate on which the clothing is mounted for the benefit of providing a garment folding apparatus capable of automatically folding garments (Saji’972, para. [0001]).
Regarding claim 19, the modified method CN’977-CN’774-Saji’972 does not teach the gas is removed from the airbag on the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate.
However, Saji’972 teaches the gas is removed from the airbag on the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate (fig. 28, para. [0217]).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified method CN’977-CN’774-Saji’972 with the teaching that the gas is removed from the airbag on the mounting plate while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate as suggested by Saji’972 for the benefit of providing a garment folding apparatus capable of automatically folding garments (Saji’972, para. [0001]).
Regarding claim 20, the modified method CN’977-CN’774-Saji’972 does not teach the mounting plate is folded while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate.
However, Saji’972 teaches the mounting plate is folded while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate (figs. 29A-29C).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the modified method CN’977-CN’774-Saji’972 with the teaching that the mounting plate is folded while the clothing is adsorbed on the mounting plate as suggested by Saji’972 for the benefit of providing a garment folding apparatus capable of automatically folding garments (Saji’972, para. [0001]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, dated 04/20/2026, with respect to the rejection of claims under 35 U.S.C 112 (b) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection to the claims has been withdrawn due to the applicant amendments.
Applicant’s arguments, dated 04/20/2026, with respect to the rejections of claims under 35 U.S.C 102/103 have been fully considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on combination of references applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See form PTO-892.
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/UYEN T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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