Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-06-17)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the .Claims:

TIis listing of claimswill replace all prior versions, and listings, of claiisin the application:

1\. (Currently Amended) A laundry machine comprising:
a cabinet defining an internal cavity;
a lid configured to transition between open and closed positions, wherein the lid covers an opening to the internal cavity in the closed position and provides access to the opening in the opeposition, wherein the lid includes (i) an upper panel, (ii) a web extending downward from a side edge of the upper panel, and (iii)a flange extending inward from the web, and wherein the upper panel, web, and flange collectively definea C-channel;and
a hinge rotatably securing the lid to the cabinet suchthatthelidtransitions between the open and closed positions via the hinge, the hinge comprising, a post secured to the cabinet, and.an L-shaped bracket secured to the lid and configured to rotatably receive the post such.that the L-shaped bracket and lid are rotatable'about the post to transition the lid between the open and closepositions, wherein (i) the L-shaped bracket includes first and second legs, (ii) the first lea is disposed within the C-channel, (iii) the second lea is disposed along a back edge of the lid, (iv) the second lea rotatablyreceives" the post, (v) the second leg defines a notch, (vi) the post is disposed within the notch, (vii) a first internal surface of the L-shaped bracket partially defines the notch and defines a bushing orifice extending away from the notch, (viii) the post includes a base and a pin protruding outward from the base, (ix) the pin is disposed within the bushing orifice such that the L-shaped bracket and lid are rotatable about the post via the engagement between the pin and'bushing orifice, (x) a second internal surface of the L-shaped bracket partially defines the notch and is adjacent to the first internal surface, and (xi) the second internal snrface is configured to enaaae the base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position.

2-6. (Cancelled)35

2SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.120.067

7\. (Original) The laundry machine of claim 3, wherein (i) the first leg includes alignment protrusions extending therefrom, (ii) the flange defines alignment orifices, and (iii) the alignment protrusions are configured to engage the aligment orifices to position the L-shaped 'bracket relative to the lid.

8\. (Original) The laundry machine of claim 3,wherein (i) the first leg defines tapped orifices; (ii) the web defines through holes, and (iii) fasteners extend through the through holes and engage the tapped orifices to secure the L-shaped bracket to the lid.

9., (Original) The laundry machine of claim 1,wherein the L-shaped bracket is disposed along a bottom corner of the lid.,

10\. (Currently Amened) A laundry machine comprising:
a cabinet;
a lid secured to a top of the cabinet and configured to transition between open and closed positions; anda hinge rotatably securing the lid to the cabinet such the lid transitions between the open and closed positions via the hinge, the hinge comprising,a post protruding upward from the top of the cabinet; and an L-shaped bracket disposed along a bottom of the lid and.configured to rotatably engage the post to transition the lid between the open and closeSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.090.077
positions, wherein (i) the L-shaped bracket includes first and second lees. (ii) the first le is secured to the lid, (iii) the second lee rotatably engaes the post. (iv) the second lea defines a notch. (v) the post is disposed within the notch, (vi) an interial surface of the L- shaped bracket partially defines the notch. (vii) thepost includes a base, (viii) the internal surface is configured to engage the base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position.

11\. (Cancelled)SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.280.697

12\. (Cuirently Amened) The laundry machine 6 wherein (i) the. first leg includes alignment protrusions extending therefrom, (ii) the lid defines alignment orifices, and (iii) the alignent protrusions are configured to engage the alignent orifices to position the L-shaped bracket relative to the lid.,SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1530.783

13\. (Currently Amened) The laundry machine o,laim10, wherein (i) the first leg defines tapped orifices, (ii) the lid defines through holes, and (iii) fasteners extend through the through holes and engage the tapped orifices to secure the L-shaped bracket to the lid.

