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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group XXIX, shown in figs. 29-31, in the reply filed on 12/09/25 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-14,16-21,29, withdrawn by applicant.
Claim 30, withdrawn by the Examiner since the claimed “box” is not part of the elected group a and is clearly shown in non-elected (fig. 25) .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 15,22-25,27 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim (US Pub No 2020/0115120).
With respect to claim 15, Kim shows a container (100) for food to be heated (cooking disclosed in abstract), comprising: a bottom surface (shown not labeled); a side wall (shown not labeled) connected to the bottom surface, wherein the side wall and the bottom surface together form an accommodation space (111) in communication with outside of the container (100); a peripheral portion (the entire flange) connected to the side wall and surrounding the accommodation space (111), wherein the peripheral portion (the entire flange) has a peripheral plane (plane of the flange), an inner edge (121), and an outer edge (120); the inner edge (121) and the outer edge (120) are respectively connected to the peripheral plane, the inner edge (121) is on a side of the peripheral plane nearer the accommodation space (111), and the outer edge (120) is on a side of the peripheral plane farther from the accommodation space (111); a convex strip (121a), protruding from the peripheral plane, wherein an extension direction of the convex strip (121a) is parallel to an extension direction of the peripheral plane, the convex strip (121a) has a top surface (surface of 121a), the top surface being parallel to the peripheral plane; and a groove (131a or 131b) on the peripheral plane, wherein the groove is in contact with the inner edge (121) or the outer edge (120), and the groove at least partially overlaps the convex strip (121a), so that the groove (131b), the peripheral plane, and the top surface of the convex strip (121a)(fig. 4 show shows convex shape) form a stepped structure (steps shown in fig. 4), wherein when a sealing film (200) is attached to the stepped structure to enclose the accommodation space (111), the sealing film (200) covers the top surface and is attached to a portion of the peripheral plane (the plane of the flange).
With respect to claim 22, Kim shows a container wherein the groove comprises: a first groove (1st 131b), the first groove in contact with the inner edge (121) but not in contact with the outer edge (120); and a second groove (131a), the second groove in contact with the outer edge (120) but not in contact with the inner edge (121).
With respect to claim 23, Kim shows a container wherein the first groove extends from the inner edge (121) to the convex strip (121a), and the second groove extends from the outer edge (120) to the convex strip (121a).
With respect to claim 24, Kim shows a container wherein an extension direction of the first groove (131b) and an extension direction of the second groove (131a) are perpendicular to the extension direction of the peripheral plane.
With respect to claim 25, Kim shows a container wherein the groove comprises two first grooved (1st and 2nd 131b), the second groove (131a) being located between the two first grooves.
With respect to claim 27, Kim shows a container wherein a shortest distance between the first groove (131b) and the second groove (131a) is less than a width of the first groove.
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 26, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Kim.
Kim discloses the invention substantially as claimed.
However Kim does not disclose claim 26, wherein the groove comprises two second grooves, the first groove being located between the two second grooves.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to reverse the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. In re Einstein, 8 USPQ 167.in order to have the .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 28, is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAWN M BRADEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8026. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5pm.
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/SHAWN M BRADEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736