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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I and Group I in the reply filed on 9 February 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 8-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Invention and/or Species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 9 February 2026.
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 1-7 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 recites “wherein the seat frame is connectable to one of the first backrest assembly and the second backrest assembly.” As both backrest assemblies have already been specified as “detachably connected to the seat frame” (and connecting parts are “configured to be connected to the seat frame”), this language is unclear. That is, does Applicant intend for this limitation to provide something more specific (e.g. the seat frame is connectable to only one of the backrest assemblies at a time) or is it merely intended to reinforce the previously recited connection?
Claims 2-7 are deemed indefinite because they are dependent on an indefinite 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.
Claim(s) 1 and 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ingraham et al. (US Patent Application Publication Number 2018/0279799).
Regarding claim 1, Ingraham discloses a high chair, comprising: a seat frame (11) comprising a first support frame (111) and a first seat plate (112) disposed on the first support frame; a first backrest assembly (12) configured to be detachably connected to the seat frame, the first backrest assembly comprising a first backrest part (an upstanding rear portion), a barrier part (upstanding side and front regions and/or tray for instance), and a first connecting part (at 124) that is configured to be connected to the seat frame; and a second backrest assembly (13) configured to be detachably connected to the seat frame, the second backrest assembly comprising a second backrest part (main body portion) and a second connecting part (depending portions) that is configured to be connected to the seat frame (see figures), wherein the seat frame is connectable to one of the first backrest assembly and the second backrest assembly (as in Figures 2 and 3, respectively), when the first backrest assembly is fixedly connected to the seat frame, the high chair is in a first usage mode, when the second backrest assembly is fixedly connected to the seat frame, the high chair is in a second usage mode, and when neither the first backrest assembly nor the second backrest assembly is connected to the first seat plate, the high chair is in a third usage mode (i.e. a first usage mode as in Figure 2, a second usage mode as in Figure 3, and a third usage mode as in Figure 4 with upper components/backrests removed).
Regarding claim 2, Ingraham further discloses the barrier part comprises a transverse barrier (of the tray for instance) extending in a transverse direction of the first backrest assembly and lateral barriers (upstanding side regions for instance) extending in a longitudinal direction of the first backrest assembly; and the first connecting part is disposed on at least one of the transverse barrier, lateral barriers, and the first backrest part (124 is at least disposed on the lateral barriers; see figures).
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.
Claim(s) 3-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ingraham in view of Haut et al. (US Patent Number 9986850).
Regarding claims 3-5, Ingraham discloses a high chair as explained above including what would appear to be a first vertical extension and a first longitudinal extension of the first connecting part that are connected to each other and arranged at an angle (i.e. a vertical exterior portion as seen in the figures as well as an extension for the snapping functionality) and the seat frame provided with a first coupling groove (at 113) corresponding to the first longitudinal extension; and the first longitudinal extension is configured to be inserted into the first coupling groove (this would appear to be the manner of operation), and wherein a connection portion between the first longitudinal extension and the first vertical extension is bent to form an engaging recess, and when the first longitudinal extension is inserted into the first coupling groove, the engaging recess is engaged with an edge of the seat frame (see figures; an edge of the seat frame necessarily engages with a recess at the extensions), but details of this arrangement are not clearly described. Haut discloses a related device including a first connecting part (at 158) comprises a first vertical extension and a first longitudinal extension that are connected to each other and arranged at an angle to each other (see at least Figure 14); a seat frame provided with a first coupling groove (at 141A for instance) corresponding to the first longitudinal extension; and the first longitudinal extension is configured to be inserted into the first coupling groove (see again Figure 14), wherein an elastic finger (166) is disposed on the first longitudinal extension; a first hole (at 186A) corresponding to the elastic finger is disposed on a wall of the first coupling groove; and when the first longitudinal extension is inserted into the first coupling groove, an elastic protrusion of the elastic finger is slidable into the first hole (as in Figure 14), and wherein a connection portion between the first longitudinal extension and the first vertical extension is bent to form an engaging recess, and when the first longitudinal extension is inserted into the first coupling groove, the engaging recess is engaged with an edge of the seat frame (i.e. a lower edge portion of 141 engages with a recess of 158). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to provide a connecting arrangement as taught by Haut in Ingraham’s device because this could provide a simple, sturdy, and reliable coupling means to ensure user comfort and safety. Note that while the combination is viewed as providing the elements arranged as claimed (i.e. the connecting part on the backrest and the groove on the seat frame as in Ingraham) even if this were not clear (since Haut appears to show the elements reversed), reversal of components requires only routine skill in the art and it accordingly would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to provide the elements arranged as claimed (i.e. potentially reversing the connecting part/coupling groove) based on normal variation to improve manufacture or ease of operation for various users.
Regarding claims 6 and 7, Ingraham discloses a high chair as explained above but does not disclose details of the second connecting part. Haut discloses a related device including a connecting part (at a bottom of 141) comprising a vertical extension and a longitudinal extension that are connected to each other and arranged at an angle to each other (an upper portion and downwardly extending portion, respectively, as in Figure 14); an end of the vertical extension away from the longitudinal extension is fixedly connected to a backrest part (i.e. an upper portion of the part shown in Figure 14 is fixed to 141); and an end of the longitudinal extension away from the vertical extension is insertable into a coupling channel of a seat frame (at 156), and further comprising a locking mechanism (including 158), wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member movably disposed on the seat frame (at least 160 moves relative to the frame); the longitudinal extension is provided with a locking hole (at 168); and the locking member has a first locked position and a first unlocked position, and wherein when the longitudinal extension is inserted into the coupling channel, if the locking member is in the first locked position, the locking member is insertable into the locking hole, and if the locking member is in the first unlocked position, the locking member is separatable from the locking hole (this is the general arrangement with 166 engaging or disengaging at 168). Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to provide a connecting arrangement as taught by Haut in Ingraham’s device because this could provide a simple, sturdy, and reliable coupling means to ensure user comfort and safety.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure because it shows a range of related devices.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHILIP F GABLER whose telephone number is (571)272-2155. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00 - 4:30.
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/PHILIP F GABLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636