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 .
Priority date of 02/15/2024 based on 63/554/017 is acknowledged.
Claims 3, 10, 13, and 18 are withdrawn from further consideration. Applicant made the election of the embodiment of two containers with two side latches in fig. 4A, directed to the embodiment in without traverse, in the response dated 03/09/2026 is acknowledged.
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 14 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.
“a first recess” previous recited in claim 11. This is a double inclusion.
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.
Claims 1, 2, 4-9, 11-12, 14-17, and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Christopher (US 9393684)
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Together these sides 104-114, respectively, define an interior space 116 for storing articles that can be accessible by extending a front cover 118 of a drawer
(20) FIG. 5 shows container latching mechanism 130 of container 102 engaged to container 101. First housing 132 includes a handle 138 that is an open area of sufficient length bounded by a top wall 140 to provide a gripping area or handle for a user's hands to carry container 101. Top wall 140 also functions as a “catch” for latch 136 to attach container 101 to container 102. Latch 136 includes a gripping portion 142 to receive a user's hand for pivoting latch 136 about pivot point 146 and a projection 144 that engages top wall 140. A spring 148 returns latch 136 back to the engaged position when latch 136 is released. In operation, a user grabs gripping portion 142 and pivots latch 136 outward, as shown in FIG. 6. At this point, container 102 can be set on top of container 101 and latch 136 can be released. Projection 144 of latch 36 on container 102 engages top wall 140 of first housing 132 of container latching mechanism 130 of container 101 to hold the respective containers 101 and 102 together. Latch 136 is substantially flush with the side of container 102. (23) Alternative arrangements of system 100 with multiple containers 191, 102, 700, 800, and 900 are contemplated. One such alternative includes a moveable platform that has a substantially flat base on four wheels or casters with a latching mechanism 130.
Regarding claim 1, Christopher teaches an interlocking mobile storage system, comprising a first storage container (102) comprising a latch (130) disposed on a side of the first storage container, the latch comprising a biasing member (148) and a pivot (146), wherein the latch is pivotable between an engaged position (fig. 5) and a disengaged position (fig. 6) and the biasing member biases the latch to the engaged position; and a second storage container (bottom 101) comprising a recess (132) comprising an overhang (140), wherein the first storage container is disposed on a top of the second storage container and the latch is in the engaged position, is engaged with, and is disposed in the overhang of the recess.
Regarding claim 2, note fig. 2A/2B showing the second latch on the opposite side.
Regarding claims 4 and 8, note first and second storage containers further comprises an extrusion on a bottom (132) of the first storage container; the second storage container further comprises a third recess (126 where 132 engages) on a top of the second storage container; and the extrusion is disposed in the third recess.
Regarding claim 5, note the chamfered end on the latch (at 144).
Regarding claim 6, note the cart cited above as platform with wheels.
Regarding claim 7, note the second latch on the second container, i.e., each container has two latches and two recesses, each recess has an overhang at 140.
Regarding claim 9, note the drawer cited above at 118, and note the plurality of drawers in figs. 7-8
Regarding claim 11, Christopher teaches an interlocking storage container comprising: a first storage container comprising a top disposed on a side of the storage container, an overhang (140), a latch (130) disposed on the side of the interlocking storage container and the latch is pivotable between an engaged position (fig. 5) and a disengaged position (fig. 6), the latch comprising a grip (142), a locking tab (144), wherein the locking tab is moved towards a centerline of the interlocking storage container in the engaged position (fig. 6) and the locking tab is moved away from the centerline in the disengaged position; and a biasing member (148) disposed between the grip and the interlocking storage container, wherein the biasing member biases the latch towards the engaged position.
Regarding claim 12, note a second latch on a second side of the interlocking storage container in fig. 2A, with a second grip, locking tab and biasing member as the first latch.
Regarding claim 14, note a first recess and a second same recess in a top of the interlocking storage container on the opposite side with an overhang and extends to a second side of the interlocking storage container in fig. 2A.
Regarding claim 15, note a third recess cited above, disposed between the first recess and the second recess.
Regarding claim 16, Christopher teaches disposing a first storage container (102) on a top of a second storage container (101), wherein the first storage container comprises a latch (130) on a side of the first storage container, the latch comprising a biasing member (148), wherein the latch is pivotable between an engaged position (fig. 5) and a disengaged position (fig. 6) and the biasing member biases the latch to the engaged position (cited above); and configuring the latch in the engaged position, wherein the latch is engaged with and is disposed within an overhang (140) of the second storage container.
Regarding claim 17, note the same second latch on a second side of the first storage container, the second latch comprising a second biasing member, wherein the second latch is pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and the second biasing member biases the second latch to the engaged position; and the method further comprises configuring the second latch in the engaged position, wherein the second latch is engaged with and is disposed within a second overhang of the second storage container.
Regarding claim 19, note the second same latch on the other side.
Regarding claim 20, note the disengaged position when 142 is pressed, wherein the latch is released from overhang of the second storage container.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRI M MAI whose telephone number is (571)272-4541. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm (Mon-Friday).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nathan Jenness can be reached at (571) 270-5055. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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TRI M. MAI
Examiner
Art Unit 3733
/TRI M MAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3733
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