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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/16/2026 was filed after the mailing date of the Non-Final Office Action on 03/25/2026. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Status
This Office Action is in response to the remarks and amendments filed on 06/15/2026. The previous objections to the drawings and claims have been withdrawn. Furthermore, the previous 35 USC 112 rejections have also been withdrawn. Claims 1-3, 5-9, 11-18, 20, and 24-26 remain pending for consideration.
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.
Claim 9 is 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 9 recites the limitations “…the temperature sensor includes a portion…” and “…a portion of the temperature sensor…” which render the claim indefinite because the claim as written leave the structure ambiguous in nature as it become difficult to tell if the claim is referencing a previously claimed element or disclosing an element in addition to the previously claimed element.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 20140000304 A1, herein after referred to as Kim), in view of Shiozaki et al. (JP2003056966A, herein after referred to as Shiozaki), and in further view of Castrellon et al. (US 20050241329 A1, herein after referred to as Castrellon).
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches an ice maker (ice maker 200 Fig. 6) comprising: a cell (disclosed “shell” in paragraph [0053]) in which a liquid (disclosed “water” in paragraph [0042]) is phase changed into ice (paragraph [0042]); a first tray (tray body 223 Fig. 6) configured to define a first portion (corresponds to the lower portion of the shell Fig. 6) of a wall providing the cell (corresponds to the upper and lower walls of the shell Fig. 6); a second tray (recess part 213 Fig. 6) configured to define a second portion (corresponds to the upper portion of the shell Fig. 6) of the wall providing the cell; a first tray case (tray case 221 Fig. 6) that is a separate component (Fig. 6) from the first tray and configured to be positioned at one side of the first tray (lower side of tray body 223 Fig. 6); wherein the cell is provided in plurality (Fig. 6), and includes one ice making cell (first left cell Fig. 6) and another ice making cell (second left cell Fig. 6), wherein the ice maker further comprises a bracket (ice maker bracket 250 Fig. 7) manufactured as a separate component from the first tray case (Figs. 6-7).
Kim teaches the invention as described above but fails to explicitly teach “the ice maker comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid or the ice in the cell, the other ice making cell disposed nearer to a cold air hole, through which cold air flows, than the one ice making cell, wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell”.
However, Shiozaki teaches an ice maker (ice making machining 13 Fig. 1 corresponds to the ice maker of Kim) comprising: a temperature sensor (temperature sensor 26 Fig. 2) configured to detect a temperature of a liquid or ice (paragraph [0011] page 3) in a cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki), another ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) disposed nearer to a cold air hole (cold air outlet 31 Fig. 2), through which cold air flows (paragraph [0002]), than one ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki), wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) to determine whether the ice tray is empty or not (paragraph [0011] page 4).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of Kim to include “the ice maker comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid or the ice in the cell, the other ice making cell disposed nearer to a cold air hole, through which cold air flows, than the one ice making cell, wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell” in view of the teachings of Shiozaki to determine whether the ice tray is empty or not.
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “the cold air hole being formed at the bracket, and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space that accommodates the first tray and the second tray”.
However, Castrellon teaches a cold air hole (air inlet slits 14 Fig. 3 corresponds to the cold air hole of Shiozaki) being formed at a bracket (Fig. 3 where case 10 corresponds to the bracket of Kim), and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space (Fig. 1 and paragraph [0034]) that accommodates a first tray (Fig. 1 where top ice-cube tray 50 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) and a second tray (Fig. 1 where bottom ice-cube tray 50 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) to allow for a faster cooling of the ice-cube trays (paragraph [0035]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “the cold air hole being formed at the bracket, and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space that accommodates the first tray and the second tray” in view of the teachings of Castrellon to allow for a faster cooling of the ice-cube trays.
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “the second tray being disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the first tray”.
