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 .
Detailed Action
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species A (Figs.1-5, claims 11-17 readable) in the reply filed on 03/19/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 18-20 should bear a status identified “Withdrawn” because they are directed to a non-elected Species B (shown in Figs.14-16 and described in paragraphs [0057]-[0070] of the specification). Accordingly, claims 18-20 have been withdrawn from further consideration.
Drawings Objection
The drawings are objected to because:
(1) The right hooks (23) shown in Fig.1 do not agree with the right hooks (23) shown in Fig.2 (e.g., having different shapes).
(2) In Fig.5, the two right hooks (23) do not agree with the right hook (23) shown in Fig.4 (e.g., having different shapes).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
1. 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.
2. Claims 12-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
(1) In claims 12-14, line 1, “the cartridge” has no clear antecedent basis and should read --each of the cartridges--.
(2) In claim 13, line 2, “a skin surface” is vague and should read --a skin surface of a user--. Also, “a user”, at line 4 of the claim, should read --the user--.
(3) In claim 14, line 2, “other cartridges” is vague and should read --other of the cartridges--.
(4) In claim 15, line 2, “both end portions” is vague and indefinite. The phrase should read --both end portions of the cartridge--.
(5) In claim 16, line 2, “the skin surface side” has no clear antecedent basis.
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)
1. 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.
2. Claims 11-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Appiah (U.S. Patent No. 11,000,959).
Regarding claim 11, Appiah discloses a connection type razor head (see Figs.9A, 9B and 12) formed by connecting a plurality of cartridges (103,104) to one another.
Regarding claim 12, each of Appiah’s cartridges (103,104) comprises a blade body (103a,104a) and a skin contact member (106a,106b) positioned in front of the blade body (103a,104a).
Regarding claim 13, each of Appiah’s cartridges (103,104) comprises a blade body (103a,104a) and a lubrication member (106a,106b) including a lubricant that smooths movement of the blade body (103a,104a) on a skin surface of a user.
Regarding claim 14, each of Appiah’s cartridges (103,104) comprises a connecting portion (091,902) configured to be detachably connected to the cartridges (103,104), and the cartridges (103,104) are directly connected to one each other without any interposed parts therebetween.
3. Claims 11-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Coresh (U.S. Patent No. 8,479,398).
Regarding claim 11, Coresh discloses a connection type razor head (180) formed by connecting a plurality of cartridges (C1,C2,C3, see Fig.5 as annotated below) to one another.
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Regarding claim 12, each of Coresh’s cartridges (C1,C2,C3) comprises a blade body (B1, B2, B3) and a skin contact member (S1,S2,S3) positioned in front of the blade body (B1,B2,B3).
Regarding claim 13, each of Coresh’s cartridges (C1,C2,C3) comprises any one or more of a blade body (B1,B2,B3), a plurality of protrusions (S1,S2,S3), and a lubrication member (L1,L2,L3) including a lubricant that smooths movement of the blade body (B1,B2,B3) on a skin surface of a user.
Regarding claim 14, each of Coresh’s cartridges (C1,C2,C3) comprises a connecting portion (190) configured to be detachably connected to the other cartridges (C1,C2,C3), and the cartridges (C1,C2,C3) are directly connected to one another without any interposed parts therebetween.
Regarding claim 15, Coresh’s connecting portion (190, see Fig.4 as annotated below) is provided at each of both end portions of the cartridge (C1,C2,C3) in a width direction of the cartridge (C1,C2,C3).
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Regarding claim 16, both of Coresh’s end portions (190) protrude more toward a skin surface of a user than the blade body (B1,B2,B3).
Claim Rejection - 35 U.S.C. 103
1. 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.
2. Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Coresh (U.S. Patent No. 8,479,398) in view of Hoffmann (U.S. Patent No. 5,133,131).
Regarding claim 17, Coresh’s connection type razor head (180) as set forth shows all the claimed limitations except it lacks a handle including an underbar configured to detachably hold the connection type razor head (180).
Hoffmann teaches it is desirable to provide a razor handle (14, see Fig.1) with an underbar (22) configured to detachably hold a razor head (12).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art to modify Coresh by having the razor head (180) releasable attached to the razor head (180) to facilitate manipulating the razor head (180) during shaving and to allow replacement of the razor head (180) when needed as taught by Hoffmann.
Prior Art Citations
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent No. 3,777,396 shows a razor comprising a cartridge (10), and a handle (12) having an underbar (16) configured to detachably hold the cartridge (10).
U.S. Patent No. 9,144,914 is cited to show a connection type razor head (see Fig.2) formed by connecting a plurality of cartridges (240,250,260) to one another
Point of Contact
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HWEI-SIU PAYER whose telephone number is (571)272-4511. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday – Friday from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Boyer Ashley, can be reached at telephone number 571-270-4502. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HWEI-SIU C PAYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724