CTNF 18/835,759 CTNF 89073 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Application Status Claims 1-15 are pending and have been examined in this application. This communication is the first action on the merits. Claims 1-15 are rejected herein. Information Disclosure Statement As of the date of this action, an information disclosure statement (IDS) has been filed on 08/05/2024 and reviewed by the Examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 AIA Claim s 2-8, 14 and 15 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. The recitation of claim 2 wherein “…the shelf board has a shutter for covering one of the subspaces immediately below the shelf board, and the door is the shutter…” renders the claim indefinite because claim 1 requires the door to close each of the subspace. However, claim 2, defines the door as shutter and requires to cover only one of the subspaces. Claim 14 contains similar issue. The recitation of claim 5 wherein “…the door configured to close each of the subspaces is a door in which a number of the unit doors corresponding to a size of a corresponding subspace are coupled… contains antecedent basis type issue. In other words, the recitation of claim 5 is creating ambiguity as to whether the recitation “a door” defines another door separate from the door recited in claim 1 or whether it is the same door. Claim 15 contains similar issue. Dependent claims 3-4 and 6-8 are rejected based on their respective dependencies. Appropriate correction/explanation is required. 07-36 AIA The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d): (d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph: Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. 07-36-01 AIA Claim s 2 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claims 2 and 14 fail to further limit the scope of claim 1 and 13 respectively because claims 1 and 13 require door to cover each of the subspaces, however, claim 2 and 14 require to cover only one of the subspaces . Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-07 AIA 07-97 12-51-07 Claim s 1 and 10-13 are allowed. 07-43-02 AIA Claim s 2-8, 14 and 15 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 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See attached PTO-892 . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD IJAZ whose telephone number is (571)272-6280. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 11:00 am-10:00 pm. 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, Jonathan Liu can be reached at 5712728227. 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. MUHAMMAD IJAZ Primary Examiner Art Unit 3631 /Muhammad Ijaz/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631 Application/Control Number: 18/835,759 Page 2 Art Unit: 3631 Application/Control Number: 18/835,759 Page 3 Art Unit: 3631 Application/Control Number: 18/835,759 Page 4 Art Unit: 3631 Application/Control Number: 18/835,759 Page 5 Art Unit: 3631
Prosecution Insights