Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-03-19)

CLAIMS:
LISTING OF CLAIMS

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.121, a claim listing including the status and text of all claims as currently presented appears below.

1\. (Currently Amended) A control panel for an appliance, the control panel defining a display direction and comprising:
a printed circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface along the display direction, and a through hole passing through the printed circuit board from the first surface to the second surface;
a console cover mounted to the first surface of the printed circuit board;
a standoff feature positioned between the console cover and the printed circuit board to create a localized gap between the console cover and the printed circuit board, wherein the standoff feature defines a contact surface that is angled in a non-parallel direction relative to a cover direction, the cover direction being perpendicular to the display direction;
a retention feature that engages the second surface to retain the printed circuit board against the console cover; and
an electronic component mounted to the printed circuit board and having an electrical contact that extends through the through hole, wherein a distal end of the electrical contact forms a connection joint that is positioned within the localized gap between the printed circuit board and the console cover.
2\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the retention feature is defined proximate to the standoff feature and on an opposite side of the standoff feature relative to the localized gap.
3\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the standoff feature is defined by and protrudes from the console cover toward the printed circuit board and contacts the first surface to create the localized gap between the console cover and the printed circuit board.

4\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the standoff feature is defined by and protrudes from the printed circuit board toward the console cover to create the localized gap between the console cover and the printed circuit board.
5\. (Canceled)
6\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the retention feature is a flexible clip that engages an edge of the printed circuit board.
7\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board defines a retention aperture, and wherein the retention feature passes through the retention aperture to engage the second surface of the printed circuit board.
8\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the standoff feature is one of a plurality of standoff features and the retention feature is one of a plurality of retention features.
9\. (Original) The control panel of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of retention features are defined outside of the plurality of standoff features relative to the localized gap.

10\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the standoff feature defines a standoff height measured along the display direction, the standoff height being between about 0.01 inches and 0.25 inches.

11\. (Original) The control panel of claim 10, wherein the standoff height is about 0.03 inches.

12\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the retention feature is defined by the console cover and protrudes from the console cover toward the printed circuit board to contact the second surface to retain the printed circuit board.

13\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a console bracket, wherein the printed circuit board and the console cover are mounted to the console bracket, and wherein the console bracket defines the retention feature that contacts the second surface to retain the printed circuit board.

14\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the console cover comprises:
a plurality of user input zones; and
a plurality of capacitive sensors mounted to the printed circuit board outside of the localized gap, the capacitive sensors being operable to detect user inputs via contact with the console cover in the plurality of user input zones.

15\. (Original) The control panel of claim 1, wherein the control panel is mounted on a front panel or a top edge of a door of a dishwasher appliance.

16\. (Currently Amended) A dishwasher appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the dishwasher appliance comprising:
a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber;
a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the wash chamber;
and a control panel mounted on the door and defining a display direction, the control panel comprising:a printed circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface along the display direction, and a through hole passing through the printed circuit board from the first surface to the second surface;
a console cover mounted to the first surface of the printed circuit board;
a standoff feature positioned between the console cover and the printed circuit board to create a localized gap between the console cover and the printed circuit boards wherein the standoff feature defines a contact surface that is angled in anon-parallel direction relative to a cover direction, the cover direction being perpendicular to the display direction;
a retention feature that engages the second surface to retain the printed circuit board against the console cover; and

an electronic component mounted to the printed circuit board and having an electrical contact that extends through the through hole, wherein a distal end of the electrical contact forms a connection joint that is positioned within the localized gap between the printed circuit board and the console cover.

17\. (Original) The dishwasher appliance of claim 16, wherein the retention feature is defined proximate to the standoff feature and on an opposite side of the standoff feature relative to the localized gap.

18\. (Original) The dishwasher appliance of claim 16, wherein the standoff feature is defined by and protrudes from the console cover toward the printed circuit board and contacts the first surface to create the localized gap between the console cover and the printed circuit board.