14\. (Cancelled)
15\. (Currently Amened) The laundry machine o ,clO0 wherein (i a second intemnal surface of the L-shaped bracket partially defines the notch and defines a bushing orifice extending away from the notch, (ii) the post inchides a pin protruding outward from the base,. and (iii) the pin is disposed within the bushing orifice such thiat the L- shaped bracket and lid are rotatable about the post via the the pin and bushing orifice.SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1971.397

16\. (Cancelled)

17\. (Currently Amened) A laundry machine comprising:
a cabinet defining an intamnal cavity;
a lid secured to a top of the cabinet and configured to transition between open and closed positions; and
first and second opposing hingds rotatably securing first and second lower corners of the lid to the cdibinet, respectively, such that the lid transitions between the open and closed positions via the hinges, each of the first and second hinges comprising, a post protruding upward froni.the top of the cabinet pi-oximate to an opening to the internal cavity, andani L-shaped bi-acket disposed along a bottom of the lid and configui-ed to rotatably engage the corresponding post to transition the lid between the open and closed 4

positions, wheiein (i) each L-shaped bracket inchides first and second les, (ii) each first leg is disposed within a C-channeldefined along a peripheral edge of the lid. (iii) each second leg is disposed alon a back edge of the lid. (iv) each second leg rotatably receives the corresponding post. (v) a first internal surface of each L-shaped bracket partially defines a notch configured to receive a correspond post, (vi) each a first internal surface further defines a bushing orifice extending away from the notch. (vii) each post includes a base and a pin protruding outward from the base, (viii) each pin is disposed within the corresponding bushing orifice such that each L-shaped bracket and the lid are rotatable about the posts via the engagement between each iin and bushing orifice. (ix) a second internal surface of each L-shaped bracket partially defines the notch, and (x) each second internal surface is configured to engage the coiTesponding base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position.

18-20. (Cancelled).1919

21\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 1, wherein the pin extends horizontally.

22\. (New) 'The laundry machine of claim 10, wherein the L-shaped bracket is disposed along a corner of the lid.

23\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 10, wherein the lid includes (i)an u per panel, (ii) a web extending the upper panel, and (iii) a flange extending from the web.

24.: (New) The laundry machine of claim 23, wherein the upper panel, web, an'i flange define a C-channel.

25\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 24, wherein the first leg is disposed within the C-channel.5

26\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 15, wherein the pin extends horizontally.
,27. (New) The laundry machine of claim 17,wherein the" pin extends horizontally.

28\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 17; wherein (i) the first leg includes alignment protrusions extending therefrom, (ii) the lid defines alignment orifices, and (iii). the alignment protrusions are configured to engage the aligm~lent orifices to position the L-shaped bracket relative to the lid.

29\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 17,; wherein the first leg' defines 'tapped orifices.

30\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 29, wherein the lid defines through holes.

31\. (New) The laundry machine of claim 30 further comprising fasteners extending through the through holes and engaging the tapped orifices to seciue the L-shaped bracket to the lid.6

OFFICE 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 .
EXAMINER'S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
The application has been amended as follows:
Claim 7: “The laundry machine of claim [[3]] 1…”
Claim 8: “The laundry machine of claim [[3]] 1…”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 7-10, 12-13, 15, 17, 21-31 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The closest prior art of record is Ahamad et al. (US20200199805). Ahamad et al. fails to teach/disclose all of the limitations of independent claims 1, 10 and 17, including the following limitations of claim 1: “..the second internal surface is configured to engage the base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position”, the following limitations of claim 10: “..the internal surface is configured to engage the base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position”, and the following limitations of claim 17: “..each second internal surface is configured to engage the corresponding base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position”. Further no other prior art was located that fairly suggested the claimed invention in whole or in part along with the requisite motivation for combination to anticipate or render the claimed invention obvious.
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.”

