DETAILED ACTION
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS’s) submitted on March 31, 2025 & May 06, 2026 were in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. In Claim 1, the phrase “preferably curved-shaped” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 5, the phrase “preferably substantially plate-shaped” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 7, the phrase “preferably wherein the height adjustment device includes a rotatably-supported height adjustment element” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 10, the phrases “preferably wherein the first counter-abutment and the second counter abutment are arranged on a same, preferably rotatable, component” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the terms “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 12, the phrases “preferably to a drawer front panel, preferably wherein the bearing device includes at least one locking device” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the terms “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 13, the phrase “preferably over a maximum rotational angle range of 330 degrees” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 14, the phrase “preferably under the formation of a gap” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. In Claim 15, the phrase “preferably wherein the drawer sidewall includes a hollow-chamber profile” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term “preferably” are part of the claimed invention. Consequently, the remaining claims are rejected since they are dependent, either directly or indirectly, upon an indefinite 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.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Holzapfel et al., [US 8,727,461]. Holzapfel teaches of a furniture fitting (fig. 8), comprising: at least one base (6), at least one bearing device (7) movable relative to the base, at least one adjustment device (8, 9) for adjusting a position of the bearing device relative to the base, the adjustment device including at least one rotatable adjustment element (viewed as the body of (8)), wherein the position of the bearing device relative to the base is adjustable by rotating the at least one adjustment element (disclosed), wherein the at least one adjustment element includes a shell surface (viewed as the outer surface) in which at least one thread (34) is arranged, the at least one thread configured to be engaged at least partially with the bearing device (fig. 8), wherein the at least one adjustment element of the adjustment device includes at least one abutment (can be viewed as the head of the device) separate from the thread (fig. 17), wherein at least one counter-abutment (can be viewed as either (9) or a side surface of (7) for instance) is provided, and wherein the abutment of the adjustment element is configured to bear against the counter-abutment (via intervening surface of (7)) so as to limit a rotational movement of the adjustment element (fig. 17). As to Claim 2, the at least the bearing device is substantially plate-shaped (fig. 9). As to Claim 3, the at least one adjustment device is configured to adjust a distance of the at least one bearing device relative to the at least one base (disclosed). As to Claim 4, the at least one adjustment device is configured to adjust a distance of the at least one bearing device in a direction extending substantially perpendicular relative to a plane formed by the plate-shaped bearing device (lateral left to right). As to Claim 5, the base includes at least two mutually spaced apart base members (6a, 6b), wherein the at least one adjustment element of the adjustment device is at least partially supported between the at least two base members (fig. 8). As to Claim 6, the bearing device (9) is adjustable relative to the base by the adjustment device in a first adjustment direction, wherein a height adjustment device is provided by which the bearing device is adjustable relative to the base in a second adjustment direction extending transversely to the first adjustment direction (fig. 14). As to Claim 7, the at least one counter-abutment is formed or arranged on the height adjustment device (on (9)). As to Claim 8, a maximum adjustment path of the at least one adjustment element is predetermined by the at least one abutment and by the at least one counter-abutment (they both have a maximum adjustment range). As to Claim 9, the abutment is configured as a protrusion extending in radial direction and deemed to correspond to the head of the adjustment element. As to Claim 10, at least two mutually spaced counter-abutments are provided ((9) and a side surface of (7) for instance), wherein the at least one adjustment element (8) is configured to bear against a first counter-abutment in a first end position (via intervening section of (7)) and is configured to bear against a second counter-abutment in a second end position (side surface of (7)). As to Claim 11, the at least one counter-abutment is movable relative to the at least one base. As to Claim 12, the bearing device is configured to support at least one fitting portion (5) to be fixed to a furniture part {2}. As to Claim 13, the at least one adjustment element (8) of the adjustment device includes at least one receiving contour (33) for receiving a tool {tool}. As to Claim 14, the at least one thread is configured to be brought in engagement with the bearing device on a first side only, wherein the thread is spaced apart from the bearing device on a second side diametrically opposing the first side (shown). As to Claim 15, the fitting in combination with a drawer sidewall (3), wherein the at least one fitting is substantially entirely arranged within a hollow-chamber profile of the drawer sidewall (shown – figures 4-5). As to Claim 16, a drawer (19) in combination with the drawer sidewall and fitting.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure – see the attached Form PTO-892 showing various fitting devices for attaching drawer fronts to a drawer carcass.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES O HANSEN whose telephone number is (571)272-6866. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone. 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, Daniel Troy can be reached at 571-270-3742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JOH
June 27, 2026
/James O Hansen/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
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