However, Kim teaches the first tray being disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the second tray (paragraph [0046]), and Applicant has not disclosed that having “the second tray being disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the first tray” does anything more than produce the predictable result of rotating a tray relative to another tray to separate the generated ice in an ice harvesting process. Since it has been held that Reversal of Parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced, see MPEP 2144.04 VI. A, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, to modify the apparatus of Kim and meet the claimed limitations in order to produce the predictable results of rotating a tray relative to another tray to separate the generated ice in an ice harvesting process.
Regarding claim 6, the combined teachings teach wherein the first tray case is coupled to the first tray (Fig. 6 of Kim), and the bracket is coupled to the first tray case (Fig. 1 of Castrellon where magazine 12 corresponds to the first tray case of Kim).
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, and Castrellon as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Kang et al. (US 20110185759 A1, herein after referred to as Kang).
Regarding claim 2, the combined teachings teach further comprising a liquid supply (water supply pipe 20 Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) configured to supply the liquid (paragraph [0004] of Shiozaki), and the cold air hole includes a portion (the entirety of cold air outlet 31 Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) spaced apart from the liquid supply (Fig. 2 of Shiozaki).
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “the liquid supply including a first portion and a second portion, the liquid supply being provided with a first opening formed in the first portion of the liquid supply and a second opening formed in the second portion of the liquid supply such that the liquid, which is supplied to the first portion of the liquid supply, is guided to the second portion of the liquid supply, wherein the liquid supply is installed at the bracket”.
However, Kang teaches a liquid supply (water funnel 160 Fig. 3 corresponds to the liquid supply of Shiozaki) including a first portion (corresponds to water collecting portion 161 Fig. 4) and a second portion (corresponds to drain tube 171 and tapered portion 174 Fig. 3), the liquid supply being provided with a first opening (corresponds to the top opening of water funnel 160 Fig. 4) formed in the first portion of the liquid supply (Fig. 4) and a second opening (corresponds to the opening of tapered portion 174 Fig. 4) formed in the second portion of the liquid supply (Fig. 4) such that a liquid (paragraph [0056] where the disclosed “water” corresponds to the liquid of Kim), which is supplied to the first portion of the liquid supply (paragraph [0056]), is guided to the second portion of the liquid supply (paragraph [0056]), wherein the liquid supply is installed at a bracket (Figs. 2-3 where frame 131 corresponds to the bracket of Kim) to guide water for making ice (paragraph [0056]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “the liquid supply including a first portion and a second portion, the liquid supply being provided with a first opening formed in the first portion of the liquid supply and a second opening formed in the second portion of the liquid supply such that the liquid, which is supplied to the first portion of the liquid supply, is guided to the second portion of the liquid supply, wherein the liquid supply is installed at the bracket” in view of the teachings of Kang to guide water for making ice.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, and Castrellon as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Alshourbagy et al. (US 20170299244 A1, herein after referred to as Alshourbagy).
Regarding claim 3, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “wherein the temperature sensor is installed in the first tray case, and a wire connected to the temperature sensor is guided to one side of the first tray case”.
However, Alshourbagy teaches wherein a temperature sensor (heater thermistor 114 Fig. 10) is installed in a first tray case (Fig. 10 where canopy 116 corresponds to the first tray case of Kim), and a wire (Fig. 9) connected to the temperature sensor (Fig. 9) is guided to one side of the first tray case (Figs. 10-11) to allow for easy engagement and removal of the completed assembly for replacement and repair of the assembly if necessary (paragraph [0040]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “wherein the temperature sensor is installed in the first tray case, and a wire connected to the temperature sensor is guided to one side of the first tray case” in view of the teachings of Alshourbagy to allow for easy engagement and removal of the completed assembly for replacement and repair of the assembly if necessary.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, and Castrellon as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Hara (US 4910974).
Regarding claim 5, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to supply heat to the cell, wherein the first tray includes a contact surface contacting with the second tray in an ice making process, and wherein a portion of the heater is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a first distance and a portion of the temperature sensor is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a second distance less than the first distance”.
