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 filed 05/01/2025 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(2), which requires a legible copy of each cited foreign patent document; each non-patent literature publication or that portion which caused it to be listed; and all other information or that portion which caused it to be listed. It has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered. Furthermore, the Applicant should print out relevant information from the listed internet websites since the websites may be pulled out from the public domain and thus is not available to one skilled in the art.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claims 1, 5, 7, and 10, it is unclear how an electric clipper, an out liner trimmer, electric razor blades, or a pair of scissors are physically positioned on the hood to perform a specific function.
Regarding claims 2 and 8, it is unclear what a self-contained computer is.
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.
Claims 7-11 are 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 7 recites the limitation "the hood" in paragraph (b). There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Alkahtani (2023/0381988).
Regarding claim 1, Alkahtani teaches a hair cutting device for a user to use to cut the user’s hair, the hair cutting device comprising:
a. a controller comprising a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising a computer processor module (Artificial Intelligence (AI)), a graphical user interface module 20, a database module that provides access to data in a database, and at least one autonomous cutting algorithm module, which modules are in communication with one another, and wherein the graphical user interface module provides images of a plurality of haircut types to the user, one of which the user can select, which images are associated with data in the database module;
b. a hood 1 comprising one or more of the controller modules, at least one sensor that senses at least one dimension of the user’s head, a plurality of holes through which hair can be drawn and cut, and at least one automated hair cutting tool that is controlled by the autonomous cutting algorithm module and the computer processor module accessing the database module; and
c. wherein the controller directs the autonomous cutting algorithm module to use the automated hair cutting tool and the sensor to obtain the haircut type selected by the user.
See Figs. 1-11 and para. [0048].
Regarding claim 7, Alkahtani teaches a method for cutting a user’s hair, the method comprising:
a. selecting a haircut type from a plurality of haircut type images on a graphical user interface (para. [0048]);
b. placing the user’s head into the hood 1 of a device;
c. conforming the selected haircut type to the dimensions of the user’s head using at least one sensor in the hood (para. [0048]); and
d. cutting the user’s hair in the hood using at least one automated hair cutting tool (3-5) operated by a controller comprising an autonomous cutting algorithm module (Artificial Intelligence (AI)).
See Figs. 1-11 and para. [0048].
Regarding claims 2 and 8, an internet website (Internet of Things) and a self-contained computer 20 are best seen in para. [0022] and Fig. 11.
Regarding claims 3 and 9, the device of Alkahtani is for both men’s hair styles and women’s hair styles.
Regarding claim 4, Alkahtani teaches a plurality of holes having sizes between 0-4mm.
Regarding claims 5 and 10, cutting tools (3-5) are best seen in Fig. 3.
Regarding claims 6 and 11, the device can be shut down and restart anytime for making adjustment.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Automated hair cutting devices of general interest are cited in form PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHONG H NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-4510. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Adam Eiseman can be reached at (571)270-3818. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PHONG H NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 3724