DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species 1, Figures 1a-4c, claims 1-3 and 5-17, in the reply filed on March 12, 20206 is acknowledged.
Claim 4 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on March 12, 2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1-3 and 5-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Leonardo (WO 2021/019455) in view of Liu et al. (US 8,641,315).
As to claims 1, 9 and 13, Leonardo discloses a fitting configured for connecting two parts, comprising:
a first fitting part 10” with a first installation body 12 configured for mounting on a first part to be connected, and with a slider 15’, which is movably guided in the first installation body and can be moved rearward against the action of a restoring force 19 from a front starting position, in which at least one front slider end 11 protrudes out of the first installation body toward the front, into a rear end position, in which the front slider end does not protrude out of the first installation body; and
wherein the slider has a gear rack 20, which extends in the sliding direction of the slider, and a gear 21, which is rotatably mounted in the first installation body and meshes with the gear rack and can be manually rotated from the outside in order to move the slider into the rear end position against the action of the restoring force (Figures 25-32).
Leonardo fails to disclose a fitting wherein the front slider end has an undercut; and comprising a second fitting part in the form of a second installation body configured for mounting on a second part to be connected, wherein the second installation body has a keyhole with an insertion opening configured for inserting the front slider end and with a slotted opening, which adjoins the insertion opening and which is constricted in comparison with the insertion opening, configured for engaging behind the undercut of the front slider end; wherein the second fitting part has, along the slotted opening, an obliquely rearward-extending tightening contour configured for the undercut of the front slider end in order to pull the first and the second fitting part into mutual contact; and wherein the second installation body has external transverse ribs.
Liu et al. teach a fitting wherein a front slider end 140 of a first fitting part 100 has an undercut 143; and comprising a second fitting part 200 in the form of a second installation body configured for mounting on a second part to be connected, wherein the second installation body has a keyhole 214 with an insertion opening configured for inserting the front slider end and with a slotted opening, which adjoins the insertion opening and which is constricted in comparison with the insertion opening, configured for engaging behind the undercut of the front slider end; wherein the second fitting part has, along the slotted opening, an obliquely rearward-extending tightening contour configured for the undercut of the front slider end in order to pull the first and the second fitting part into mutual contact; and wherein the second installation body has external transverse ribs 217; the slidably interlocking engagement between the undercut of the front slider end and the keyhole of the second fitting part providing for a more secure connection between the first and second parts, and preventing inadvertent disconnecting between the parts (Figures 15,22). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the fitting disclosed by Leonardo to comprise a second fitting part having a keyhole which slidably interlocks with an undercut of the front slider, as taught by Liu et al., in order to provide for a more secure connection between the first and second parts, and to prevent inadvertent disconnecting between the parts.
As to claim 2, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein the gear 21 is arranged in an opening 15a’ of the slider 15’, one side wall of which opening has the gear rack 50 (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 3, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein the first installation body 12 has an access opening 16 configured for rotation of the gear 21 (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 5, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein the restoring force is provided by a spring 19, which is supported both on the first installation body 12 and on the slider 15’ (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 6, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein the at least one front slider end 11 is of pin-shaped design (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 7, Leonardo fails to disclose a fitting wherein the slider has two parallel front slider ends, each having an undercut.
Liu et al. teach a fitting wherein a first fitting part 100 has two parallel front slider ends 140, each having an undercut 143; the pair or parallel front slider ends providing for a more secure connection between the first fitting part and second part 200, and preventing inadvertent disconnecting between the first and second parts (Figures 15,22). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the fitting disclosed by Leonardo to comprise a pair of parallel front slider ends, as taught by Liu et al., in order to provide for a more secure connection between the first and second fitting parts, and to prevent inadvertent disconnecting between the first and second parts.
As to claim 8, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein the slider 15’ is latched 25 to the first installation body 12 in the rear end position (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 10, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein the first installation body is formed from two housing halves 12, which each have on the inside a guide recess 14 configured for the slider 15’ (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 11, Leonardo discloses a fitting wherein at least one of the two housing halves 12 has a respective bearing opening 16 in which the gear 21 is rotatably mounted (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 12, Leonardo fails to disclose a fitting wherein the first installation body has external projections and/or external transverse ribs.
Liu et al. teach a fitting wherein a first installation body 110 of a first fitting part 100 has external projections and/or external transverse ribs 117; the projections or ribs providing for more secure engagement between the first fitting part a first part (Figures 15,22). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the fitting disclosed by Leonardo wherein the first installation body has projections or ribs, as taught by Liu et al., in order to provide for more secure engagement between the first fitting part and the first part.