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: Remarks Response to the claim objections and the 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) rejections Claims 4, 14, and 16 have been cancelled, rendering the claim objections and 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) rejections to claims 4, 14, and 16 moot. The Applicant notes, however, the limitations regarding the second leg have been incorporated into corresponding independent claims in proper antecedent basis fcmtn. For this reason, the Applicant respectifilly requests withdrawal of the 35 U~.C. § 112(b) rejection of claim 15.Amendments to the claims and response to the 35 U.S.C. § 103 rejections The Applicant has amended independent claim 1 to include the limitations of the allowable subject matter of claim 6, independent claim 10 to include the limitations of the allowable subject matter of claim 16, and independent claim 17 to include the limitations of the allowable subject matter of claim 20. Based on the amendments to i dependent claims 1, 10, and 17, the Examiner is respectfully requested to withdraw all of the 35 US.C. § 103 rejections.Claims 2-6, 11, 14, 16, and 18-20 have been cancelled and new claims 21-31 have been added. No new matter has been added. The rejected dependent claims are patentable at least because they depend either directly or indirectly from an allowable independent claim. Favorable reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejections regarding the dependent claims anid the allowance of new claims 21-31 is respectfully requested.The Applicant has attempted to place this case in condition for allowance, The Examiner is respectfully requested to telephone Applicant's attorney if it would advance the prosecution of this case. The Exaniiner is respectfully requested to pass this case to issue.Please charge e any fees or credit any overpayments as a result of the filing of this paper to our Deposit Account No. 02-3978.Respectfully submitted, IFTKHAR AHTAMADBy: /James A, Bertino/ James A. Bertino Reg. No. 72,354 Aitorey/Agent for Applicant Date: May 06, 2025 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.150 W. Second St., Suite 400N Royal Oak. MI 48067-3846 Phone: 248-358-4400 Fax: 248-358-3351 8


