DETAILED CORRESPONDENCE
Acknowledgements
This office action is in response to the communication filed 4/22/2026.
Claims 1-15 are pending and have been examined.
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(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 1-15 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 1 lines 25-28 recites “wherein, for the removal wash cycle, a type and an amount of the removal is identified…based on the identified type and the identified amount of the removal”. It is unclear as recited what antecedent basis applies to “the removal”. Examiner suggests Applicant recite “the identified hair on the water”.
Claim 10 lines 13-15 recites “wherein, based on hair being identified on water received inside the washing tub…for the removal cycle, at least the wash water level, at least the wash water level…[is] set differently than the standard wash cycle”. It is unclear as recited when or what step “water [is] received inside the washing tub”, because the claim only recites supplying water to a washing tub for “a removal wash cycle”. It is further confusing because the “for the removal cycle” implies that the hair being identified occurs during the removal wash cycle, but then proceeds to recite setting the wash water level differently which would be circular. Examiner suggests Applicant recite supplying water for a standard wash cycle or an initial determination period, and the identification during said standard wash cycle or an initial determination period triggers the removal wash cycle wherein at least the wash water level, a washing intensity, the spin-dry RPM and the rinse operation rate are set differently than the standard wash cycle.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The prior art of record does not teach or suggest wherein, for the removal wash cycle, a type and an amount of the removal is identified and the processor controls at least the wash water level, a washing intensity, the spin- dry RPM and the rinse operation rate to be set differently than the standard wash cycle based on the identified type and the identified amount of the removal, in the context of claim 1.
The prior art of record does not teach or suggest wherein, based on hair being identified on water received inside the washing tub based on an image inside the washing tub, for the removal wash cycle, at least the wash water level, a washing intensity, the spin-dry RPM and the rinse operation rate are set differently than the standard wash cycle, in the context of claim 10.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 4/22/2026 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. The claims are allowable except for an outstanding 112(b) rejection above requiring clarification of the condition for setting the “removal wash cycle”.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
WO2020048501A1 note hair removal cycle.
US 12529177B2 note hair removal additional rinse sequence.
US20200063320A1 note camera for detecting animal hair based textile fabrics.
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 KEVIN LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-7299. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am to 6:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Barr can be reached on 571-272-1414. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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KEVIN G. LEE
Examiner
Art Unit 1711
/KEVIN G LEE/Examiner, Art Unit 1711
/MICHAEL E BARR/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1711
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