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 May 22, 2025 & July 22, 2026, were in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informality: On page 15 of the specification, reference character “14” has been used to designate both a wall and a coupling device. 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.
Claims 1-18 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, use of the term “preferably” (multiple occurrences) renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term are actually part of the claimed invention. In Claim 2, line 3, the phrase “the wall of the cavity” does not have a proper antecedent basis. In Claims 3 & 4, the phrase “the cavity guide” does not have a proper antecedent basis. In Claim 6, the phrase “the covering element guide” line 4, does not have a proper antecedent basis. In Claim 7, use of the term “preferably” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term are actually part of the claimed invention. In Claim 10, use of the term “preferably” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term are actually part of the claimed invention; additionally, in lines 3-4, the phrase “the at least one spacer element” does not have a proper antecedent basis. In Claim 11, use of the phrase “in particular” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the phrase are actually part of the claimed invention; additionally, in lines 4-5, the phrases “the cavity guide” & “the covering element guide” do not have a proper antecedent basis. In Claim 13, the phrases “the cavity guide” & “the covering element guide” do not have a proper antecedent basis. In Claims 13-14, use of the conjunction “and/or” within the claimed scope is deemed unclear, confusing and indefinite since the recitation is deemed open-ended in scope and can constitute multiple meanings; the disclosure may have support for one or all of the claimed scenario clauses individually represented by the “and/or” conjunction, but may not necessarily have support for all of the claimed scenario clauses combined within one embodiment. In Claims 15-16, use of the term “preferably” (multiple occurrences) renders the claims indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term are actually part of the claimed invention. In Claim 17, use of the conjunction “and/or” within the claimed scope is deemed unclear, confusing and indefinite since the recitation is deemed open-ended in scope and can constitute multiple meanings; the disclosure may have support for one or all of the claimed scenario clauses individually represented by the “and/or” conjunction, but may not necessarily have support for all of the claimed scenario clauses combined within one embodiment. In Claim 18, use of the term “preferably” renders the claims indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term are actually part of the claimed invention.
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 1-11 & 13-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Reymann [US 1,355,692]. Reymann teaches of an arrangement (fig. 1) for moving at least one covering element {26} relative to a fixed furniture part {11}, which has at least one cavity (inside of cabinet) for receiving the covering element and at least one interior space (space), which can be covered at least in part by the covering element, wherein the arrangement has at least one guide device (15, 16) for translational movement of the covering element within the cavity, at least one carrier (17) movable along the guide device and at least one swivel device (middle (27)), wherein the covering element can be mounted on the carrier by means of the swivel device (note fig. 1) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the carrier (note figs. 2 & 5-7), wherein the arrangement comprises at least one stabilizing device (19, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33) by means of which the covering element can be held at a predetermined distance from the guide device, wherein the stabilizing device comprises at least one coupling element (either (29)) or lower (27) for instance) which can be coupled to the covering element in every position of the covering element. As to Claim 2, the stabilizing device has a cavity guide (31) which is arranged on a wall (bottom wall) of the cavity and is designed to support the coupling element in a displaceable manner. As to Claim 3, the stabilizing device has at least one cavity guide stop ((32) for instance) which limits relative movement of the coupling element to a cavity guide (31). As to Claim 4, the stabilizing device has at least one coupling element stop (33) which limits relative movement of the coupling element relative to a cavity guide (31). As to Claim 5, the stabilizing device has a covering element guide (30) arranged on the covering element and is designed to mount the coupling element so that it can be displaced. As to Claim 6, the stabilizing device has at least one covering element guide stop (33) which limits relative movement of the coupling element to a covering element guide (30). As to Claim 7, the coupling element has at least one sliding element (19) via intervening member (17). As to Claim 8, the coupling element (lower (27)) consists of at least two coupling element parts (left leaf plate, right leaf plate), wherein at least two of the at least two coupling element parts are connected to each other by means of at least one hinge (viewed as the hinge pin for instance). As to Claim 9, at least one of the at least two coupling element parts is a spacer element (can be viewed as the left leaf plate) which is designed to maintain the predetermined distance between the covering element and the guide device constant during movement of the covering element along the guide device. As to Claim 10, the stabilizing device has at least one support element (30) which is designed to support the coupling element in such a way that the predetermined distance between the covering element and the guide device is maintained when the covering element moves along the guide device. As to Claim 11, the stabilizing device has at least one force storage member (21) which is designed at least to support a relative movement of the coupling element to a cavity guide (31). As to Claim 13, the at least one force storage member is arranged on a cavity guide ((20) for instance). As to Claim 14, the at least one force storage member has a damping function for damping the movement of the coupling element (i.e., a counter-balance effect on the covering element). As to Claim 15, a furniture (cabinet) with at least one covering element (26), at least one fixed furniture part (walls), and at least one interior space (interior space), which can be covered at least in some areas by the covering element (when the covering element is in a closed state), wherein the furniture has at least one arrangement (fig. 1) for moving at least one covering element relative to the at least one furniture part. As to Claim 16, a furniture part (joined walls of the cabinet) with at least one cavity (opening into the cabinet) for receiving a covering element {26}, at least one interior space (space within the cabinet) which can be covered at least in part by the covering element, and an arrangement (fig. 1) for moving the covering element relative to the furniture component. As to Claim 17, the stabilizing device is arranged essentially in the middle and the upper half of the furniture part (shown as mapped). As to Claim 18, the furniture part has a compensation device (21, 23) for compensating a tilting moment of the covering element arranged thereon, wherein the compensation device comprises a pivot lever mechanism (fig. 1).
Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wu [US 2004/0252045]. Wu teaches of an arrangement (fig. 1) for moving at least one covering element {12} relative to a fixed furniture part {10}, which has at least one cavity (inside of cabinet) for receiving the covering element and at least one interior space (space), which can be covered at least in part by the covering element, wherein the arrangement has at least one guide device (upper (30) for instance) for translational movement of the covering element within the cavity, at least one carrier (34) movable along the guide device and at least one swivel device (32, 35), wherein the covering element can be mounted on the carrier by means of the swivel device (note fig. 1) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the carrier (note figs. 3A-3D), wherein the arrangement comprises at least one stabilizing device (20, 22, 23) by means of which the covering element can be held at a predetermined distance from the guide device, wherein the stabilizing device comprises at least one coupling element (231) which can be coupled to the covering element in every position of the covering element. As to Claim 2, the stabilizing device has a cavity guide (20) which is arranged on a wall (sidewall) of the cavity and is designed to support the coupling element in a displaceable manner. As to Claim 3, the stabilizing device has at least one cavity guide stop ((24) for instance) which limits relative movement of the coupling element to the cavity guide. As to Claim 4, the stabilizing device has at least one coupling element stop (24) which limits relative movement of the coupling element relative to a cavity guide (20). As to Claim 5, the stabilizing device has a covering element guide (viewed as any of the fasteners used to mount (231) to the covering element – fig. 1) arranged on the covering element and is designed to mount the coupling element so that it can be displaced. As to Claim 6, the stabilizing device has at least one covering element guide stop (viewed as any of the inherent countersunk openings within (231) for instance) which limits relative movement of the coupling element to a covering element guide (fastener). As to Claim 7, the coupling element has at least one sliding element (viewed as the rod that slides within (23)) . As to Claim 8, the coupling element consists of at least two coupling element parts (viewed as the bracket on the covering element, and the rod that slides within (23)), wherein at least two of the at least two coupling element parts are connected to each other by means of at least one hinge (viewed as the hinge pin where the bracket is joined to the rod for pivotal movement for instance). As to Claim 9, at least one of the at least two coupling element parts is a spacer element (can be viewed as the slidable rod) which is designed to maintain the predetermined distance between the covering element and the guide device constant during movement of the covering element along the guide device. As to Claim 10, the stabilizing device has at least one support element (can be viewed as any one of the fasteners use to fasten the bracket to the coupling element) which is designed to support the coupling element in such a way that the predetermined distance between the covering element and the guide device is maintained when the covering element moves along the guide device. As to Claim 11, the stabilizing device has at least one force storage member ((351) in the manner that the member (23) corresponds with the spring (351) – [0032]) which is designed at least to support a relative movement of the coupling element to a cavity guide (31). As to Claim 12, the at least one force storage member comprises at least one spring (leaf spring). As to Claim 13, the at least one force storage member is arranged on a covering element guide ((35) for instance). As to Claim 14, the at least one force storage member has a damping function for damping the movement of the coupling element (i.e., provides elastic buffering – [0020]). As to Claim 15, a furniture (cabinet) with at least one covering element (12), at least one fixed furniture part (sidewall), and at least one interior space (interior space), which can be covered at least in some areas by the covering element (when the covering element is in a closed state), wherein the furniture has at least one arrangement (fig. 1) for moving at least one covering element relative to the at least one furniture part. As to Claim 16, a furniture part (joined walls of the cabinet) with at least one cavity (opening into the cabinet) for receiving a covering element {12}, at least one interior space (space within the cabinet) which can be covered at least in part by the covering element, and an arrangement (fig. 1) for moving the covering element relative to the furniture component. As to Claim 17, the stabilizing device is arranged essentially in the middle and the upper half of the furniture part (shown as mapped). As to Claim 18, the furniture part has a compensation device (can be viewed as the lower (30) for instance) for compensating a tilting moment of the covering element arranged thereon, wherein the compensation device comprises a pivot lever mechanism (can be viewed as the associated hinge mechanism that pivots and comprises lever(s)).
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 cabinet and closure arrangements.
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.
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JOH
September 8, 2026
/James O Hansen/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
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