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 .
This Final-Office action is in response to the Amendment filed on 3/3/2026, in which claim 12 was added. Claims 1-12 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over USP 6315376 to Wiseman in view of US 2014/0217044 to Cole and D-311289 to Wilson et al (hereinafter Wilson).
Wiseman discloses (Claim 1). A mobile casework furniture unit, comprising: a base panel 35 supported on wheels or castors 80 to facilitate mobility, the base panel having a rectangular shape with four corners; a post 15,29 rising from each of the four corners of the base panel 35, each post having outwardly facing surfaces; and a side panel 37 extends between a first and a second of the posts along a width direction of the base panel, the side panel 37 located inwardly of a first side edge of the base panel 35 and inwardly of the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second posts, such that a space is defined between an outer surface of the side panel and the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second posts; (Claim 2). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 1, further comprising a second side panel 37 extending between a third and a fourth of the posts 15,29 along a width direction of the base panel 35, the second side panel located inwardly of a second side edge of the base panel and inwardly of the outwardly facing surfaces of the third and fourth posts; (Claim 3). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 1, further comprising a back panel 11 extending between the first and fourth posts along a length direction of the base panel; (Claim 4). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 1, further comprising a top panel 33 supported on the posts; (Claim 5). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 1, further comprising shelves 21 located in a space between the posts; (Claim 6). A mobile casework furniture unit, comprising: four corner posts 15,29 arranged at corners of a rectangular shape, each corner post having outwardly facing surfaces; a wheel or castor 80 at a lower end of each corner post to facilitate mobility; a first structure 11,12,13,14,14’,19 rigidly connected with each of the corner posts to define a frame; and a first side panel 37 (Fig. 7) extending between a first and second of the corner posts along a width direction of the rectangular shape, the first side panel 37 located inwardly of the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second corner posts, such that a space is defined between an outer surface of the side panel 37 and the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second corner posts; (Claim 7). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 6, further comprising a second side panel 37 (Fig. 7) extending between a third and fourth of the corner posts parallel with the width direction of the rectangular shape, the second side panel 37 located inwardly of the outwardly facing surfaces of the third and fourth corner posts; (Claim 8). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 7, further comprising a shelf panel 27,33 extending between the first and second side panels, whereby the shelf panel 27,33, first side panel 37, and second side panel 37 constitute the structure rigidly connected with the corner posts to define a frame; (Claim 9). The mobile casework furniture unit of claim 6, wherein the first structure rigidly connected with each of the corner posts to define a frame comprises a first transverse member 12,19 joined at upper ends of the first and second corner posts, a second transverse member 12,19 joined at upper ends of a third and a fourth corner posts, and a cross-member 11 joined at its opposite ends to each of the first and second transverse members 12,19; (Claim 10). The mobile casework furniture of claim 9, further comprising a top panel 33 supported on the first structure rigidly connected with each of the corner posts to define a frame; (Claim 11). A mobile casework furniture unit, comprising: a framework having vertical posts 15,29 with outwardly facing side surfaces; wheels or castors 80 attached to a base panel 35 supporting the post; and a side panel 37 extending between a first and a second of the posts, the side panel 37 recessed located inwardly of the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second posts to define a space between an outer surface of the side panel 37 and the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second posts (Fig. 7); (Claim 12). A mobile casework furniture unit, comprising: a framework having vertical posts 15,29; wheels or castors 80 attached to a base panel 33 supporting the posts; and a side panel 37 extending between a first and a second of the posts, the side panel 37 located entirely inwardly of the first and second posts (Fig. 7).
The differences being that Wiseman fails to disclose the limitations in (i) claims 1, 6, and 12 of the side panel is a pegboard; (ii) claims 2 and 7-8 of the second side panel is a pegboard; (iii) claim 11 of the side panel is a pegboard to allow tools to be supported on the pegboard side panel when two identical mobile casework furniture units are arranged in abutting side-by-side relationship.
However, Both Cole and Wilson show that it is well known in the art to provide the interior space of a furniture unit with pegboards. Cole, further, discloses providing first and second pegboard side panels extending parallel to each other along the width direction.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, in view of Cole and Wilson, to modify Wiseman to include the limitations in (i) claims 1, 6, and 12 of the side panel is a pegboard; (ii) claims 2 and 7-8 of the second side panel is a pegboard; (iii) claim 11 of the side panel is a pegboard to allow tools to be supported on the pegboard side panel when two identical mobile casework furniture units are arranged in abutting side-by-side relationship with a reasonable expectation of success in order to increase the overall versatility of the mobile casework furniture unit.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 6, 11 and 12 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure, and all show structures similar to various elements of applicant’s disclosure.
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 HANH VAN TRAN whose telephone number is (571)272-6868. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DANIEL TROY can be reached at (571)270-3742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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HVT
April 20, 2026
/HANH V TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
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