However, Hara teaches further comprising a heater (heater H Fig. 13) configured to supply heat (Col. 14 lines 32-36) to a cell (the disclosed “spherical spaces” in Col. 5 lines 1-12 correspond to cell of Kim), wherein a first tray (first freezing chamber 11 Fig. 13 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) includes a contact surface (bottom surface of first freezing chamber 11 Fig. 13) contacting with a second tray (second freezing cell 15 Fig. 13 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) in an ice making process (the process described in Col. 8 lines 52-68 and Col. 9 lines 1-48), and wherein a portion of the heater (top portion of heater H Fig. 13) is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a first distance (see below annotated Fig. 13 of Hara) and a portion of a temperature sensor (lower portion of thermostat Th2 Fig. 13 where thermostat Th2 corresponds to the temperature sensor of Shiozaki) is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a second distance (see below annotated Fig. 13 of Hara) less than the first distance (see below annotated Fig. 13 of Hara) to separate the ice (Col. 14 lines 32-36).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to supply heat to the cell, wherein the first tray includes a contact surface contacting with the second tray in an ice making process, and wherein a portion of the heater is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a first distance and a portion of the temperature sensor is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a second distance less than the first distance” in view of the teachings of Hara to separate the ice.
Claim 24 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, and Castrellon as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Boarman et al. (US 20140165598 A1, herein after referred to as Boarman).
Regarding claim 24, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a pusher including at least one extension part configured to push out the ice disposed in the cell, wherein the first tray case is provided with a hole through which a portion of the pusher passes”.
However, Boarman teaches further comprising a pusher (ejector pin 475 Fig. 29) including at least one extension part (stem portion of ejector pin 475 Fig. 29) configured to push out ice (paragraph [0120]) disposed in a cell (Fig. 26 where unitary mold cavity 440 corresponds to the cell of Kim), wherein a first tray case (chill ring cover 504 Fig. 35 corresponds to the first tray case of Kim) is provided with a hole (water inlet apertures 505 Fig. 35) through which a portion of the pusher passes (lower portion of ejector pin 475 Fig. 29).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a pusher including at least one extension part configured to push out the ice disposed in the cell, wherein the first tray case is provided with a hole through which a portion of the pusher passes” in view of the teachings of Boarman to improve the ice removal process.
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, in view of Shiozaki, in view of Castrellon, and in further view Ito et al. (JP2005326035A, herein after referred to as Ito).
Regarding claim 7, Kim teaches an ice maker (ice maker 200 Fig. 6) comprising: a cell (disclosed “shell” in paragraph [0053]) in which a liquid (disclosed “water” in paragraph [0042]) is phase changed into ice (paragraph [0042]); a first tray (tray body 223 Fig. 6) configured to define a first portion (corresponds to the lower portion of the shell Fig. 6) of a wall providing the cell (corresponds to the upper and lower walls of the shell Fig. 6); a second tray (recess part 213 Fig. 6) configured to define a second portion (corresponds to the upper portion of the shell Fig. 6) of the wall providing the cell; a first tray case (tray case 221 Fig. 6) that is a separate component (Fig. 6) from the first tray and configured to be positioned at one side of the first tray (lower side of tray body 223 Fig. 6); wherein the cell is provided in plurality (Fig. 6), and includes one ice making cell (first left cell Fig. 6) and another ice making cell (second left cell Fig. 6), wherein the ice maker further comprises a bracket (ice maker bracket 250 Fig. 7).
Kim teaches the invention as described above but fails to explicitly teach “the ice maker comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid or the ice in the cell, the other ice making cell disposed nearer to a cold air hole, through which cold air flows, than the one ice making cell, wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell”.
However, Shiozaki teaches an ice maker (ice making machining 13 Fig. 1 corresponds to the ice maker of Kim) comprising: a temperature sensor (temperature sensor 26 Fig. 2) configured to detect a temperature of a liquid or ice (paragraph [0011] page 3) in a cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki), another ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) disposed nearer to a cold air hole (cold air outlet 31 Fig. 2), through which cold air flows (paragraph [0002]), than one ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki), wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) to determine whether the ice tray is empty or not (paragraph [0011] page 4).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of Kim to include “the ice maker comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid or the ice in the cell, the other ice making cell disposed nearer to a cold air hole, through which cold air flows, than the one ice making cell, wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell” in view of the teachings of Shiozaki to determine whether the ice tray is empty or not.
