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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 13 May 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 13 May 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Turning to the rejection(s) of the claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102, it is noted that the terminology in a pending application's claims is to be given its broadest reasonable
interpretation (In re Zletz, 893 F.2d 319, 321, 13 USPQ2d 1320, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 1989))
and limitations from a pending application's specification will not be read into the claims
(Sjolund v. Musland, 847 F.2d 1573, 1581-82, 6 USPQ2d 2020, 2027 (Fed. Cir. 1988)).
Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 is established only when a single prior art
reference discloses, either expressly or under the principles of inherency, each and
every element of a claimed invention. See Constant v. Advanced Micro-Devices. Inc.,
848 F.2d 1560, 1570, 7 USPQ2d 1057, 1064 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 892
(1988); RCA Corp. v. Applied Digital Data Sys., Inc., 730 F.2d 1440, 1444, 221 USPQ
385, 388 (Fed. Cir. 1984). Moreover, anticipation by a prior art reference does not
require either the inventive concept of the claimed subject matter or the recognition of
properties that are inherently possessed by the prior art reference. Verdegaal Brothers
Inc. v. Union Oil co. of California, 814 F.2d 628, 633, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1054 (Fed. Cir.
1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 827 (1987). A prior art reference anticipates the subject
matter of a claim when that reference discloses each and every element set forth in the
claim (In re Paulsen, 30 F.3d 1475, 1478-79, 31 USPQ2d 1671, 1673 (Fed. Cir. 1994)
and In re Spada, 911 F.2d 705, 708, 15 USPQ2d 1655, 1657 (Fed. Cir. 1990));
however, the law of anticipation does not require that the reference teach what
Applicant is claiming, but only that the claims "read on” something disclosed in the
reference. Kalman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 713 F.2d 760, 772, 218 USPQ 781, 789
(Fed. Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1026 (1984) (and overruled in part on another
issue), SRI Intel v. Matsushita Elec. Corp. Of Am., 775 F.2d 1107, 1118, 227 USPQ
577, 583 (Fed. Cir. 1985). Also, a reference anticipates a claim if it discloses the
claimed invention such that a skilled artisan could take its teachings in combination with
his own knowledge of the particular art and be in possession of the invention. See In re
Graves, 69 F.3d 1147, 1152, 36 USPQ2d 1697, 1701 (Fed. Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 116 S.Ct. 1362 (1996), quoting from In re LeGrice, 301 F.2d 929, 936, 133 USPQ 365, 372 (CCPA 1962).
Regarding the § 102 rejection of claim 1 over Jeong, Applicant’s amendment has overcome this rejection.
Regarding the § 103 rejection of claim 1 over Jeong and Marchitto, Applicant’s amendment has overcome this rejection.
Regarding the § 103 rejection of claim 11 over Bertsch and Jeong, Applicant argues various features of each reference including Bertsch teaching a pod tray mounted to the bottom of the dishrack and Jeong teaching connecting mechanisms for mounting the pod tray to the dishrack, but alleges that neither reference teaches “the pod tray includes a mounting portion with a set of connecting mechanisms to connect the pod tray to the bottom of the dishrack.” However, the test for obviousness is not whether the features of a secondary reference may be bodily incorporated into the structure of the primary reference; nor is it that the claimed invention must be expressly suggested in any one or all of the references. Rather, the test is what the combined teachings of the references would have suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981).
In the instant case, Bertsch clearly discloses the pod tray includes a mounting portion to connect the pod tray to the bottom of the dishrack but does not expressly disclose the use of a set of connecting mechanisms as claimed. However, such “connecting mechanisms” are old and known in the art for their intended purpose. For instance, Jeong teaches that it is known to provide such detergent tray with connecting mechanisms for the purpose of connecting the detergent tray to the dishrack (see first holder 46 and second holders 47 in Figs. 5, 7, 9, 11-17, and associated text). Therefore, the position is taken that it would have been obvious to provide the pod tray of Bertsch with clips/hooks such as those disclosed in Jeong and associated modifications above, to yield the same and predictable fastening results of the pod tray to the dishrack.
It is noted that Applicant’s reply provides no arguments as to how and why the claims serve to patentably distinguish over the cited prior art, and no such patentability is readily apparent based on the current record. Thus, Applicant's arguments fail to comply with 37 CFR 1.111(b) because they amount to a general allegation that the claims define a patentable invention without specifically pointing out how the language of the claims patentably distinguishes them from the references. Applicant is again requested to provide proper patentability arguments in the next reply.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-6, and 8-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) as being anticipated by WO 2024/136301 A1 to Jeong.
