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(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends.
In view of the amendment of claim 18, claim 20 does not further limit claim 18 from which it depends.
Applicant may cancel the claim, amend the claim to place the claim in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Attempts were made to contact Lara Northrop Queen by phone on April 27th, 2026 and May 11th, 2026 in order to resolve the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) as discussed above. However, the Examiner was not able to make phone contact.
Claims 1-12, 14-15, and 17-19 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record discloses plunger retention assemblies and couplings for food mixing machines as well as a retention assembly for a tool of a micro-puree machine having an attachment portion insertable through a central passage of a lid and a coupling extendable through the central passage. The prior art of record discloses various couplings for attaching components to a shaft and which have slots and projections for locking the components upon rotation.
However, the prior art of record did not reasonably disclose, teach or otherwise suggest a plunger retention assembly or micro-puree machine with a plunger retention assembly comprising a plunger coupling extendable through a central passage in a lid, a plunger having an attachment portion insertable through the central passage from a bottom surface of the lid wherein the attachment portion defines a channel for removably receiving the plunger coupling and where the attachment portion includes at least one linear projection extending into the channel and having a sloped top surface wherein the plunger is locked to the plunger coupling when the attachment portion is rotated relative to at least one vertical slot of the plunger coupling wherein the at least one linear projection is for engaging a corresponding slot of the at least one vertical slot where a diameter of an upper portion of the corresponding slot is selected to be wider than a diameter of a lower portion such that a shelf is defined between the upper and lower portions and wherein the plunger coupling further comprises a haptic ridge with a sloped surface and where the haptic ridge adjoins the shelf.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK M MCCARTY whose telephone number is (571)272-4398. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Claire Wang can be reached at 571-270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/P.M.M./Examiner, Art Unit 1774
/CLAIRE X WANG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1774
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