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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/11/2026 with respect Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The Applicant argued that “claims 1, 12 and 19 and their associated dependent claims, collectively claims 1-25, are believed in condition for allowance as noted by the Examiner”.
In response to this argument, claims 1, 12 and 19 still rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112 because it is unclear which element having “a first end”.
Accordingly, this argument is not persuasive.
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 1-25 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, the phrase “a housing providing an at least one internal storage area proximate to a first end” because it is unclear which element having “a first end”.
Claims 2-11 are rejected because they depend from claim 1.
Regarding claim 12, the phrase “a housing providing an at least one internal storage area proximate to a first end” because it is unclear which element having “a first end”.
Claims 13-18 are rejected because they depend from claim 12.
Regarding claim 19, the phrase “providing a housing providing an at least one internal storage area proximate to a first end” because it is unclear which element having “a first end”.
Claims 20-25 are rejected because they depend from claim 19.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, the closet prior art is Griffin (US8220732B2), however in the opinion of the Examiner that the arts of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitation of “the removable grinder cap structured and arranged to be disposed within the housing below the lid” in combination with the other limitations of the claim.
Claims 2-11 are depended from claim 1.
Regarding claim 12, the closet prior art is Griffin (US8220732B2), however in the opinion of the Examiner that the arts of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitation of “the second grinder element structured and arranged to in a first instance nest within the at least one internal storage area adjacent to the lid” in combination with the other limitations of the claim.
Claims 13-18 are depended from claim 12.
Regarding claim 19, the closet prior art is Griffin (US8220732B2), however in the opinion of the Examiner that the arts of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitation of “the second grinder element structured and arranged to in a first instance nest within the at least one internal storage area adjacent to the lid” in combination with the other limitations of the claim.
Claims 20-25 are depended from claim 19.
Claims 1, 12 and 19 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.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED S ALAWADI whose telephone number is (571)272-2224. The examiner can normally be reached 08:00 am- 05:00 pm.
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/MOHAMMED S. ALAWADI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3725
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