DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 18/780,397 - SPLASH PLATE FOR BATHTUB, filed on 7/22/24. Claims 1-10 are pending.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: The claim should end in a (single) period, an additional period appears in line 7. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 3, line 2, after slider… should read –is--.
Claim 4, a moveable components is grammatically incorrect for singular usage of element 53.
Claim 7, “comprises foot” is grammatically incorrect.
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 1-10 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.
Regarding claim 1, line 1, the second occurrence of “two side panels” is indefinite as it is unclear if this is a new set of two side panels or the previously introduced, two side panels.
Regarding claim 1, line 4, the introduction of “a second connection block” is indefinite as a first connection block has not been introduced.
Regarding claim 1, “a plurality of suction first cups” is indefinite as it is unclear is the same as “a first suction cup assembly”.
Regarding claim 1, “a second suction cup assembly” is indefinite as a first suction cup assembly has not been introduced.
Regarding claim 1, “the first connection block” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 1, line 8, “a second suction cup assembly” is indefinite as it is unclear if this is the same second suction cup assembly previously recited.
Regarding claim 1, line 8, “a first suction cup assembly” is indefinite as it is unclear if this is the same first suction cup assembly previously recited.
Regarding claim 2, line 3, “the inner cavity of the first slide” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 3, as it depends from claim 1, lines 2-3; “the inner cavity of the first slide” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 4, “the second suction cup assemble” lacks antecedent basis in the claims.
Regarding claim 4, line 3, “the adjacent first connection block” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 4, as it depends from claim 1, line 3; “the inner cavity of the second slide rail” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 6, “second threaded rod” is indefinite as it is unclear if this is “the” introduced second threaded rod.
Regarding claim 6, “the third connection block” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 6, The term “close to” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “close to” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
Regarding claim 6, “the third suction cup” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claims 7 & 8, “the foot assemble” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 7, “the inner cavity of the foot” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Regarding claim 9, “the block component” lacks antecedent basis in the claim and it is unclear if this is the clamping block component introduced in claim 7.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 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.
Claims 2-10 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Stander (US 12,245,728) shows a splash plate for a bathtub; Trimmell (US Pub. 2025/0311894) shows a splash plate for a bathtub; Stander (US 12,207,769) shows a splash plate for a bathtub; Baker (US 5,701,615) shows a splash plate for a bathtub.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 1/7/2026