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 .
Specification
The amendments to the specification, filed August 29, 2026, have been entered into the application.
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 27, 31 and 32 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. For claim 27, it is unclear whether or not the “a connecting element” and “a connecting counter element” are the elements claims previously in claim 17. For claim 31, it is unclear whether or not the “a connection” is the same connection claimed previously in claim 17.
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 17, 18, 21, and 24-37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Amman (EP 1,516,563). Amman teaches an extension guide (Fig. 1) for mounting a movable furniture part linearly movably along an extension direction, the extension guide comprising: a carcass rail (4) configured to be attached to a furniture carcass; a drawer rail (2) configured to be attached to the movable furniture part; a linearly movable center rail (3) arranged between the carcass rail and the drawer rail; at least one load-transmitting inner carriage (6) arranged between the carcass rail and the center rail; and at least one load-transmitting outer carriage (7) arranged between the center rail and the drawer rail; wherein at least one of the inner carriage or the outer carriage is formed of a plurality of segments connected to one another (7a,b; Fig. 3); wherein the plurality of segments of the at least one of the inner carriage or the outer carriage includes at least two carriage segments which are directly or indirectly connected to one another by a connection between a connecting element and a connecting counter element; wherein the connecting element includes a connecting insert (12a,b; hook portion and /or 18) and a connecting neck (12a,b; stem portion and /or 16) having a smaller cross-section than the connecting insert; and wherein the connecting counter element includes a connecting receptacle (see first figure below; yellow/shaded portion) configured such that the connecting insert can be received at least in part in the connecting receptacle, and a connecting recess (13a,b and/or 17) in a wall of the connecting receptacle, the connecting recess being configured such that the connecting neck can be received at least in part in the connecting recess. Wherein: the segments are detachably connected to one another. Wherein: the connection between the connecting element and the connecting counter element enables a positive-locking, friction-locking or positive locking and friction-locking transmission of force. Wherein: at least one of the connecting element or the connecting counter element includes at least one connecting projection (14); and the other of the connecting element or the connecting counter element includes at least one connecting retraction (15);wherein the connecting retraction is configured such that the connecting projection can be received at least in part in the connecting retraction. Wherein :the plurality of segments of the inner carriage (Fig. 6) includes at least two carriage segments (6b and additional segment; see English translation line before drawing Legend) and at least one linking segment (6a) connecting the two carriage segments to one another. Wherein: the two carriage segments and the linking segment are arranged in succession in the extension direction such that a first one of the carriage segments is followed by the at least one linking segment which is followed by a second one of the carriage segments. Wherein: at least one of the carriage segments or the at least one linking segment includes a connecting element (12a,b) or a connecting counter element 13a,b) on a leading or trailing end of the segment viewed with respect to the extension direction. Wherein: the plurality of segments of the inner carriage includes at least one carriage segment provided with at least one guide (see yellow/shaded second figure below) configured to guide the carriage segment in the extension direction and to support the carriage segment in a direction transverse to the extension direction.
Wherein: the at least one guide includes a first guide and a second guide, the first guide being configured as a first roller (24-27) in contact with a side section of the carcass rail and arranged to support the carriage segment in a horizontal direction, and the second guide being configured as a second roller (11) in contact with the carcass rail and arranged to support the carriage segment in a vertical direction. Wherein: the plurality of segments of the outer carriage includes at least two running segments (7a,b) which are directly or indirectly connected to one another. Wherein: the at least two running segments are directly or indirectly connected to one another by a connection including at least one latching projection (12a,b; 14) on one of the running segments and a latching receptacle (with 13a,b,15) on another of the running segments, the latching receptacle being configured such that the latching projection can be received at least in part in the latching receptacle. Wherein: the latching projection includes at least one latching element (hook of 12a,b), the latching receptacle includes at least one latching stop (wall with13a,b), and a latching connection between the latching projection and the latching receptacle is established at least in part by the latching element engaging behind the latching stop. Wherein: the plurality of segments of the outer carriage further includes at least one base segment (7a) connecting the running segments (7b; three or more segments; see English translation line before drawing Legend) to one another, the running segments being disposed on opposite ends of the base segment with respect to the extension direction. Wherein: the base segment includes at least one latching projection (16) or at least one latching receptacle (17). Wherein: at least one of the running segments includes a roller guide (11) in contact with a top wall of the center rail and guiding the running segment in the extension direction and supporting the running segment in a vertical direction, and another roller guide (24-27) in contact with a side wall of the center rail and guiding the running segment in the extension direction and supporting the running segment in a horizontal direction. Wherein: the plurality of segments of the outer carriage further includes at least one base segment (7a) connecting the running segments (7b; three of more segments; see English translation line before drawing Legend) to one another, the base segment including a roller guide (24-27) in contact with a side wall of the center rail and configured to guide the base segment in the extension direction and to support the base segment in a horizontal direction. Wherein: the wall of the connecting receptacle is a transverse wall (wall with 13a,b.15) in one of the at least two carriage segments, the transverse wall facing the other of the at least two carriage segments.
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Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed August 29, 2026, with respect to the rejections of the claims under Yuliang et al (CN110326913) and DE202015102284 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejections have been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new grounds of rejection is made in view of Amman (EP 1,516,563). Note: the limitation “the plurality of segments of…the outer carriage includes at least two carriage segments which are directly or indirectly connected to one another by a connection between a connecting element and a connecting counter element” is new to amended claim 17 (not found in original claims 17, 19, and 20-23).
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JANET M WILKENS whose telephone number is 571-272-6869. The examiner can normally be reached Mon thru Thurs 7am-5:30pm EST.
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Wilkens
October 6, 2026
/JANET M WILKENS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