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “the cold air hole being formed at the bracket, and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space that accommodates the first tray and the second tray”.
However, Castrellon teaches a cold air hole (air inlet slits 14 Fig. 3 corresponds to the cold air hole of Shiozaki) being formed at a bracket (Fig. 3 where case 10 corresponds to the bracket of Kim), and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space (Fig. 1 and paragraph [0034]) that accommodates a first tray (Fig. 1 where top ice-cube tray 50 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) and a second tray (Fig. 1 where bottom ice-cube tray 50 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) to allow for a faster cooling of the ice-cube trays (paragraph [0035]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “the cold air hole being formed at the bracket, and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space that accommodates the first tray and the second tray” in view of the teachings of Castrellon to allow for a faster cooling of the ice-cube trays.
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “a second tray case configured to support the second tray; the bracket integrally formed with the first tray case”.
However, Ito teaches a second tray case (see below annotated Fig. 6 of Ito) configured to support a second tray (coating 2A Figs. 5-6 corresponds to the second tray of Kim); a bracket (rotating housing 13 Fig. 5 corresponds to the bracket of Kim) integrally formed with a first tray case (see below annotated Fig. 5 of Ito) to easily released the ice from the tray without cracking or chipping (paragraph [0018]).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “a second tray case configured to support the second tray; the bracket integrally formed with the first tray case” in view of the teachings of Ito to easily released the ice from the tray without cracking or chipping.
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “the second tray being disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the first tray”.
However, Kim teaches the first tray being disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the second tray (paragraph [0046]), and Applicant has not disclosed that having “the second tray being disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the first tray” does anything more than produce the predictable result of rotating a tray relative to another tray to separate the generated ice in an ice harvesting process. Since it has been held that Reversal of Parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced, see MPEP 2144.04 VI. A, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, to modify the apparatus of Kim and meet the claimed limitations in order to produce the predictable results of rotating a tray relative to another tray to separate the generated ice in an ice harvesting process.
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, Castrellon, and Ito as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Kang.
Regarding claim 8, the combined teachings teach further comprising a liquid supply (water supply pipe 20 Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) configured to supply the liquid (paragraph [0004] of Shiozaki), wherein the first tray includes a communication hole (corresponds to the opening on the top of ice making tray 22 Fig. 2 of Shiozaki which allows water to be supplied to the tray), and wherein the liquid supply is configured to supply the liquid to the communication hole (paragraph [0011] of page 3 of Shiozaki), and the cold air hole includes a portion (the entirety of cold air outlet 31 Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) spaced apart from the communication hole (Fig. 2 of Shiozaki).
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “the liquid supply including a first portion and a second portion, the liquid supply being provided with a first opening formed in the first portion of the liquid supply and a second opening formed in the second portion of the liquid supply such that the liquid, which is supplied to the first portion of the liquid supply, is guided to the second portion of the liquid supply”.
However, Kang teaches a liquid supply (water funnel 160 Fig. 3 corresponds to the liquid supply of Shiozaki) including a first portion (corresponds to water collecting portion 161 Fig. 4) and a second portion (corresponds to drain tube 171 and tapered portion 174 Fig. 3), the liquid supply being provided with a first opening (corresponds to the top opening of water funnel 160 Fig. 4) formed in the first portion of the liquid supply (Fig. 4) and a second opening (corresponds to the opening of tapered portion 174 Fig. 4) formed in the second portion of the liquid supply (Fig. 4) such that a liquid (paragraph [0056] where the disclosed “water” corresponds to the liquid of Kim), which is supplied to the first portion of the liquid supply (paragraph [0056]), is guided to the second portion of the liquid supply (paragraph [0056]) to guide water for making ice (paragraph [0056]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “the liquid supply including a first portion and a second portion, the liquid supply being provided with a first opening formed in the first portion of the liquid supply and a second opening formed in the second portion of the liquid supply such that the liquid, which is supplied to the first portion of the liquid supply, is guided to the second portion of the liquid supply” in view of the teachings of Kang to guide water for making ice.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, Castrellon, and Ito as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Hara and Alshourbagy.