Regarding claims 1-6, and 8-10, Jeong (in Figs. 1-17 and associated text) discloses a dishwasher comprising:
a cabinet (casing 21) defining an interior;
a tub (10) located within the interior and defining a washing chamber (11) with an open face;
a door (23) moveably mounted to the cabinet for selectively closing the open face; and
a dishrack (31,32) located within the tub and moveable through the open face when the door is in an open position, the dishrack including a front wall partially defining a dishrack interior (see Figs. 4, 7, 8, and associated text); and
a pod tray (detergent box 4) positioned on the front wall of the dishrack exterior of the dishrack interior, the pod tray for holding detergent (note detergent box 4 is fully capable of the intended use of receiving a detergent pod and reads on the recited pod tray; also note holder 46 located on the front exterior of the dishrack),
wherein the pod tray comprises one or more clips (46,47) for connecting to one or more wire tines of the dishrack,
wherein the one or more clips (46,47) comprise at least a first clip (46) for connecting to a horizontal wire tine of the dishrack,
wherein the pod tray comprises one or more hooks for connecting to one or more wire tines of the dishrack (see Figs. 9-17 showing various hook configurations of the clips),
wherein the one or more hooks comprises first and second surfaces for connecting to vertical wire tine of the dishrack, and wherein the first surface and the second surface protrude separately from the pod tray (see surfaces of hook 46 including groove 461 and protrusion 463 in Fig. 12),
wherein the one or more hooks comprises one hook laterally disposed from a side of the pod tray (note hooks 47 are laterally disposed from a side of the pod tray),
wherein the pod tray comprises a horizontal support surface (492 and 428 in Figs. 11 and 13, respectively) for supporting a detergent pod,
wherein the horizontal support surface comprises spaced ribs (428 in Fig. 13) defining draining apertures for allowing detergent to drain into the tub,
wherein the pod tray is positioned on the front wall of the dishrack and extends out from the front wall toward an inner surface of the door (see Figs. 4 and 7-8),
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over WO 2024/136301 A1 to Jeong in view of US 2014/0076363 to Bertsch et al. (“Bertsch”).
Regarding claims 1-6, and 8-10, Jeong (in Figs. 1-17 and associated text) discloses a dishwasher comprising:
a cabinet (casing 21) defining an interior;
a tub (10) located within the interior and defining a washing chamber (11) with an open face;
a door (23) moveably mounted to the cabinet for selectively closing the open face; and
a dishrack (31,32) located within the tub and moveable through the open face when the door is in an open position, the dishrack including a bottom and a front wall partially defining a dishrack interior (see Figs. 4, 7, 8, and associated text); and
a pod tray (detergent box 4) positioned on the front wall of the dishrack exterior of the dishrack interior, the pod tray for holding detergent (note detergent box 4 is fully capable of the intended use of receiving a detergent pod and reads on the recited pod tray; also note holder 46 located on the front exterior of the dishrack),
wherein the pod tray comprises one or more clips (46,47) for connecting to one or more wire tines of the dishrack,
wherein the one or more clips (46,47) comprise at least a first clip (46) for connecting to a horizontal wire tine of the dishrack,
wherein the pod tray comprises one or more hooks for connecting to one or more wire tines of the dishrack (see Figs. 9-17 showing various hook configurations of the clips),
wherein the one or more hooks comprises first and second surfaces for connecting to vertical wire tine of the dishrack, and wherein the first surface and the second surface protrude separately from the pod tray (see surfaces of hook 46 including groove 461 and protrusion 463 in Fig. 12),
wherein the one or more hooks comprises one hook laterally disposed from a side of the pod tray (note hooks 47 are laterally disposed from a side of the pod tray),
wherein the pod tray comprises a horizontal support surface (492 and 428 in Figs. 11 and 13, respectively) for supporting a detergent pod,
wherein the horizontal support surface comprises spaced ribs (428 in Fig. 13) defining draining apertures for allowing detergent to drain into the tub,
wherein the pod tray is positioned on the front wall of the dishrack and extends out from the front wall toward an inner surface of the door (see Figs. 4 and 7-8).
