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 .
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 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over NPL Vivo Hanging Whiteboard Instruction Manual, https://vivo-us.co/products/hanging-24-x-20-whiteboard, (hereinafter “Vivo”).
Concerning claim 1, Vivo discloses an over door writing surface system, comprising (page 2, Hanging Whiteboard);
at least one hanger slidingly attached to the upper frame of a writing surface (page 3, step 3- whiteboard is slidingly attached to upper frame);
the hanger includes a body with a door channel and a frame channel integral thereto and fixedly attached along a shared exterior edge (page 3, steps 2 and 3- hanger has body with door channel and a frame channel attached on edge);
the door channel includes a u-shape that forms an interstitial space therein; the frame channel includes three solid walls and an access wall that is joined at two ends to the adjacent opposing side walls, the access wall has an opening therein that passes therethrough to a hollow space that is bounded within the three solid walls and the access wall (page 3, steps 2 and 3 - door channel (element B) is u-shaped, the frame has 3 solid walls and access wall);
wherein the upper frame of a writing surface slides into the hollow space of the frame channel of the hanger (page 3, steps 2 and 3 – upper frame slides into frame channel); and
wherein the upper edge of a door enters the door channel of the hanger and thereby suspends the writing surface on the door (page 3, step 3 – upper edge enters door channel and suspends writing surface on door).
Concerning claim 2, Vivo discloses a method of attaching a writing surface to a door (page 2, Hanging Whiteboard), comprising:
selecting at least one hanger to support a writing surface (page 3, step 3- whiteboard is slidingly attached to upper frame);
pressing the frame channel of the hanger on the upper frame of the writing surface (page 3, steps 2 and 3- frame channel is pressed onto upper frame of writing surface);
placing the hanger over the upper edge of a door so that the upper edge rests within the door channel of the hanger (page 3, step 3 – upper edge enters door channel and suspends writing surface on door); and
allowing the writing surface to rest against the adjacent surface of the door (page 3, step 3 – upper edge enters door channel and suspends writing surface on door).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is listed in the PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MALINA D BLAISE whose telephone number is (571)270-3398. The examiner can normally be reached Mon. - Thurs. 7:00 am - 5:00 pm (PT).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Xuan Thai can be reached at 571-272-7147. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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MALINA D. BLAISE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3715
/MALINA D. BLAISE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715