Regarding claim 9, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “wherein the first tray includes a surface contacting with the second tray in an ice making process and the temperature sensor includes a portion spaced apart from the surface of the first tray in the ice making process, and wherein the ice maker further comprises a heater”.
However, Hara teaches wherein a first tray (first freezing chamber 11 Fig. 13 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) includes a surface (bottom surface of first freezing chamber 11 Fig. 13) contacting with a second tray (second freezing cell 15 Fig. 13 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) in an ice making process (the process described in Col. 8 lines 52-68 and Col. 9 lines 1-48), and a temperature sensor (thermostat Th2 Fig. 13 corresponds to the temperature sensor of Shiozaki) includes a portion (lower portion of thermostat Th2 Fig. 13) spaced apart from the surface of the first tray in the ice making process (Fig. 13), and wherein the ice maker further comprises a heater (heater H Fig. 13) to separate the ice (Col. 14 lines 32-36).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “wherein the first tray includes a surface contacting with the second tray in an ice making process and the temperature sensor includes a portion spaced apart from the surface of the first tray in the ice making process, and wherein the ice maker further comprises a heater” in view of the teachings of Hara to separate the ice.
The combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “wherein the ice maker further comprises a heater case in which the heater is installed, and wherein at least a portion of the temperature sensor is disposed between the heater case and the first tray”.
However, Alshourbagy teaches wherein an ice maker (ice making assembly 100 Fig. 4 corresponds to the ice maker of Kim) further comprises a heater case (frame cover 116 Fig. 10 and paragraph [0039]) in which a heater (heater 112 Fig. 4 corresponds to the heater of Hara) is installed (Fig. 10 and paragraph [0039]), and wherein at least a portion of a temperature sensor (the entirety of thermistor 114 Fig. 10 where thermistor 114 corresponds to the temperature sensor of Shiozaki) is disposed between the heater case and a first tray (Figs. 4 and 10 where ice making portion 118 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) to allow for easy engagement and removal of the completed assembly for replacement and repair of the assembly if necessary (paragraph [0040]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “wherein the ice maker further comprises a heater case in which the heater is installed, and wherein at least a portion of the temperature sensor is disposed between the heater case and the first tray” in view of the teachings of Alshourbagy to allow for easy engagement and removal of the completed assembly for replacement and repair of the assembly if necessary.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, Castrellon, and Ito as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Hara.
Regarding claim 11, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to supply heat to the cell, wherein the first tray includes a contact surface contacting with the second tray in an ice making process, and wherein a portion of the heater is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a first distance and a portion of the temperature sensor is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a second distance less than the first distance”.
However, Hara teaches further comprising a heater (heater H Fig. 13) configured to supply heat (Col. 14 lines 32-36) to a cell (the disclosed “spherical spaces” in Col. 5 lines 1-12 correspond to cell of Kim), wherein a first tray (first freezing chamber 11 Fig. 13 corresponds to the first tray of Kim) includes a contact surface (bottom surface of first freezing chamber 11 Fig. 13) contacting with a second tray (second freezing cell 15 Fig. 13 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) in an ice making process (the process described in Col. 8 lines 52-68 and Col. 9 lines 1-48), and wherein a portion of the heater (top portion of heater H Fig. 13) is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a first distance (see below annotated Fig. 13 of Hara) and a portion of a temperature sensor (lower portion of thermostat Th2 Fig. 13 where thermostat Th2 corresponds to the temperature sensor of Shiozaki) is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a second distance (see below annotated Fig. 13 of Hara) less than the first distance (see below annotated Fig. 13 of Hara) to separate the ice (Col. 14 lines 32-36).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to supply heat to the cell, wherein the first tray includes a contact surface contacting with the second tray in an ice making process, and wherein a portion of the heater is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a first distance and a portion of the temperature sensor is spaced apart from the contact surface of the first tray in a second distance less than the first distance” in view of the teachings of Hara to separate the ice.
