DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 19/208,855 - DRAIN STRAINER WITH SUPPORT RIBS, filed on 5/15/25. 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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, “the debris collection chamber is invertible, facilitating the removal of accumulated debris by manually applying upward pressure to the chamber from below, “ of claim 3, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 3-17 and 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Erickson (US Pub. 2025/0297468).
Regarding Claim 1 Erickson shows a drain strainer (10, 200, 300) for filtering debris from water as it enters a sink drain, the strainer comprising: a strainer base (12, 201, 301); a debris collection chamber (17, 206) connected to the inner perimeter of the strainer base (Fig. 23; Fig. 51; Fig. 70) , the chamber forming therethrough a plurality of drainage pores (15, 220) configured to allow water passage through the chamber; and a plurality of support ribs (16, 70, 213, 313) connected to and vertically extending from the strainer base (Figs. 8, 23, 51, 70), wherein the ribs are configured to elevate items placed directly on the strainer (Fig. 8, 23, 51, 70; similar structure will act similarly to elevate items placed directly on the strainer), thereby facilitating unobstructed water flow beneath such items and into the debris collection chamber.
Regarding Claim 3 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the debris collection chamber is invertible, facilitating the removal of accumulated debris by manually applying upward pressure to the chamber from below (Figs. 61-62).
Regarding Claim 4 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the debris collection chamber is hemispherical with a flat base, the hemispherical shape conducive to guiding debris towards the flat base for accumulation and subsequent disposal (at least Figs. 51, 63).
Regarding Claim 5 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the debris collection chamber is integrally formed with the strainer base (¶ [0161]; molded).
Regarding Claim 6 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the support ribs are arranged radially from a central point of the drain strainer (Figs. 8, 23, 51, 70).
Regarding Claim 7 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 6, wherein the support ribs are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the strainer base, each rib positioned equidistant from adjacent ribs (Figs. 8, 23, 51, 70).
Regarding Claim 8 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the support ribs comprise a non-slip surface to prevent movement of items placed on the ribs (¶ [0163]).
Regarding Claim 9 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of support ribs comprises a base connected to the strainer base and a top opposite the base, wherein each of the support ribs is tapered with the base thicker than the top (Figs. 8-12, 22, 51, 54, 70).
Regarding Claim 10 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of support ribs has an outer end proximate to the outer perimeter of the strainer base and an inner end proximate to the inner perimeter of the strainer base, wherein the inner end is taller than the outer end such that the top of the support rib angles inwardly, such than an item resting on the support rib is angled upwardly over the debris collection chamber (Figs. 8-12, 20-23, 35 38-39, 51).
Regarding Claim 11 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the base of the support rib is substantially triangular having one side proximate to the inner perimeter of the strainer base and one vertex proximate to the outer perimeter of the strainer base (Figs. 8-12, 20-23, 35 38-39, 51).
Regarding Claim 12 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 10, wherein the triangular base of each support rib is rounded at its vertices (Figs. 8-12, 20-23, 35 38-39, 51).
Regarding Claim 13 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 10, wherein the support ribs have a rounded apex (Figs. 8-12, 20-23, 35 38-39, 51).
Regarding Claim 14 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the support ribs extend upward from the strainer base to a height sufficient to create a clearance between the bottom of a dish and the top surface of the strainer base, facilitating unobstructed water flow to the drainage pores (Figs. 8-12, 20-23, 35 38-39, 51, 70).
Regarding Claim 15 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the support ribs are constructed of a rubberized material, thereby limiting the risk of damage to items placed on the ribs (¶ [0163]).
Regarding Claim 16 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the strainer base is constructed of a rubberized material, providing enhanced grip and resistance to movement when in contact with sink surfaces (¶ [0163]).
Regarding Claim 17 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the drainage pores are dimensioned to block debris particles exceeding a specific size threshold, enabling only water and smaller particles to pass through (at least Figs. 1-104).
Regarding Claim 19 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the drainage pores are positioned in concentric circles within the debris collection chamber (Figs. 1-104).
Regarding Claim 20 Erickson shows a method of manufacturing a drain strainer, the method comprising: injection molding (¶ 0166]) a material to form a strainer base (12, 201, 301) with a plurality of support ribs (16, 70, 213, 313) and a debris collection chamber (17, 206); wherein the support ribs extend vertically from the strainer base at a specific height and contour (Figs. 8, 23, 51, 70) for elevating items placed directly on the strainer (Fig. 8, 23, 51, 70; similar structure will act similarly to elevate items placed directly on the strainer), facilitating unobstructed water flow to the drainage pores; and wherein the debris collection chamber is molded with plurality of drainage pores sized to allow water passage while preventing the passage of debris (Figs. 1-104).
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) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Erickson (US Pub. 2025/0297468) in view of Fima (US Pub. 2012/0167295).
Regarding Claim 2 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, wherein the strainer base has a circular geometry defined by a perimeter edge designed to rest within a sink drain (Figs. 1-104), but fails to show the perimeter edge being angled downward to facilitate the direction of water flow over the strainer base and into the debris collection chamber, thereby enhancing the strainer's water filtration efficiency. However, Fima shows a drain device with a perimeter edge (312; ¶ [0045]; Fig. 3) being angled downward to facilitate the direction of water flow over the base and into the collection chamber, thereby enhancing the strainer's water filtration efficiency. Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Erickson to include the perimeter edge being angled downward to facilitate the direction of water flow over the strainer base and into the debris collection chamber, thereby enhancing the strainer's water filtration efficiency as shown by Fima.
Claim(s) 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Erickson (US Pub. 2025/0297468) in view of Hillsten (US Pub. 22018/0355595).
Regarding Claim 18 Erickson shows the drain strainer of claim 1, but fails to show wherein the drain strainer is constructed from materials with antimicrobial properties. However, Hillsten shows a drain device with antimicrobial properties (¶ [0012,0014, see claim 5). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Erickson to include the strainer being constructed from materials with antimicrobial properties for sanitary purposes in the sink as shown by Hillsten.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lee et al. (US 11,473,281) shows a drain device that holds plates and dishes above the base; Farago et al. (US Pub. 2024/0426089) shows a drain device with a triangle shaped protrusion.
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 9/17/2026
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