19\. (Canceled)

20\. (Currently Amended) The dishwasher appliance of claim 16,wherein the retention feature is defined by the console cover and protrudes from the console cover toward the printed circuit board to contact the second surface to retain the printed circuit board.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
The communication dated 1/17/2025 has been entered and fully considered.
Claims 1-4, 6-18 and 20 are currently pending.  Claims 1, 16, and 20 are currently amended.
Claims 5 and 19 are canceled.
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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see page 6, filed 1/17/2025, with respect to claim 20 have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The 35 U.S.C. § 1 of claim 20 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-7, filed 1/17/2025, with respect to 1-2, 4-5, 8 and 13 have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The 35 U.S.C. §102 rejection of claims 1-2, 4-5, 8 and 13 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-7, filed 1/17/2025, with respect to claims 3, 6-7, 9-12,14-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The 35 U.S.C. §103 rejection of claims 3, 6-7, 9-12,14-20  has been withdrawn.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 6-18 and 20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
As for claim 1, Prinz et al. U.S. Publication 2006/0114128, the closest prior art, differs from the instant claim in failing to teach a standoff feature that defines a contact surface that is angled in a non-parallel direction relative to a cover direction.  Furthermore, Examiner agrees that it would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the standoff feature as taught by Prinz as claimed.
Claims 2-4, 6-15 are allowed as they are dependent upon allowed claim 1.
As for claim 16, Prinz et al. U.S. Publication 2006/0114128, the closest prior art, differs from the instant claim in failing to teach a standoff feature that defines a contact surface that is angled in a non-parallel direction relative to a cover direction.  Furthermore, Examiner agrees that it would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the standoff feature as taught by Prinz as claimed.
Claims 17-18, and 20 are allowed as they are dependent upon allowed claim 16.
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.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claims 1-20 are pending in the present application including independent claims 1 and 16. Claims 1, 16, and 20 are currently amended. Claim 5 and 19 are hereby canceled without prejudice. Applicants respectfully request reconsideration and allowance in view of the amendments to the claims and the following remarks.
Statement of the Interview
Applicants wish to thank the Examiner for the courtesies extended during the telephone interview on January 6, 2025 (the "Examiner Interview"). During the interview the Examiner and the Applicant's representative discussed the claimed subject matter and the cited art as well as possible recommendations to further clarify and distinguish the claims from the cited art.
Claim Re
j
ections - 35 U.S.C.
&
Claims 20 is 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Applicant has amended the claims in a manner that is believed to overcome these rejections. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejections under § 112(b) be withdrawn.
Claim Re
j
ections - 35 U.S.C.
"
102 and 103
Claims 1-2, 4-5, 8, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being anticipated by
Prinz
et al. (US 2006/0114128). Claims 3, 6, and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Prinz.
Claims 7 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Prinz
in view of
Kim
et al. (US 2010/0177494). Claims 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Prinz
in view of
Park
et al. (US 2014/0298865). Claims 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Prinz
in view of
Park
and
M
in
et al. (US 2017/0188787). Claims 16-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Prinz
in view of
M
in
.
Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Prinz
in view of
M
in
and
Kim.
These rejections are
respectfully traversed. In this regard, Applicant respectfully submits that these claims are not obvious for at least the reason that the proffered combinations do not yield the claimed invention.
Independent claim 1 has been amended above to recite that the standoff feature defines a contact surface that is angled in a non-parallel direction relative to a cover direction, the cover direction being perpendicular to the display direction. The new limitations include no new matter and are fully supported by the specification and the drawings of the present application.
See, e.
g.,
[0067] and FIG. 8. Notably, these limitations were also previously recited at least in part independent claim 5 (now canceled). As explained in the Examiner Interview,
Prinz
and the remaining cited references fail to teach such a construction. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully submits that the cited references fail to teach, disclose, or suggest such limitations and that this claim is currently in condition for allowance.
In view of the above, the Examiner is respectfully requested to reconsider the rejection of independent claim 1. Applicant respectfully submits that the cited references fail to teach all limitations of independent claim 1 and that this claim patentably defines over the cited references. The Office Action rejected independent claim 16 on the same grounds and based upon the same authority as claim 1. Notably, independent claim 16 has been amended to include similar limitations as claim 1. Thus, for the same reasons as discussed with respect to claim 1, Applicant respectfully submits that claim 16 is patentable over the cited references. Consequently, it is respectfully submitted that independent claims 1 and 16 are in condition for allowance.
Applicant also respectfully submits that for at least the reasons indicated above relating to independent claims 1 and 16, the corresponding dependent claims are also in condition for allowance. However, Applicant also notes that the patentability of corresponding dependent claims certainly does not hinge on the patentability of the independent claims. In particular, it is believed that some or all of these other claims may possess features that are independently patentable, regardless of the patentability of the independent claims. In summary, it is
respectfully submitted that the present application is in complete condition for allowance and favorable action is therefore respectfully requested.
Conclusion