Claims 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, Castrellon, and Ito as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Boarman.
Regarding claim 12, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising: a pusher including at least one extension part configured to push out the ice disposed in the cell, wherein the pusher is supported by the bracket”.
However, Boarman teaches further comprising a pusher (ejector pin 475 Fig. 29) including at least one extension part (stem portion of ejector pin 475 Fig. 29) configured to push out ice (paragraph [0120]) disposed in a cell (Fig. 26 where unitary mold cavity 440 corresponds to the cell of Kim), wherein the pusher is supported by a bracket (Fig. 29 where outer shell 500 corresponds to the bracket of Kim).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising: a pusher including at least one extension part configured to push out the ice disposed in the cell, wherein the pusher is supported by the bracket” in view of the teachings of Boarman to improve the ice removal process.
Regarding claim 13, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a pusher including at least one extension part configured to push out the ice disposed in the cell, wherein the pusher is installed on the bracket”.
However, Boarman teaches further comprising a pusher (ejector pin 475 Fig. 29) including at least one extension part (stem portion of ejector pin 475 Fig. 29) configured to push out ice (paragraph [0120]) disposed in a cell (Fig. 26 where unitary mold cavity 440 corresponds to the cell of Kim), wherein the pusher is installed on a bracket (Fig. 29 where outer shell 500 corresponds to the bracket of Kim).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a pusher including at least one extension part configured to push out the ice disposed in the cell, wherein the pusher is installed on the bracket” in view of the teachings of Boarman to improve the ice removal process.
Claims 14-18, 20, and 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, Castrellon, and Ito as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Kakimoto et al. (JPH0674624A, herein after referred to as Kakimoto).
Regarding claim 14, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to supply heat to the cell to make a transparent ice, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the liquid starts to be supplied to the cell”.
However, Kakimoto teaches further comprising a heater (heater 20 Fig. 3) configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0018] where the turn-on condition corresponds to the completion of Step 5), and to supply heat to a cell (paragraph [0018] and Fig. 14 where block 9 corresponds to the cell of Kim) to make a transparent ice (paragraph [0018]), wherein, before the heater is turned on, a second tray (ice tray 8 Fig. 3 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) is configured to be moved to a position (the position illustrated in Fig. 9A) at which a liquid (the disclosed “water” in paragraph [0017] corresponds to the liquid of Kim) starts to be supplied to the cell (paragraph [0017]) to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released (paragraph [0018]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to supply heat to the cell to make a transparent ice, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the liquid starts to be supplied to the cell” in view of the teachings of Kakimoto to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released.
Regarding claim 15, the combined teachings teach wherein the heater is configured to supply the heat to the cell in at least a partial section (corresponds to the upper surface of ice tray 8 Fig. 3 and paragraph [0018] of Kakimoto) while cold air is supplied to the cell (paragraph [0018] of Kakimoto).
Regarding claim 16, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to transfer heat to the cell such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the liquid starts to be supplied to the cell”.
However, Kakimoto teaches further comprising a heater (heater 20 Fig. 3) configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0018] where the turn-on condition corresponds to the completion of Step 5), and to transfer heat to a cell (paragraph [0018] and Fig. 14 where block 9 corresponds to the cell of Kim) such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced (paragraph [0018] where it is disclosed that “the formation of ice on the water surface side is delayed”), wherein, before the heater is turned on, a second tray (ice tray 8 Fig. 3 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) is configured to be moved to a position (the position illustrated in Fig. 9A) at which a liquid (the disclosed “water” in paragraph [0017] corresponds to the liquid of Kim) starts to be supplied to the cell (paragraph [0017]) to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released (paragraph [0018]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to transfer heat to the cell such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the liquid starts to be supplied to the cell” in view of the teachings of Kakimoto to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released.
