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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in China on 4/22/2024. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the CN202420835085.4 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in China on 4/22/2024. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the CN202420843382.3 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
See the Priority Document Exchange Failure Status reports of 9/22/2025.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 60, 62, and 101.
The drawings are objected to because Fig. 11 appears to have reference number 70 where there should be reference number 71.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 10, 12, 15, and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 10 currently states “…the peripheral surface of the non-cylindrical portion further including two third sides which are oppositely disposed and parallel planar surfaces.” The Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “…the peripheral surface of the non-cylindrical portion further [[including]] includes two third sides which are oppositely disposed and parallel planar surfaces.”
Claim 12 currently states “… wherein the pin is configured to enter or exit the slot along the second slot portion as the door panel rotates between open and closed when the pin is in the first position and move selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.” The Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “… wherein the pin is configured to enter or exit the slot along the second slot portion as the door panel rotates between being open and closed when the pin is in the first position, and [[move]] moves selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.”
Claim 15 currently states “… the door panel rotates between open and closed when the pin is in the first position and move selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.” The Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “…the door panel rotates between being open and closed when the pin is in the first position, and [[move]] moves selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.”
Claim 16 currently states “…the two pins is integrally molded with the actuator.” The Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “…the two pins [[is]] are integrally molded with the actuator.”
The claims have been interpreted below as the Examiner believes they were intended to be written. Appropriate correction is required.
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 15-17 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.
Claim 15 includes a limitation drawn to “…two slots respectively disposed on the edge member and each of the two slots configured to confront the corresponding pin when the door panel is closed, the slot comprising…” This is confusing based on what is shown in the figures. It appears as though the Applicant intended to claim something along the lines of “…two slots, each respectively disposed on [[the]] an edge member and each of the two slots configured to confront [[the]] a corresponding pin when the door panel is closed, [[the]] each slot comprising…”
Claim 15 further states “…the second slot portion having a slot entrance configured to receive the pin…” Because there are 2 pins, the Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “…the second slot portion having a slot entrance configured to receive [[the]] a respective pin…”
Claim 15 also states (with the Examiner interpretation from above) “…the pin is configured to enter or exit the corresponding slot along the second slot portion as the door panel rotates between being open and closed when the pin is in the first position, and moves selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.” This is confusing based on what is shown in the figures. The Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “…[[the]] each pin is configured to enter or exit [[the]] their corresponding slot along the second slot portion as [[the]] their door panel rotates between being open and closed when the pin is in the first position, and moves selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.”
Claim 17 currently states “…the two slots are substantially L-shaped.” This is confusing as it can be interpreted as either the two slots combine to make an L-shape or each slot can be shaped like an L. The Examiner believes the claim is intended to state “…the two slots are each substantially L-shaped.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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 and 4-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Song et al. (CN 217049420) (hereinafter Song) (cited by Applicant – with enclosed WIPO translation).
Regarding Claim 1
Song teaches a collapsible organizer comprising (below – Fig. 1-3): a bottom panel (1); a side panel (2) pivotally engaged to the bottom panel via a hinge (Fig. 3) and configured to pivot about the hinge between a use position (Fig. 1) perpendicular to the bottom panel and a collapsed position (Fig. 2) parallel to the bottom panel; and wherein the hinge comprising: a hinge member (shown at 211) fixedly engaged with the side panel; and a hinge receiver (shown at 112) fixedly engaged with the bottom panel and configured to receive a hinge pin body (211) of the hinge member; wherein the hinge pin body comprises a non-cylindrical portion which is a columnar configuration with non-uniform thickness and comprises a plurality of thicknesses including a first thickness (shown below) defining a minimum thickness. Song further teaches the hinge pin body is permitted to detach from the hinge receiver only when a direction of the first thickness is substantially parallel to the bottom panel, and when the direction of the first thickness is substantially parallel to the bottom panel, the side panel is capable of being positioned between the use position and the collapsed position (i.e. in a transition from the collapsed position to the use position) (Pg. 2, Ln., 30 – Pg. 3, Ln. 14).
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Regarding Claim 4
Song teaches the hinge member (211) is integrally moulded with and extends downwardly from a lower edge of the side panel (2).
Regarding Claims 5 and 6
Song teaches the hinge receiver has a pair of lugs (112), and the non-cylindrical portion (211) is received between the lugs, as can be seen in the figures above. Song further
teaches at least one of the lugs (112) is configured to be slightly deformable (Pg. 3, Ln. 6-14).
