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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 05/29/2026 has been entered.
Status of Claims
Claims 1 and 3 have been amended. Claims 1-19 have been examined on the merits.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 5-15, filed 05/29/2026, with respect to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been considered but are moot because a new grounds of rejection do not rely on the reference or combination of references applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 1-6 and 9-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lindner (U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0033461 A1) and AUGUSTUS (U.S. Patent No. 1847046 A).
Referring to Claim 1: Lindner teaches a mopping device, comprising:
a support body (1 Figs. 1-5); and
a mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) having a first end (13 of 2 shown in Fig. 5; “Only the edge 13 of the wiping cloth 2 clamped between the clamping edges 5, 6 cannot be used as a cleaning surface”) and a second free end (free end of 2 shown in Figs. 1-5), the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1 and 2) being detachably connected to the support body (1 Figs. 1-5),
wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) comprises two clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5),
wherein the two clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5) each have a clamping edge (5 and 6 Figs. 1-5) and are arranged relative to one another so as to clamp the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) between the clamping edges (5 and 6 Figs. 1-5) when in a closed position (shown in the clamped, closed position in Fig. 5) and are configured to move into an open position (open position when 10 is pressed Fig. 5) for inserting or removing the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) into or from the support body (1 Figs. 1-5),
wherein at least one of the clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5) is configured as a pressing plate (outward facing face of 3 and 4) to press the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) against a surface that is to be cleaned, and
wherein the clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5) delimit a cavity (cavity of 3 and 4 shown in Figs. 1-5), and wherein the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5)is clamped to the support body in such a way that the second free end (free end of 2 shown in Figs. 1-5) of the mopping cloth is not fastened (13 of 2 shown in Fig. 5; “Only the edge 13 of the wiping cloth 2 clamped between the clamping edges 5, 6 cannot be used as a cleaning surface”) to the support body (1 Figs. 1-5).
But is silent on wherein the clamping plates delimit a cavity in which specifically a mopping cloth dispenser comprising further mopping cloths is arranged, wherein the mopping cloth dispenser forms an integral component of the support body and aligns and guides individual ones of the mopping cloths that are dispensed by the mopping cloth dispenser.
AUGUSTUS in an analogous cleaning device (Figs. 1 and 2) wherein the similar configuration clamping plates (CE-1 Fig. 1-A inserted below) delimit a similar configuration cavity (cavity which houses “s” shown in Figs. 1 and 2) in which specifically a mopping cloth dispenser (“s” shown in Figs. 1 and 2) comprising further mopping cloths (“r” shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is arranged, wherein the mopping cloth dispenser forms an integral component (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) of the similar configuration support body (c’ and c” Figs. 1 and 2) and aligns and guides individual ones (individual “r” on lower surface used for cleaning surface) of the mopping cloths (“r” shown in Figs. 1 and 2) that are dispensed by the mopping cloth dispenser (“s” shown in Figs. 1 and 2).
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 mopping device of Lindner with the mopping cloth dispenser as taught by AUGUSTUS for the purpose of, as it is known in the art, to allow easy operation and replacement of a cleaning member.
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Referring to Claim 2: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5) are arranged in a wedge-shaped configuration (shown in Fig. 5) and wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5), on a side facing away (side of 16 shown in Fig. 5) from the clamping edges (5 and 6 Figs. 1-5), is delimited by a back side (back sides of 3 and 4) which joins the clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5).
Referring to Claim 3: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 2,
but is silent on wherein the back side comprise attachment means configured to receive the second free end of the mopping cloth facing away from the clamping edges and to fix the second free end of the mopping cloth to the support body in a frictional and/or interlocking manner.
Gold in an analogous mopping device (200 Figs. 5, 7, and 8) comprising at least one of the similar configuration clamping plates (213 Fig. 5) and/or the back side comprise attachment means (215 Fig. 5) configured to receive the similar configuration second free end (second free end of 218 Fig. 5) of the similar configuration mopping cloth (218 Fig. 5) facing away from the similar configuration clamping edges (217 and 219 Fig. 8).
AUGUSTUS in an analogous cleaning device (Figs. 1 and 2) wherein the back side (right side Fig. 2) comprise attachment means (N on right Fig. 2) configured to receive the second free end of the mopping cloth (“r” shown in Figs. 1 and 2) facing away from the clamping edges (CE-1 Fig. 1-A inserted above) and to fix the second free end of the mopping cloth (“r” shown in Figs. 1 and 2) to the support body (c’ and c” Figs. 1 and 2) in a frictional and/or interlocking manner (“Springs n on the lid c' bear upon the roll of material, and exercise sufficient pressure thereon to assure that the strip of material shall remain taut across the face of the casing.” Lines 64-68).
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 mopping device of Lindner as modified with the attachment means as taught by AUGUSTUS for the purpose of having the option of securing the free end of the mopping cloth which helps in certain cleaning scenarios and continuously keeping the cloth taut.
Referring to Claim 4: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the mopping cloth dispenser (“s” shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of AUGUSTUS) is formed by a mopping cloth roll (shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of AUGUSTUS), from which mopping cloths are configured to be dispensed.
Referring to Claim 6: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the mopping cloths (“r” shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of AUGUSTUS) in the mopping cloth dispenser (“s” shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of AUGUSTUS) are contiguously joined to each other.