Regarding claim 17, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to supply heat to the cell to make a transparent ice, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the transparent ice is generated in the cell”.
However, Kakimoto teaches further comprising a heater (heater 20 Fig. 3) configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0018] where the turn-on condition corresponds to the completion of Step 5), and to supply heat to a cell (paragraph [0018] and Fig. 14 where block 9 corresponds to the cell of Kim) to make a transparent ice (paragraph [0018]), wherein, before the heater is turned on, a second tray (ice tray 8 Fig. 3 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) is configured to be moved to a position (the position illustrated in Fig. 9A) at which the transparent ice is generated in the cell (paragraph [0018]) to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released (paragraph [0018]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to supply heat to the cell to make a transparent ice, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the transparent ice is generated in the cell” in view of the teachings of Kakimoto to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released.
Regarding claim 18, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to transfer heat to the cell such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the transparent ice is generated in the cell”.
However, Kakimoto teaches further comprising a heater (heater 20 Fig. 3) configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0018] where the turn-on condition corresponds to the completion of Step 5), and to transfer heat to a cell (paragraph [0018] and Fig. 14 where block 9 corresponds to the cell of Kim) such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced (paragraph [0018] where it is disclosed that “the formation of ice on the water surface side is delayed”), wherein, before the heater is turned on, a second tray (ice tray 8 Fig. 3 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) is configured to be moved to a position (the position illustrated in Fig. 9A) at which the transparent ice is generated in the cell (paragraph [0018]) to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released (paragraph [0018]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to transfer heat to the cell such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced, wherein, before the heater is turned on, the second tray is configured to be moved to a position at which the transparent ice is generated in the cell” in view of the teachings of Kakimoto to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released.
Regarding claim 20, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to transfer heat to the cell such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced, wherein the heater is turned off when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied, and wherein, after the heater is turned off, the second tray is configured to be moved in a direction so as to take the ice out of the cell”.
However, Kakimoto teaches further comprising a heater (heater 20 Fig. 3) configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0018] where the turn-on condition corresponds to the completion of Step 5), and to transfer heat to a cell (paragraph [0018] and Fig. 14 where block 9 corresponds to the cell of Kim) such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced (paragraph [0018] where it is disclosed that “the formation of ice on the water surface side is delayed”), wherein the heater is turned off when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0019] where the turn-off condition corresponds to the detection of temperature that is “equal to or lower than the ice making completion temperature”), and wherein, after the heater is turned off, a second tray (ice tray 8 Fig. 3 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) is configured to be moved in a direction (corresponds to the opposite direction of arrow S Fig. 9B-C and paragraph [0021]) so as to take ice out of the cell (paragraph [0021]) to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released during an ice making process (paragraph [0018]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to transfer heat to the cell such that an ice making rate in the cell is reduced, wherein the heater is turned off when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied, and wherein, after the heater is turned off, the second tray is configured to be moved in a direction so as to take the ice out of the cell” in view of the teachings of Kakimoto to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released during an ice making process.
Regarding claim 26, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to supply heat to the cell to make a transparent ice, wherein the heater is turned off when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied, and wherein, after the heater is turned off, the second tray is configured to be moved in a direction so as to take the ice out of the cell”.
However, Kakimoto teaches further comprising a heater (heater 20 Fig. 3) configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0018] where the turn-on condition corresponds to the completion of Step 5), and to supply heat to a cell (paragraph [0018] and Fig. 14 where block 9 corresponds to the cell of Kim) to make a transparent ice (paragraph [0018]), wherein the heater is turned off when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied (paragraph [0019] where the turn-off condition corresponds to the detection of temperature that is “equal to or lower than the ice making completion temperature”), and wherein, after the heater is turned off, a second tray (ice tray 8 Fig. 3 corresponds to the second tray of Kim) is configured to be moved in a direction (corresponds to the opposite direction of arrow S Fig. 9B-C and paragraph [0021]) so as to take ice out of the cell (paragraph [0021]) to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released during an ice making process (paragraph [0018]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “further comprising a heater configured to be turned on when a turn-on condition of the heater is satisfied, and to supply heat to the cell to make a transparent ice, wherein the heater is turned off when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied, and wherein, after the heater is turned off, the second tray is configured to be moved in a direction so as to take the ice out of the cell” in view of the teachings of Kakimoto to allow for bubbles contained in the water to be released during an ice making process.