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20060114128: Claims:
An operating device for a domestic electrical appliance, the operating device comprising: a control device; a plurality of electrical elements containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of operating elements, switching elements and display elements coupled to said control device; a plurality of further elements containing at least one further element selected from the group consisting of mechanical actuating elements and optical display elements which can be operated or observed respectively by a user and respectively associated with said electrical elements; and a carrier for holding said plurality of further elements, said plurality of further elements and said carrier forming an integral functional module, said carrier formed from at least one hard component material and said plurality of further elements formed from at least one soft component material being softer than said hard component material. 2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuating elements of said integral functional module include pushbutton switches. 3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said optical display elements of said integral functional module include at least one element selected from the group consisting of operating displays, function displays, seven-segment displays and symbol displays. 4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuating elements of said integral functional module each have decorative caps on sides facing towards the user. 5. The operating device according to claim 4, wherein said decorative caps of said mechanical actuating elements of said integral functional module are made from said hard component material and are integral with said integral functional module. 6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a side facing towards the user, said side having a decorative panel with corresponding openings formed therein for receiving said mechanical actuating elements and/or said optical display elements. 7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a decorative design on a side facing toward the user. 8. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a seal for sealing off electronic components of the operating device. 9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein said seal of said integral functional module is formed of said soft component material and is integral with said integral functional module. 10. The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a casing, said plurality of electrical elements being disposed in said casing and said integral functional module is connected to said casing. 11. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a damping element for damping between said integral functional module and an adjacent component of the operating device. 12. The operating device according to claim 11, wherein said damping element is formed of said soft component material and is integral with said integral functional module. 13. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said carrier and said plurality of further elements are formed by integral injection molding. 14. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hard component material is a casing plastic material selected from the group consisting of ABS, PA, PA66, PBT, and PCABS. 15. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one soft component material is a thermoplastic or a thermosetting elastomer.
An operating device for a domestic electrical appliance, the operating device comprising: a control device; a plurality of electrical elements containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of operating elements, switching elements and display elements coupled to said control device; a plurality of further elements containing at least one further element selected from the group consisting of mechanical actuating elements and optical display elements which can be operated or observed respectively by a user and respectively associated with said electrical elements; and a carrier for holding said plurality of further elements, said plurality of further elements and said carrier forming an integral functional module, said carrier formed from at least one hard component material and said plurality of further elements formed from at least one soft component material being softer than said hard component material.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuating elements of said integral functional module include pushbutton switches.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said optical display elements of said integral functional module include at least one element selected from the group consisting of operating displays, function displays, seven-segment displays and symbol displays.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuating elements of said integral functional module each have decorative caps on sides facing towards the user.
The operating device according to claim 4, wherein said decorative caps of said mechanical actuating elements of said integral functional module are made from said hard component material and are integral with said integral functional module.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a side facing towards the user, said side having a decorative panel with corresponding openings formed therein for receiving said mechanical actuating elements and/or said optical display elements.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a decorative design on a side facing toward the user.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a seal for sealing off electronic components of the operating device.
The operating device according to claim 8, wherein said seal of said integral functional module is formed of said soft component material and is integral with said integral functional module.
The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a casing, said plurality of electrical elements being disposed in said casing and said integral functional module is connected to said casing.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said integral functional module has a damping element for damping between said integral functional module and an adjacent component of the operating device.
The operating device according to claim 11, wherein said damping element is formed of said soft component material and is integral with said integral functional module.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said carrier and said plurality of further elements are formed by integral injection molding.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hard component material is a casing plastic material selected from the group consisting of ABS, PA, PA66, PBT, and PCABS.
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one soft component material is a thermoplastic or a thermosetting elastomer.