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 (Claims 1-9) in the reply filed on 11/10/2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-9 are being treated on the merits. Claims 10-15 have been withdrawn from consideration.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Utecht (USPN 5,862,916).
Regarding Claim 1, Utecht discloses a hygienic glove system (Figure 1-5), comprising: a plurality of gloves (12, Figures 1 & 2, Col. 3, line 25-Col. 4, line 24); a plurality of absorbent pads (16/18, Figures 1 & 2, Col. 3, line 25-Col. 4, line 24), wherein each absorbent pad is coupled to at least a portion of a first side of respective glove of the plurality of gloves (Figures 1 & 2); a pouch (Figures 3-5) comprising: a first pocket (24) for storing one or more unused gloves of the plurality of gloves (Figure 4), and a second pocket (40 or 26) for storing one or more used gloves of the plurality of gloves (Figure 4).
Regarding Claim 2, Utecht discloses the pouch is foldable to a closed configuration and comprises a closure mechanism (36/46) to selectively maintain the pouch in the closed configuration (Figures 3-5).
Regarding Claim 3, Utecht discloses the pouch further comprises a third pocket (40) on an exterior surface opposite the first and second pockets (Figures 3-5), the third pocket remaining accessible when the pouch is in the closed configuration (Figures 3-5).
Regarding Claim 4, Utecht discloses each pocket comprises a seal (36/46).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 5-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Utecht (USPN 5,862,916) in view of Dally (US 2024/0374062).
Regarding Claim 5, Utecht does not specifically disclose a refill bag. However, Dally discloses a glove system (102) which can include a refillable or interchangeable glove cartridge (Para. 44). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to include a refill bag, as taught by Dally, in order to continue using the glove system and keeping the gloves sterilized and sealed.
Regarding Claim 6, Utecht discloses a hygienic glove system (Figures 1-5), comprising a plurality of unused gloves (12, Figures 1 & 2, Col. 3, line 25-Col. 4, line 24), wherein each unused glove comprises a respective absorbent pad coupled thereto (16/18, Figures 1 & 2, Col. 3, line 25-Col. 4, line 24); a pouch (Figures 3-5) comprising: a first pocket (24) for storing one or more unused gloves of the plurality of gloves (Figure 4), and a second pocket (40 or 26) for storing one or more used gloves of the plurality of gloves (Figure 4). Utecht does not specifically disclose a refill bag. However, Dally discloses a glove system (102) which can include a refillable or interchangeable glove cartridge (Para. 44). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to include a refill bag, as taught by Dally, in order to continue using the glove system and keeping the gloves sterilized and sealed.
Regarding Claim 7, Utecht discloses the pouch is foldable to a closed configuration and comprises a closure mechanism (36/46) to selectively maintain the pouch in the closed configuration (Figures 3-5).
Regarding Claim 8, Utecht discloses the pouch further comprises a third pocket (40) on an exterior surface opposite the first and second pockets (Figures 3-5), the third pocket remaining accessible when the pouch is in the closed configuration (Figures 3-5).
Regarding Claim 9, Utecht discloses each pocket comprises a seal (36/46).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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/KATHARINE G KANE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732