Claim 25 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Shiozaki, Castrellon, and Ito as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Alshourbagy.
Regarding claim 25, the combined teachings teach the invention as described above but fail to explicitly teach “wherein the temperature sensor is installed in the first tray case, and a wire connected to the temperature sensor is guided to one side of the first tray case”.
However, Alshourbagy teaches wherein a temperature sensor (heater thermistor 114 Fig. 10) is installed in a first tray case (Fig. 10 where canopy 116 corresponds to the first tray case of Kim), and a wire (Fig. 9) connected to the temperature sensor (Fig. 9) is guided to one side of the first tray case (Figs. 10-11) to allow for easy engagement and removal of the completed assembly for replacement and repair of the assembly if necessary (paragraph [0040]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art before the effectively filed date to modify the apparatus of the combined teachings to include “wherein the temperature sensor is installed in the first tray case, and a wire connected to the temperature sensor is guided to one side of the first tray case” in view of the teachings of Alshourbagy to allow for easy engagement and removal of the completed assembly for replacement and repair of the assembly if necessary.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 06/15/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to Applicant's arguments against the references individually on pages 15-24, Applicant is reminded that one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
For clarity purposes, the above rejection of claim 1 is repeated below:
Kim teaches an ice maker (ice maker 200 Fig. 6) comprising: a cell (disclosed “shell” in paragraph [0053]) in which a liquid (disclosed “water” in paragraph [0042]) is phase changed into ice (paragraph [0042]); a first tray (tray body 223 Fig. 6) configured to define a first portion (corresponds to the lower portion of the shell Fig. 6) of a wall providing the cell (corresponds to the upper and lower walls of the shell Fig. 6); a second tray (recess part 213 Fig. 6) configured to define a second portion (corresponds to the upper portion of the shell Fig. 6) of the wall providing the cell; a first tray case (tray case 221 Fig. 6) that is a separate component (Fig. 6) from the first tray and configured to be positioned at one side of the first tray (lower side of tray body 223 Fig. 6); wherein the cell is provided in plurality (Fig. 6), and includes one ice making cell (first left cell Fig. 6) and another ice making cell (second left cell Fig. 6), wherein the ice maker further comprises a bracket (ice maker bracket 250 Fig. 7) manufactured as a separate component from the first tray case (Figs. 6-7).
The apparatus of Kim is modified by the teachings of Shiozaki to include an ice maker (ice making machining 13 Fig. 1) comprising: a temperature sensor (temperature sensor 26 Fig. 2) configured to detect a temperature of a liquid or ice (paragraph [0011] page 3) in a cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki), another ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) disposed nearer to a cold air hole (cold air outlet 31 Fig. 2), through which cold air flows (paragraph [0002]), than one ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki), wherein the temperature sensor includes a portion (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) disposed between the one ice making cell and the other ice making cell (see below annotated Fig. 2 of Shiozaki) to determine whether the ice tray is empty or not (paragraph [0011] page 4).
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The apparatus of Kim is further modified by the teachings of Castrellon to include a cold air hole (air inlet slits 14 Fig. 3) being formed at a bracket (Fig. 3 where case 10 corresponds to the bracket), and wherein the bracket is configured to define at least a portion of a space (Fig. 1 and paragraph [0034]) that accommodates a first tray (Fig. 1 where top ice-cube tray 50 corresponds to the first tray) and a second tray (Fig. 1 where bottom ice-cube tray 50 corresponds to the second tray) to allow for a faster cooling of the ice-cube trays (paragraph [0035]).
Therefore, Applicant's arguments are not persuasive and the rejection is maintained.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
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/SAMBA NMN GAYE/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/JERRY-DARYL FLETCHER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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