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20200199805: Claims:
1. A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a midline; a chamber disposed within the cabinet, and configured to hold an article of clothing for washing or drying; an opening into the chamber; a lid selectively movable to, from, and between a closed position that prevents access to the opening, and an open position that allows access to the opening, the lid having a C-shaped lip having an edge that extends inward when the lid is in the closed position creating a space between a top wall of the lid and the edge of the lip, and fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip; a hinge including:
a first end extending laterally into a hinge receiver of the cabinet in a direction towards the midline of the cabinet;
a connecter portion having fastener receivers, the connector portion extending at least approximately orthogonally to the first end; and
a curved portion between the first end and the connector portion, the curved portion extending laterally further away from the midline than the connector portion; and
 a hinge bracket coupling the hinge to the lid, the hinge bracket including:
an elongated slot receiving the connector portion of the hinge;
first fastener receivers extending from the elongated slot laterally inward toward the midline and configured to cooperate with the fastener receivers of the hinge to receive fasteners that fasten the hinge to the hinge bracket;
second fastener receivers on an opposite side of the hinge bracket as the first fastener receivers that extend laterally inward toward the midline and configured to cooperate with the fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip of the lid to receive fasteners fastening the lid to the hinge bracket; and
an indented portion formed laterally away from the elongated slot and facing the curved portion of the hinge.
2. The laundry appliance of claim 1,
wherein, the first fastener receivers and the second fastener receivers of the hinge bracket are parallel but not collinear.
3. The laundry appliance of claim 1,
the hinge bracket further including a bottom side that faces downward when the lid is in the closed position and an opening into the elongated slot that is disposed at the bottom side.
4. The laundry appliance of claim 1,
wherein, the opposite side of the hinge bracket is nested into the C-shaped lip of the lid.
5. The laundry appliance of claim 1,
the cabinet having a top portion; and the lid having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a front side that are disposed above the top portion of the cabinet when the lid is in the closed position.
6. The laundry appliance of claim 1,
wherein, the top wall, the C-shaped lip, and the edge of the lip of the lid are adjacent to the top side, the opposite side, and the bottom side of the hinge bracket respectively.
7. The laundry appliance of claim 1,
wherein, the curved portion of the hinge projects laterally outward from the perspective of the midline toward the C-shaped lip of the lid.
8. A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a midline; a chamber disposed within the cabinet, and configured to hold an article of clothing for washing or drying; an opening into the chamber; a lid selectively movable to, from, and between a closed position that prevents access to the opening, and an open position that allows access to the opening, the lid having a C-shaped lip having an edge that extends inward when the lid is in the closed position creating a space between a top wall of the lid and the edge of the lip, and fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip; a hinge including:
a first end extending laterally into a hinge receiver of the cabinet in a direction towards the midline of the cabinet;
a connecter portion having fastener receivers, the connector portion extending at least approximately orthogonally to the first end; and
a curved portion between the first end and the connector portion; and
 a hinge bracket coupling the hinge to the lid, the hinge bracket including:
an elongated slot receiving the connector portion of the hinge, the elongated slot having a first surface opposing a second surface, the connector portion of the hinge disposed between the first surface and the second surface;
at least a portion of the hinge bracket is disposed in the space of the lid, with a bottom side that faces the edge of the C-shaped lip and a top side that faces the top wall of the lid; and
fastener receivers that cooperate with the fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip to receive fasteners to fasten the lid and the hinge bracket together.
9. The laundry appliance of claim 8,
the hinge bracket further including snap-fit features extending outward from the bottom side; and the lid further including snap-fit receivers through the C-shaped lip receiving the snap-fit features of the hinge bracket.
10. The laundry appliance of claim 8,
the cabinet having a top portion; and the lid having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a front side that are disposed above the top portion of the cabinet when the lid is in the closed position.
11. The laundry appliance of claim 8,
the hinge bracket including a first side that faces toward the midline, and a second side that faces the C-shaped lip; the fastener receivers of the hinge bracket extend from the second side, through the first surface of the elongated slot, and through the second surface of the elongated slot, so that the fasteners extend through the fastener receivers of the lid, through the second side, the first surface, the fastener receivers of the hinge, and through the second surface, to fasten the lid, the hinge bracket, and the hinge together.
12. The laundry appliance of claim 8,
the hinge bracket including a first side that faces toward the midline, and a second side that faces the C-shaped lip; the fastener receivers of the lid are disposed at a portion of the C-shaped lip that is parallel to the top wall of the lid; the fastener receivers of the hinge bracket extend from the first side, through the second surface of the elongated slot, and through the first surface of the elongated slot, so that the fasteners extend through the fastener receivers of the hinge bracket at the first side, through the second surface of the elongated slot, through the fastener receivers of the hinge, and through the first surface of the elongated slot, to fasten the hinge bracket and the hinge together; and the hinge bracket further comprising second fastener receivers open at the bottom side of the hinge bracket and extending toward the top side of the hinge bracket orthogonal to the fastener receivers of the hinge bracket, so that fasteners extend through the fastener receivers of the lid and through the second fastener receivers open at the bottom side of the hinge bracket, to fasten the hinge bracket and the lid together.
13. The laundry appliance of claim 8 further comprising:
a second hinge including:
a first end extending laterally into a hinge receiver of the cabinet in a direction towards the midline of the cabinet;
a connecter portion having fastener receivers, the connector portion extending at least approximately orthogonally relative to the first end; and
a curved portion between the first end and the connector portion;

