DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 19/060,126 - TOILET SEAT ASSEMBLY WITH ELEVATED RING, filed on 2/21/25. Claims 1-20 are pending.
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) 1-10, 13-15 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Boeltl (CA 2960809 C).
Regarding Claim 1 Boeltl shows a toilet seat (14) comprising: a body (at 34) including a top surface (at 28); an opening (near 44; Fig. 1B) extending through the body (Figs. 1A-3), the opening defining an inner periphery (38) of the body (Figs. 1A-3); an inner wall (44, at 31a, at 31b) extending downward from the inner periphery of the body (Fig. 2); a lip (31a, 31b; Figs. 3, 4A-4B) extending downward from a bottom surface of the inner wall (Figs. 3, 4A-4B); and an overhang (near 58 Fig. 4A; near 68 Fig. 4B) formed by the bottom surface of the inner wall, the overhang disposed between the lip and the opening (Figs. 3, 4A-4B).
Regarding Claim 2 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 1, wherein the overhang and the lip are configured to disrupt adherence of liquid waste flowing along the toilet seat, causing liquid waste adhering to the toilet seat to fall (ligature resistant; liquids would also fall if ligatures wont adhere).
Regarding Claim 3 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 1, wherein a distance the lip extends downward varies along a circumference of the bottom surface of the inner wall (Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 4 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 3, wherein the lip extends downward a largest distance at a front of the inner wall (Figs. 3 & 4A shows the front and extends the largest distance).
Regarding Claim 5 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 4, wherein the distance the lip extends downward gradually decreases from the largest distance at the front of the inner wall toward a back of the inner wall (Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 6 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 5, wherein the distance the lip extends downward gradually decreases until the lip is coextensive with the bottom surface of the inner wall (Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 7 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 1, wherein a distance the lip extends downward gradually decreases from a largest distance at a middle of the inner wall toward a first side and a second side of the inner wall (from middle of the front and back toward a first and a second side).
Regarding Claim 8 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 1, further comprising: an outer wall (46) extending downward from an outer periphery of the body (Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 9 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 8, wherein the lip extends downward beyond a bottom surface of the outer wall (Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 10 Boeltl shows the toilet seat of claim 8, wherein the outer wall extends downward beyond the lip (see 52 and 62; Figs. 4A & 4B).
Regarding Claim 13 Boeltl shows a toilet comprising: a bowl (at 23) a having an upper surface (18); and a toilet seat (14) coupled to the upper surface, the toilet seat having a body (at 34) including a top surface (at 28); an opening (near 44; Fig. 1B) extending through the body (Figs. 1A-3), an inner wall (44, at 31a, at 31b) extending downward from the inner periphery of the body (Fig. 2), an overhang (near 58 Fig. 4A; near 68 Fig. 4B) formed by the bottom surface of the inner wall, and a lip (31a, 31b; Figs. 3, 4A-4B) extending downward from a bottom surface of the inner wall (Figs. 3, 4A-4B).
Regarding Claim 14 Boeltl shows the toilet of claim 13, wherein the overhang is disposed between the lip and the opening (Fig. 3).
Regarding Claim 15 Boeltl shows the toilet of claim 13, wherein the lip and the overhang are configured to disrupt adherence of liquid waste flowing along the toilet seat, causing the liquid waste to fall into the bowl (ligature resistant; liquids would also fall if ligatures wont adhere).
Regarding Claim 19 Boeltl shows a toilet seat (14) comprising: a body (at 34); an opening (near 44; Fig. 1B) extending through the body (Figs. 1A-3), the opening defining an inner periphery of the body (Figs. 1A-3); and an inner wall (44, at 31a, at 31b) extending downward from the inner periphery of the body (Fig. 2), the inner wall including a landing (near 58 Fig. 4A) and a step (31a; Fig. 4a) extending below the landing, the landing and the step configured to disrupt adherence of liquid waste flowing along the inner wall, causing liquid waste flowing along the inner wall to fall from the inner wall (ligature resistant; liquids would also fall if ligatures wont adhere).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-12, 16-18 and 20 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Xie (CN 106388678 A) shows a similar toilet seat; Lee (US Pub. 2011/0252550) shows a similar toilet seat; Ahlstrom et al. (US D 345,000) shows the general state of the art; Rucker et al. (US 8,091,152) shows the general state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached at 571-270-3735. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 8/11/2026
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