Jeong discloses the pod tray connected to the dishrack, but Jeong does not expressly disclose the pod tray positioned such that at least a portion of the pod tray extends beyond the bottom of the dishrack, the pod tray being located exterior of the dishrack interior as recited in amended claim 1. However, Bertsch teaches that it is old and known to mount a pod tray on the exterior bottom of a dishrack (see, e.g., Fig. 3 and associated text).
The position is taken that it would have been obvious at the time of effective filing to rearrange the pod tray of Jeong to be mounted such that at least a portion of the pod tray extends beyond the bottom of the dish rack and on the exterior of the dishrack to achieve the same and predictable detergent dispensing results, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. See MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(C) regarding Obviousness and Rearrangement of Parts.
Regarding claim 7, Jeong discloses the claimed invention including plural clips (46,47) for engaging wire tines. Jeong discloses clips for engaging a horizontal wire time and inclined wire tine, but does not expressly disclose a clip for engaging a vertical wire tine (claim 7). However, the position is taken that it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing to rearrange the clips at any matching wire tine angle to clip on to the dishrack as desired, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. See MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(C) regarding Obviousness and Rearrangement of Parts. Furthermore, Jeong discloses plural clips but does not expressly disclose four clips. However, merely duplicating the number of clips would achieve the same and predictable results of clipping the tray to the dishrack and is considered prima facie obvious. It has been held that mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. See MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(B) regarding Obviousness and Duplication of Parts.
Claim(s) 11-12, and 14-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bertsch in view of Jeong.
Regarding claims 11-12, 14, 18, and 20-21, Bertsch (in Figs. 1-3 and associated text) discloses a dishwasher comprising:
a cabinet defining an interior (outer portion of 5);
a tub located within the interior and defining a washing chamber with an open face (inner portion of 5);
a door (20) moveably mounted to the cabinet for selectively closing the open face; and
a dishrack (16) located within the tub and moveable through the open face when the door is in an open position, the dishrack including a bottom and a front wall; and
a pod tray (98) positioned beneath both the front wall of and the bottom of the dishrack, the pod tray for holding detergent, and wherein the pod tray includes a mounting portion,
wherein the pod tray further comprises a mounting portion (300) and a moveable tray portion (drawer 375) that is slidable along the mounting portion, wherein the moveable tray portion of the pod tray comprises a horizontal support surface for supporting a detergent pod (see Fig. 3 and associated text; note the horizontal pod tray),
wherein the mounting portion comprises a track and the moveable tray portion comprises rails configured to slide in the track (note ¶ [0029] wherein the drawer may be slid relative to the housing, which implicitly teaches some type of sliding track),
wherein the moveable tray portion comprises a handle for sliding the moveable tray portion relative to the mounting portion (see Figs. 2-3, note front portion of 98 capable of being gripped and readable on a handle),
wherein the pod tray comprises a receiving portion opening into the washing chamber at an open top confronting the bottom of the dishrack (note openings 350,351 in Fig. 3 which read on the invention as claimed).
Bertsch clearly discloses the pod tray includes a mounting portion to connect the pod tray to the bottom of the dishrack but does not expressly disclose the use of a set of connecting mechanisms as claimed. However, such “connecting mechanisms” are old and known in the art for their intended purpose. For instance, Jeong teaches that it is known to provide such detergent tray with connecting mechanisms for the purpose of connecting the detergent tray to the dishrack (see first holder 46 and second holders 47 in Figs. 5, 7, 9, 11-17, and associated text). Regarding claims 15-17, Jeong further discloses one or more hooks for connecting the pod tray to the dishrack. Therefore, regarding claims 11-12, 14-18, and 20-21, the position is taken that it would have been obvious to provide the pod tray of Bertsch with clips/hooks such as those disclosed in Jeong and associated modifications above, to yield the same and predictable fastening results of the pod tray to the dishrack.
Regarding claim 19, Bertsch discloses a horizontal support surface but does not expressly disclose spaced ribs. Jeong, supra, discloses the horizontal support surface with spaced ribs as claimed for support and dispensing of detergent therethrough.
Therefore, the position is taken that it would have been obvious at the time of effective filing to modify the bottom of the pod tray of Bertsch with such support ribs such as those taught in Jeong, to yield the same and predictable results.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH L PERRIN whose telephone number is (571)272-1305. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-4:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael E. Barr can be reached at 571-272-1414. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Joseph L. Perrin, Ph.D.
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1711
/Joseph L. Perrin/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711
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