Referring to Claim 9: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping edges (5 and 6 Figs. 1-5) are provided, at least in part, with surface profiles (surface profiles of 5 and 6 Figs. 1-5) on their sides facing the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) and wherein the surface profiles contact the mopping cloth in a frictional (“Alternatively or additionally, the clamping edges of the pressure plates can have a friction-enhancing surface on the side facing the edge of the wiping cloth,” [0020]) and/or interlocking adjacent manner.
Referring to Claim 10: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) and the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) are connected to each other only by an edge (edge of 2 shown in Fig. 5) of the mopping cloth clamped between the clamping edges (5 and 6 Figs. 1-5).
Referring to Claim 11: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein both clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5) are formed as pressing plates (“The carrying body includes two pressure plates for pressing the wiping cloth on a surface to be cleaned.” [0007]).
Referring to Claim 12: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the mopping cloth (2 Figs. 1-5) includes two functional surfaces (“the two functional surfaces of the wiping cloth (front side and back side of the wiping cloth)” [0008]).
Referring to Claim 13: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 12, wherein the functional surfaces are structured to be the same (“The two functional surfaces of the wiping cloth can be configured the same or differently” [0013]).
Referring to Claim 14: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) and a mop handle (19 Figs. 1-5) are connected by a joint (14 Fig. 5).
Referring to Claim 15: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 14, wherein the mop handle (19 Figs. 1-5) and the joint (14 Fig. 5) are centrally arranged (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) on the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) as viewed in a longitudinal direction (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) of the support body (1 Figs. 1-5).
Referring to Claim 16: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 14, wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) is pivotable from a vertical position with respect to the mop handle (19 Figs. 1-5) by a pivoting angle, which is at least 180° (“The swivel angle can be at least 180.degree.. Preferably, the swivel angle is at least 225.degree.” [0031]).
Referring to Claim 17: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping plates (3 and 4 Figs. 1-5) of the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) comprise a polymeric material (“The pressure plates are preferably made of a polymeric material” [0033]).
Referring to Claim 18: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 12, wherein the functional surfaces are structured to be different (“The two functional surfaces of the wiping cloth can be configured the same or differently” [0013]).
Referring to Claim 19: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, wherein the mopping cloth includes two functional surfaces (functional surfaces of 2 Figs. 1-5; “the two functional surfaces of the wiping cloth (front side and back side of the wiping cloth)” [0008]), wherein each functional surface is adapted for cleaning a specific and different type of material or a specific and different type of surface from the other functional surface (“The two functional surfaces of the wiping cloth can be configured the same or differently” [0013]), wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) and a mop handle (19 Figs. 1-5) are connected by a joint (14 Fig. 5), wherein the mop handle (19 Figs. 1-5) and the joint (14 Fig. 5) are centrally arranged (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) on the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) as viewed in a longitudinal direction (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) of the support body, wherein the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) is pivotable from a vertical position with respect to the mop handle by a pivoting angle (“The swivel angle can be at least 180.degree.. Preferably, the swivel angle is at least 225.degree.” [0031]), and wherein pivoting the support body (1 Figs. 1-5) via the mop handle (19 Figs. 1-5) and joint enables switching [0041] from between the two functional surfaces (functional surfaces of 2 Figs. 1-5).
Claims 5, 7, and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lindner (U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0033461 A1) and AUGUSTUS (U.S. Patent No. 1847046 A), as applied above in claim 1, and in further view of Fujimoto et al. (JP2004329640A).
Referring to Claim 5: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, but is silent on wherein the mopping cloth dispenser is formed by a folded package including the mopping cloths.
Fujimoto et al. in an analogous mopping device teaches wherein the mopping cloth dispenser (mopping cloth dispenser of 5 with arrangement of 3 Fig. 1-A) is formed by a folded package (shown in Figs. 3 and 4; “There are roll sheets and folding sheets.” Translation’s 2nd paragraph of description) including the mopping cloths.
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 mopping device of Lindner as modified with the mopping folded package as taught by Fujimoto et al. for the purpose of maximizing the available space and increasing the capability of holding more mopping cloth.
Referring to Claim 7: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 1, but is silent on wherein tearing aids are arranged between adjacent mopping cloths.
Fujimoto et al. in an analogous mopping device teaches tearing aids (“The sheet is perforated in the length of one time, making it easy to separate.” Translation’s 3rd paragraph of description of Fujimoto et al.) are arranged between adjacent mopping cloths.
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 mopping cloths of Lindner as modified with the tearing aids as taught by Fujimoto et al. for the purpose of, as it is well known in the art, facilitating the discarding of individual mopping cloths.
Referring to Claim 8: Lindner as modified teaches the mopping device according to claim 7, but is silent on wherein the tearing aids are formed by a perforation.
Fujimoto et al. in an analogous mopping device teaches wherein the tearing aids are formed by a perforation (“The sheet is perforated in the length of one time, making it easy to separate.” Translation’s 3rd paragraph of description of Fujimoto et al.).
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 mopping cloths of Lindner as modified with the tearing aids are formed by a perforation as taught by Fujimoto et al. for the purpose of, as it is well known in the art, facilitating the discarding of individual mopping cloths.
Conclusion
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CHRISTOPHER SOTO
Examiner
Art Unit 3723
/CHRISTOPHER SOTO/Examiner, Art Unit 3723
/MONICA S CARTER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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