DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) was submitted on 12/10/2025. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “a plurality of functional modules” in claim 17.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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(s) 1-16 is/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.
Claim 1 recites “one or more functional modules” in line 5 and “one or more functional modules” in line 6. Claim 4 recites “one or more functional modules” in line 2. Claim 5 recites “one or more functional modules” in lines 1-2. Claim 7 recites “one or more functional modules” in line 3 and “one or more functional modules” in line 4. Claim 8 recites “one or more functional modules” in line 2. Claim 9 recites “two or more interlocked functional modules” in lines 1-2. It is unclear if each recitation of the functional modules recited in claims 1, 4-5, and 7-9 refer to the “one or more functional modules” in claim 1, line 3, or if each recitation of the functional modules recited in claims 1, 4-5, and 7-9 are intending to claim an additional set of functional modules. For examination purposes, the functional modules recited in claims 1, 4-5, and 7-9 are interpreted to refer to the one or more functional modules recited in claim 1, line 3.
Claim 10 recites “a functional module” in line 8, “a functional module” in line 9, and “at least one functional module” in line 12. Claim 12 recites “a functional module” in line 2. Claim 13 recites “a functional module” in line 2 and “a functional module” in lines 3-4. Claim 16 recites “two or more interlocked functional modules” in lines 1-2. It is unclear if each recitation of the functional modules recited in claims 10, 12-13, and 16 are refer to the “a functional module” recited in claim 10, line 4, or if each recitation of the functional modules recited in claims 10, 12-13, and 16 are intending to claim an additional set of functional modules. For examination purposes, the functional modules recited in claims 10, 12-13, and 16 are interpreted to refer to the functional module recited in claim 10, line 4.
Any remaining dependent claim(s) are indefinite insofar as they depend on a rejected base claim.
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) 1-4 and 6-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kilgallon (US 11523685).
Regarding claim 1, Kilgallon discloses a modular sink, comprising:
a basin (132);
a sink chassis (112) configured to partially receive one or more functional modules (126, 130, 144, 146, 148); and
a cover plate (136) positioned over the sink chassis, wherein the cover plate is configured to partially seal one or more functional modules (138) within the sink chassis, and wherein the cover plate is configured to enable one or more functional modules to partially extend above the cover plate (see Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 2, Kilgallon discloses wherein the sink chassis defines a cuboid geometry (see Fig. 1-9).
Regarding claim 3, Kilgallon discloses wherein the sink chassis defines a plurality of openings (114, 142) for partially receiving one or more functional modules (126, 130, 144, 146, 148; see Fig. 1-9).
Regarding claim 4, Kilgallon discloses wherein the sink chassis defines a plurality of separated cavities (114, 142) for partially receiving one or more functional modules (126, 130, 144, 146, 148; see Fig. 1-9).
Regarding claim 6, Kilgallon discloses wherein the cover plate is removably coupled to the sink chassis (col. 9, l. 67 – col. 10, l. 11).
Regarding claim 7, Kilgallon discloses wherein the cover plate defines a first plurality of openings (openings of 136) aligned with a second plurality of openings (114, 142) of the sink chassis (the openings of 136 are aligned with the 114, 142 along the horizontal plane of 112), and wherein the first and second pluralities of openings are configured to receive one or more functional modules (126, 130, 138, 144, 146, 148), such that the cover plate separates one or more functional modules (138) between a sealed portion (P1-P3) within the sink chassis and an external portion (portion above 136) positioned above the cover plate (see Fig. 3-4).
Regarding claim 8, Kilgallon discloses wherein the sink chassis defines at least one support structure (118, 120, 122, 124) configured to removably couple one or more functional modules (126, 130, 144, 146, 148) to the sink chassis (col. 9, ll. 4-59).
Regarding claim 9, Kilgallon discloses wherein the sink chassis is configured to accommodate two or more interlocked functional modules (138; see Fig. 4).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 5 and 10-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kilgallon (US 11523685) in view of Saied (US 10287757).
Regarding claim 5, Kilgallon discloses substantially all the elements of the present invention as stated above in the rejection of claim 1.
Kilgallon further discloses wherein the sink chassis is configured to receive one or more functional modules (126, 130, 144, 146, 148) through a top chassis surface (top surface of 112).
Kilgallon discloses the faucet (192) can be connected to a water source; however, Kilgallon does not explicitly disclose wherein the sink chassis is configured to receive one or more utility tubes through a bottom chassis surface as claimed.
Saied discloses a quick-change faucet and sink assembly wherein the sink chassis (121) is configured to receive one or more utility tubes (tubes of 161-164) through a bottom chassis surface (bottom surface of 121; see Fig. 1-4). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the sink chassis of Kilgallon, to be configured to receive one or more utility tubes as claimed, as taught by Saeid, in order to install a discharge pipe and one or more valves of each individual faucet (col. 3, ll. 25-39).
