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
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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Stewart (4,756,034). Stewart shows the use of an automatic sofa comprising: a main body (16) having a back support body (the rear portion of the main body); a seat actuator (40) disposed on the main body; and a seat unit (12) disposed on the main body and connected to the seat actuator to move, wherein the seat actuator comprises a driving motor (36,40) disposed on the main body, a sliding body (48,50,52) disposed on the main body to be connected to the driving motor and configured to slide forward/backward with respect to the main body, a seat coupling body (28) connected with the sliding body to move with the sliding body and coupling the seat unit thereto, and a rotary unit (24,30,32,34) coupled at a first side to the main body, coupled at a second side to the seat coupling body, and configured to guide movement of the seat coupling body. Regarding claim 2, the rotary unit comprises: a link member (34) coupled at a first side to the seat coupling body and configured to horizontally move with the seat coupling body; a rotary body (24) coupled at a first (top) side to the link member and configured to push a rear of the seat unit by rotating when the link member is moved (FIGS. 3-4); and a rotary arm (32) coupled to a second (lower) side of the rotary body and configured to support the rotary body, and when the rotary body is rotated, the rotary arm is also rotated in the same (forward) direction as a rotation direction of the (lower side of the) rotary body. Regarding claim 3, wherein the rotary unit further comprises a coupler (as shown in FIGS. 3-4) rotatably coupling the rotary arm to the main body. Regarding claim 4, the actuator further comprises guide rails (36) disposed on the main body and configured to guide slide movement of the sliding body. Regarding claim 5, the seat unit comprises: a base seat (20) coupled to the seat coupling body, configured to move with the seat coupling body, and provided as a part on which a user sits; base supports (26) coupled to the base seat and configured to support the base seat; and roller members (38) disposed at the base supports and configured to guide movement of the base supports.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Reference Nos. 5,947,559, 4,563,784 and 4,586,206 show features of the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY D BARFIELD whose telephone number is (571)272-6852. 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. 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.
/ANTHONY D BARFIELD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
adb
February 15, 2026