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 is the First Office action on the Merits from the examiner in charge of this application.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-20 are objected to because of the following informalities: (i) claim 1, line 5, “the first and second plate” should be “the first and second plates”; (ii) claim 13, line 5, “the first and second plate” should be “the first and second plates”; (iii) claim 13, line 8, “and third cover” should be “and a third cover”; (iv) claim 16, line 3, “is a thickness” should be “has a thickness”; (v) claim 18, line 5, “the first and second plate” should be “the first and second plates”;. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim 6 is 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. Line 2 recites “a third part” which implies there is a second part; however, no second part has been recited.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the first coupler or the second coupler" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13, last line, the limitations “edges of the first plate and the second edge” is improper in context, thus renders the claim indefinite for failing to clearly define the metes and bounds of the claimed invention.
Claims 14-17 are rejected as being dependent on, and failing to cure the deficiencies of, rejected claim 13.
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) 1-11, and 13-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2017/023088 to Jung et al (hereinafter Jung).
Jung discloses (Claim 1). A vacuum adiabatic body comprising (such as shown in Figs. 4(b), and 11): a first plate 10; a second plate 35,70; a vacuum space 50 provided between the first plate 10 and the second plate 35; a sheet 60 to reduce heat conduction between the first and second plates, the sheet 60 being disposed to be connected with the first plate; and a cover adiabatic material 90 disposed to shield the sheet 60 and made of a different material from the sheet 60; (Claim 2). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the cover adiabatic material 90 comprises a portion to define an edge of the vacuum adiabatic body; (Claim 3). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the cover adiabatic material 90 comprises a first portion to face the sheet 60 and a second portion to define an edge of the vacuum adiabatic body; (Claim 4). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, further comprising at least one arm 91 to support the cover adiabatic material 90, wherein the at least one arm 91 comprises a first part disposed between the sheet 60 and the cover adiabatic material 90 (Fig. 11); (Claim 5). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 4, wherein the at least one arm 91 further comprises a second part that is bent from the first part and is coupled to the cover adiabatic material 90; (Claim 6). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 4, wherein the at least one arm 91 further comprises a third part that is bent from the first part and extends along a surface of the second plate; (Claim 7). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, further comprising at least one arm 85 to support the cover adiabatic material 90, wherein the at least one arm comprises a first part extending along a surface of the first plate 10 and a second part that is bent from the first part and is inserted into the cover adiabatic material 90 (Fig. 11); (Claim 8). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the first plate 10 is spaced apart from the second plate in a first direction, and wherein a width of the cover adiabatic material 90 in a second direction is greater than a width of the sheet 60, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; (Claim 9). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the cover adiabatic material 90 is made of a resin material ([80], “foaming urethane or Styrofoam”), and the sheet is made of a metal material ([54], “thin foil”, “stainless material”); (Claim 10). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, further comprising a first arm provided on the first plate and a second arm provided on the second plate, wherein the first and second arms are spaced apart from the each other by the cover adiabatic material 90 (see attached marked-up copy); (Claim 11). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 10, further comprising a first shoulder bent from the first arm and a second shoulder bent from the second arm, the second shoulder being spaced apart from the first shoulder in a first direction, wherein a distance from the first shoulder to the second shoulder is less than a width of the cover adiabatic material 90 in the first direction (see attached marked-up copy); (Claim 13). A vacuum adiabatic body comprising: a first plate 10; a second plate 35,70; a vacuum space 50 provided between the first plate and the second plate; a sheet 60 to reduce heat conduction between the first and second plates, the sheet 60 being disposed to be connected with the first plate 10; and a cover assembly comprising a first cover (see attached marked-up copy) provided on the first plate, a second cover (see attached marked-up copy) provided on the second plate and a third cover 90 including a portion disposed at edges of the first plate and the second edge and configured to shield the sheet 60; (Claim 14). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 13, wherein the third cover 90 connects the first cover to the second cover; (Claim 15). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 13, wherein the first cover includes an inner cover at an inner side of the vacuum adiabatic body, and the second cover includes an outer cover at an outer side of the vacuum adiabatic body, and wherein the third cover 90 is disposed between the first cover and the second cover; (Claim 16). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 13, wherein the portion of the third cover includes a cover adiabatic material 90, and wherein the cover adiabatic material has a thickness greater than a thickness of each of the first plate and the second plate; (Claim 17). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 16, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate is made of a metal material ([54], “stainless material”), and wherein the cover adiabatic material is made of a non-metal material ([80], “foaming urethane or Styrofoam”); (Claim 18). A vacuum adiabatic body comprising: a first plate 10; a second plate 35,70; a vacuum space 50 provided between the first plate and the second plate; a sheet 60 to reduce heat conduction between the first and second plates, the sheet 60 being disposed to be connected with the first plate 10; a first arm (see attached marked-up copy) that extends along the first plate; a second arm (see attached marked-up copy) that extends along the second plate; and a cover adiabatic material 90 disposed at edges of the first and second arms and configured to shield the sheet 60; (Claim 19). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 18, further comprising a shoulder that is bent from the first arm and is coupled to the cover adiabatic material 90 (Fig. 11); (Claim 20). The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 18, further comprising a shoulder 91 that is bent from at least one of the first arm or the second arm and is disposed between the sheet 60 and the cover adiabatic material 90.
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) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung in view of KR 10-0654678 to Yoo.
Jung discloses all the elements as discussed above including the limitations in claim 12 of a first coupling portion bent from the first shoulder, wherein the first coupler/shoulder is inserted into the cover adiabatic material 90. The differences being that Jung fails to disclose a second coupling portion bent from the second shoulder.
However, Yoo discloses an adiabatic body (such as shown in Figs. 9-16): a cover adiabatic material 40; a first coupling portion 50 bent from a first shoulder and a second coupling portion 50 bent from a second shoulder, wherein the coupling portions 50 are inserted into the cover adiabatic material 40.
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 Yoo, to modify Jung to include the limitations in Claim 12 of a second coupling portion bent from the second shoulder with a reasonable expectation of success in order to increase the overall versatility of the vacuum adiabatic body.
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.
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.
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, 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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
HVT
January 22, 2026
/HANH V TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
PNG
media_image1.png
620
1109
media_image1.png
Greyscale