Regarding claim 10, Kilgallon discloses a modular sink, comprising:
a basin (132);
a sink chassis (112) defining a first plurality of openings (114, 142) extending between a top surface (top surface of 112) and a bottom surface (bottom surface of 112), wherein the sink chassis is configured to receive a functional module (126, 130, 144, 146, 148) through the top surface of each of the first plurality of openings (see Fig. 1-9),
at least one support structure (118, 120, 122, 124) positioned within each of the first plurality of openings, wherein the at least one support structure is configured to interface with a functional module (126, 130, 144, 146, 148) when received by the sink chassis, to removably couple a functional module (126, 130, 144, 146, 148) to the sink chassis (col. 9, ll. 4-59); and
a cover plate (136) positioned over the sink chassis, wherein the cover plate defines a second plurality of openings (openings of 136) aligned with the first plurality of openings of the sink chassis (the openings of 136 are aligned with the 114, 142 along the horizontal plane of 112), such that the cover plate is configured to enable at least one functional module (138) to extend partially above the cover plate when received by the sink chassis (see Fig. 3-4).
Kilgallon discloses the faucet (192) can be connected to a water source; however, Kilgallon does not explicitly disclose wherein the sink chassis is configured to receive at least one utility tube through the bottom surface of each of the first plurality of openings as claimed.
Saied discloses a quick-change faucet and sink assembly wherein the sink chassis (121) is configured to receive at least one utility tube (tubes of 161-164) through the bottom surface (bottom surface of 122) of each of the first plurality of openings (122; see Fig. 1-4). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the sink chassis of Kilgallon, to be configured to receive one or more utility tubes as claimed, as taught by Saeid, in order to install a discharge pipe and one or more valves of each individual faucet (col. 3, ll. 25-39).
Regarding claim 11, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the at least one support structure is positioned against a wall (wall of 114) defined between the top surface and the bottom surface of the first plurality of openings (see Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 12, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the at least one support structure comprises a snap-in feature (tapered features of 118, 120, 122, 124) configured to removably couple a functional module (126, 130, 144, 146, 148) to the sink chassis.
Regarding claim 13, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the cover plate is configured to enable a utility connection structure (bottom portion of 138) of a functional module to extend below the cover plate when received by the sink chassis (see Fig. 3-4), and wherein the cover plate is configured to enable an external feature (top portion of 138) of a functional module to extend above the cover plate when received by the sink chassis (see Fig. 3-4).
Regarding claim 14, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses a faucet (192) positioned along the sink chassis (see Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 15, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the cover plate is removably coupled to the sink chassis (col. 9, l. 67 – col. 10, l. 11).
Regarding claim 16, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the sink chassis is configured to accommodate two or more interlocked functional modules (138; see Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 17, Kilgallon discloses a modular sink, comprising:
a basin (132);
a plurality of functional modules (138) each configured to perform a unique utilitarian function (col. 7, ll. 48-58; col. 10, l. 60 – col. 11, l. 5);
a sink chassis (112) defining a first plurality of openings (114, 142) extending between a top surface (top surface of 112) and a bottom surface (bottom surface of 112), wherein the plurality of functional modules are received through the top surface of the first plurality of openings (see Fig. 1-9),
at least one support structure (118, 120, 122, 124) positioned within each of the first plurality of openings, wherein the at least one support structure is configured to interface with at least one functional module of the plurality of functional modules, to removably couple the at least one functional module to the sink chassis (col. 9, ll. 4-59); and
a cover plate (136) positioned over the sink chassis, wherein the cover plate defines a second plurality of openings (openings of 136) aligned with the first plurality of openings of the sink chassis (the openings of 136 are aligned with the 114, 142 along the horizontal plane of 112), wherein the cover plate is configured to separate each of the plurality of the functional modules between a sealed portion (P1-P3) within the sink chassis and an external portion (portion above 136) positioned above the cover plate (see Fig. 3-4).
Kilgallon discloses the faucet (192) can be connected to a water source; however, Kilgallon does not explicitly disclose wherein the sink chassis is configured to receive at least one utility tube through the bottom surface of the first plurality of openings as claimed.
Saied discloses a quick-change faucet and sink assembly wherein the sink chassis (121) is configured to receive at least one utility tube (tubes of 161-164) through the bottom surface (bottom surface of 122) of the first plurality of openings (122; see Fig. 1-4). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the sink chassis of Kilgallon, to be configured to receive one or more utility tubes as claimed, as taught by Saeid, in order to install a discharge pipe and one or more valves of each individual faucet (col. 3, ll. 25-39).
Regarding claim 18, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the plurality of functional modules comprises at least one of a glass rinser, a soap dispenser, a side sprayer, an instant hot water module, a filtered water module, a utensil module (col. 10, l. 60 – col. 11, l. 5), an acoustic speaker, a heating or cooling module, a lighting module, an aroma module, and an ultraviolet sanitizer module.
Regarding claim 19, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein the plurality of functional modules are configured to interlock with each other (via 136; see Fig. 3-4 and 8).
Regarding claim 20, the combination above and specifically Kilgallon further discloses wherein each of the plurality of functional modules comprise a utility connection structure (bottom portion of 138) and an external feature (top portion of 138), and wherein the cover plate is configured to separate each utility connection structure of the plurality of the functional modules from each external feature of the plurality of functional modules (see Fig. 3-4), such that each utility connection structure is sealed within the sink chassis and each external feature extends above the cover plate (see Fig. 3-4).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record in the PTO-892 form and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Moresco (DE 102008044898; machine translation attached) is directed to the state of the art as disclosing a leisure mobile kitchen unit including functional area (2), functional module (6), kitchen block (1), worktop (7), and a sink functional module (3).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM R KLOTZ whose telephone number is (571)272-0274. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 11AM-5PM.
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, David P 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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/WILLIAM R KLOTZ/Examiner, Art Unit 3754
/DAVID P ANGWIN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3754
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