the lid having a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the C-shaped lip is disposed at each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side, fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip at the first lateral side of the lid, and fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip at the second lateral side of the lid;
the hinge bracket couples both the hinge and the second hinge to the lid, the hinge bracket including a length that extends essentially from the first lateral side of the lid to the second lateral side of the lid;
at least a portion of the hinge bracket is disposed in the space of the lid at the first lateral side and in the space of the lid at the second lateral side, with a bottom side that faces the edge of the C-shaped lip at both the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the lid, a top side that faces the top wall of the lid, a first side that faces the C-shaped lip at the first lateral side and a second side that faces the C-shaped lip at the second lateral side;
the hinge bracket further comprises a first elongated slot receiving the connector portion of the hinge, and a second elongated slot receiving the connector portion of the second hinge, both the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot each having a first surface opposing a second surface, the connector portion of the hinge disposed between the first surface and the second surface of the first elongated slot, and the connector portion of the second hinge disposed between the first surface and the second surface of the second elongated slot;
the hinge bracket further comprises fastener receivers at the first side that cooperate with the fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip at the first lateral side of the lid and fastener receivers through the connector portion of the hinge to receive fasteners, the fastener receivers at the first side of the hinge bracket extending through the first side, through the first surface of the first elongated slot, and through the second surface of the first elongated slot, so that the fasteners extend through the fastener receivers of the C-shaped lip at the first lateral side of the lid, through the first side of the hinge bracket, the first surface of the first elongated slot, the fastener receivers of the hinge, and through the second surface of the first elongated slot to fasten the lid, the hinge bracket, and the hinge together; and
the hinge bracket further comprises fastener receivers at the second side that cooperate with the fastener receivers through the C-shaped lip at the second lateral side of the lid and fastener receivers through the connector portion of the second hinge to receive fasteners, the fastener receivers at the second side of the hinge bracket extending through the second side, through the first surface of the second elongated slot, and through the second surface of the second elongated slot, so that the fasteners extend through the fastener receivers of the C-shaped lip at the second lateral side of the lid, through the second side of the hinge bracket, the first surface of the second elongated slot, the fastener receivers of the second hinge, and through the second surface of the second elongated slot to fasten the lid, the hinge bracket, and the second hinge together.
14. The laundry appliance of claim 11,
the hinge bracket further including:
a first indentation at least partially surrounding a hinge receiver receiving the hinge when the lid is in the closed position; and
a second indentation at least partially surrounding a hinge receiver receiving the second hinge when the lid is in the closed position.
15. The laundry appliance of claim 11,
the hinge bracket further including an elongated flat surface at the bottom side that is coplanar with the top wall of the lid and facing downward when the lid is in the closed position, the elongated flat surface extending lengthwise from approximately the first elongated slot to the second elongated slot.
16. The laundry appliance of claim 15,
the hinge bracket further including either consumer instructions or consumer warnings or both on the elongated flat surface.
17. The laundry appliance of claim 11,
the cabinet having a top portion; and the lid having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a front side that are disposed above the top portion of the cabinet when the lid is in the closed position.
18. A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a midline; a chamber disposed within the cabinet, and configured to hold an article of clothing for washing or drying; an opening into the chamber; a lid selectively movable to, from, and between a closed position that prevents access to the opening, and an open position that allows access to the opening; a hinge receiver coupled to the cabinet, the hinge receiver including an inner chamber with an inner surface; a hinge including:
a cam at a first end that is disposed in the inner chamber of the hinge receiver; and
a connecter portion operably connected to the lid;
wherein, when the lid is in the closed position, the cam is not abutting the inner surface of the hinge receiver; and
wherein, when the lid is in the open position, the cam abuts the inner surface of the hinge receiver and the inner surface prevents the cam and the lid from rotating past the open position.
19. The laundry appliance of claim 18,
the hinge receiver further including a first side wall, a second side wall opposing the first side wall, and a forward wall that transitions into a top wall via an intermediary curved portion; wherein, the first side wall, the second side wall, and the forward wall that transitions into the top wall define at least part of the inner chamber; and wherein, the forward wall that transitions into the top wall provides the inner surface abutting the cam of the hinge when the lid is in the open position.
20. The laundry appliance of claim 18,
the hinge receiver further including a first curved surface and a second curved surface that is parallel to the first curved surface upon which the hinge rotates when the lid transitions from the closed position to the open position; wherein, the first side wall provides the first curved surface, and the second side wall provides the second curved surface.