As to claim 14, Leonardo as modified by Liu et al. discloses an assembly comprising the two parts and the fitting, wherein the first fitting part 10” is mounted on the one, first part 100, and the second fitting part (200 Liu Figure 22) is mounted on the other, second part 200, and wherein the at least one front slider end 11 is inserted into the keyhole (214 Liu Figure 22) and engages by means of its undercut (143 Liu Figure 15) behind the slotted opening in the insertion direction (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 15, Leonardo as modified by Liu et al. discloses an assembly wherein the first fitting part 10” engages by means of its first installation body 12 in a recess of the first part 100, and the second fitting part (200 Liu Figure 22) is mounted by means of its second installation body in a recess of the second part 200 (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 16, Leonardo as modified by Liu et al. discloses an assembly wherein the front side of the first installation body 12 ends flush with the first part 100, and the front side of the second installation body ends flush with the second part 200 (Figures 25-32).
As to claim 17, Leonardo as modified by Liu et al. discloses an assembly wherein the front side of the first installation body 12 and the front side of the second installation body rest against one another (Figures 25-32).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 30, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As to claim 1, Attorney argues that:
It would not be obvious to modify the fitting disclosed by Leonardo wherein the front slider end has an undercut; and comprising a second fitting part having a keyhole with an insertion opening configured for inserting the front slider end and with a slotted opening, which adjoins the insertion opening and which is constricted in comparison with the insertion opening, configured for engaging behind the undercut of the front slider end, as taught by Liu et al., as the proposed modification fundamentally changes the principle of operation disclosed by Leonardo, as the fitting disclosed by Liu et al. requires partial disassembly of the surrounding furniture before the shelf may be released; instead of the shelf being selectively removed by retracting the slider while the surrounding furniture remains assembled as disclosed by Leonardo.
Examiner disagrees. As to claim 1, Liu et al. teach a fitting wherein a front slider end 140 of a first fitting part 100 has an undercut 143; and comprising a second fitting part 200 in the form of a second installation body configured for mounting on a second part to be connected, wherein the second installation body has a keyhole 214 with an insertion opening configured for inserting the front slider end and with a slotted opening, which adjoins the insertion opening and which is constricted in comparison with the insertion opening, configured for engaging behind the undercut of the front slider end; the slidably interlocking engagement between the undercut of the front slider end and the keyhole of the second fitting part providing for a more secure connection between the first and second parts, and preventing inadvertent disconnecting between the parts (Figures 15,22). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the fitting disclosed by Leonardo to comprise a second fitting part having a keyhole which slidably interlocks with an undercut of the front slider, as taught by Liu et al., in order to provide for a more secure connection between the first and second parts, and to prevent inadvertent disconnecting between the parts.
As to Attorneys arguments that the proposed modification fundamentally changes the principle of operation disclosed by Leonardo, as the fitting disclosed by Liu et al. requires partial disassembly of the surrounding furniture before the shelf may be released; instead of the shelf being selectively removed by retracting the slider while the surrounding furniture remains assembled as disclosed by Leonardo, Examiner notes that such modification is not substituting or interchanging mutually-exclusive alternative locking features or principles of operation as alleged by Attorney, but instead is providing a well-known additional locking feature to the Leonardo reference in order to provide for the well-known benefit of a more secure connection between the first and second parts. Such modification of the Leonardo reference indeed allows for the shelf to be selectively removed by retracting the slider while the surrounding furniture remains assembled, and thus does not destroy or fundamentally change the alleged core principle of operation of the Leonardo reference.
Moreover, Examiner notes that the Liu et al. reference has not been relied upon to teach or suggest the substitution or interchanging the alleged mutually-exclusive alternative locking features or principles of operation; such modification allows for the shelf to be selectively removed by retracting the slider while the surrounding furniture remains assembled as disclosed by the base reference of Leonardo. The Liu et al. reference has only been relied upon to teach or suggest modifying the Leonardo reference to comprise a second fitting part having a keyhole which slidably interlocks with an undercut of the front slider, which does not prevent the shelf from being selectively removed by retracting the slider while the surrounding furniture remains assembled, in order to provide for a more secure connection between the first and second parts.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 MICHAEL P FERGUSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7081. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (10:00 am-7:00 pm EST).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anna Momper can be reached at (571)270-5788. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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07/09/26
/MICHAEL P FERGUSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
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