DETAILED ACTION
Claim Interpretation
The present claims are directed to “a cosmetic outer structure” for an appliance. A “cosmetic outer structure” is interpreted to be a structure that is separate from, but may be attached to, an appliance with which it is intended to be used. The phrase “for an appliance” implies that the cosmetic outer structure is intended to be used with an appliance per se. The specification suggests that the appliance has a body (i.e. a cabinet, housing, or the like as commonly understood in the art) that is concealed by cosmetic outer structure, although it is contemplated that an appliance door may be provided on the cosmetic outer structure and not the appliance itself (see paras. 68-69). The cosmetic outer structure is not interpreted to be a cabinet, housing, or the like of an appliance that contains and conceals the components of a laundry appliance not typical exposed to an outside, such as a motor, pump, and tub.
In the claims the “user interface” is interpreted to be a component with a direct input means (e.g. a button) in which a user may modify an operating condition (e.g. start, stop and select cycles of operation) of the laundry appliance, as typically understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claim 1 recites “an outer selector” that is configured to “selectively engage a user interface” of the appliance. The term “selectively engage” is interpreted to mean engagement that is physical, electromagnetic, or the like. As recited in the claim, the front panel must be in the closed position for the selective engagement to occur. This excludes embodiments such as an outer selector that is directly wired to the user interface that may selectively engage at any of an open or closed position of the front panel.
Claim 11 recites “an outer selector” that is “in operable engagement with the user interface” of the appliance. The term “operable engagement” is interpreted to mean engagement that is physical, electromagnetic, or the like. As recited in the claim, the front panel must be in the closed position for the engagement to occur. This excludes embodiments such as an outer selector that is directly wired to the user interface that may engage at any of an open or closed position of the front panel.
Claim 18 recites “an electromagnetic selector” that is “in operable communication with the user interface” of the appliance. This is interpreted to mean that the selector is in electromagnetic communication with the user interface. As recited in the claim, the front panel must be in the closed position for the communication to occur. This excludes embodiments of a selector that may communicate at any of an open or closed position of the front panel.
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 18-20 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 18 recites an electromagnetic selector that is coupled to the front panel and spaced apart from a user interface, and further recites an outer selector that is in operable communication with the user interface. Claims 19 and 20 refer to the outer selector. Based on the disclosure and the recitations of similar subject matter in claims 1 and 11, it is unclear whether the outer selector is a separate component from the electromagnetic selector or if the two elements refer to the same component. It is understood that an outer selector may be embodied as an electromagnetic selector. For purposes of examination the outer selector is assumed to refer to the electromagnetic selector.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-17 are allowed.
Claims 18-20 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record does not teach, alone or in obvious combination, a cosmetic outer structure for an appliance in accordance with any of the independent claims. Cosmetic outer structures were known in the art, but none of the prior art of record teaches a selector on a rotatably coupled front panel that is configured to engage or communicate with a user interface as claimed.
It was known to have a cosmetic outer structure without a front panel (see U.S. Patent Application Publication 20190284747 by Verburg); a cosmetic outer structure with a front panel that conceals a user interface but provides no means to operate the appliance (see WO2017133782A1 by Cerkez et al.); a cosmetic front panel with an outer selector, but the selector does not engage or communicate with a user interface as claimed (see WO2016105312A1 by Mavi et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication 20100051072 by Brambilla); a cosmetic front panel with a selector but no user interface on the body of the appliance is that engaged or communicated with (see DE102013208851A1 by Geyer); and a cosmetic front panel that does not conceal a user interface (see U.S. Patent 5496104 granted to Arnold et al.).
The claimed structures and functions of the cosmetic outer structures is not taught in any of the prior art of record, and nothing in the present record suggests that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have cosmetic outer structure as claimed. In particular, a selector on a cosmetic front panel and its engagement or communication with a user interface is not taught in the prior art of record.
Conclusion
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/SPENCER E. BELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711