Regarding Claim 7
Song teaches a collapsible organizer (Fig. 1-3) comprising: a bottom panel (1); a side panel (2) pivotally engaged to the bottom panel via a hinge and configured to pivot about the hinge between a use position (Fig. 1) perpendicular to the bottom panel and a collapsed position (Fig. 2) parallel to the bottom panel; and wherein the hinge comprising: a hinge member (211) fixedly engaged with the side panel; and hinge receiver (112) fixedly engaged with the bottom panel and configured to receive a hinge pin body (211) of the hinge member; wherein the hinge pin body comprises a non-cylindrical portion, and a peripheral surface of the non-cylindrical portion comprises two first sides (shown below) oppositely arranged as parallel planar surfaces and two second sides (shown below) oppositely arranged as arcuate surfaces; wherein a perpendicular distance between the two first sides defines a minimum dimension of a thickness of the non-cylindrical portion. Song further teaches wherein the hinge pin body is permitted to detach from the hinge receiver only when the two first sides are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, and when the two first sides are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, the side panel is capable of being positioned between the use position and the collapsed position (i.e. in a transition from the collapsed position to the use position) (Pg. 2, Ln., 30 – Pg. 3, Ln. 14).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 3, and 8-11 are 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Closest prior art – Song (cited above) – teaches a substantial portion of the Applicant’s claimed invention. However, the closest prior art does not teach when the direction of the first thickness is substantially parallel to the bottom panel and the side panel is positioned between the use position and the collapsed position, an angle between the side panel and the bottom panel is 30 to 60 degrees, or more specifically 45 degrees (claims 2, 3, 8, 9); or the peripheral surface of the non-cylindrical portion further includes two third sides which are oppositely disposed and parallel planar surfaces (claim 10). Claim 11 depends from claim 10.
Claims 12-14 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Closest prior art – Wang (CN 219707574) (cited by Applicant) – teaches an organizer (Fig. 1-3) comprising: a door frame (21) having an opening and a straight frame member; a door panel (22) pivotally engaged in the opening, the door panel having a straight edge member (top edge) configured to confront the frame member when the door panel is closed and move away from the frame member when the door panel is opened; and a latch assembly (23).
However, the closest prior art does not teach the latch assembly comprising an actuator disposed on the frame member; and a pin engaged with the actuator and extending from the actuator into the opening along a direction perpendicular to the frame member; a slot disposed on the edge member and confronting the pin when the door panel is closed, the slot comprising: a first slot portion extending along a direction parallel to the edge member; and a second slot portion extending along a direction perpendicular to the first slot portion and in communication with the first slot portion, the second slot portion having a slot entrance configured to receive the pin; wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the pin to move selectively between a first position and a second position along a direction parallel to the frame member; and wherein the pin is configured to enter or exit the slot along the second slot portion as the door panel rotates between being open and closed when the pin is in the first position, and moves selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Claims 15-17 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Closest prior art – Wang (CN 219707574) (cited by Applicant) – teaches an organizer (Fig. 1-3) comprising: a door frame (21) having an opening and a straight frame member; two door panels (22) pivotally engaged in the opening, each of the two door panels having a straight edge member (top edge) configured to confront the frame member when the door panel is closed and move away from the frame member when the door panel is opened; and a latch assembly (23).
However, the closest prior art does not teach the latch assembly comprising: an actuator disposed on the frame member; and two pins engaged with the actuator and extending from the actuator into the opening along a direction perpendicular to the frame member; two slots, each respectively disposed on an edge member and each of the two slots configured to confront a corresponding pin when the door panel is closed, each slot comprising: a first slot portion extending along a direction parallel to the edge member; and a second slot portion extending along a direction perpendicular to the first slot portion and in communication with the first slot portion, the second slot portion having a slot entrance configured to receive a respective pin; wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the two pins to move selectively between a first position and a second position along a direction parallel to the frame member; and wherein each pin is configured to enter or exit their corresponding slot along the second slot portion as their door panel rotates between being open and closed when the pin is in the first position, and moves selectively between the first position and the second position along the first slot portion when the door panel is closed.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Further pertinent prior art includes but is not limited to that which is listed in the attached Notice of References Cited.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER CASTRIOTTA whose telephone number is (571)270-5279. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9am-5pm.
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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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/JENNIFER CASTRIOTTA/Examiner, Art Unit 3733
/NATHAN J JENNESS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3733 24 June 2026
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