Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-03-17)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings of claims in the application.

Listing of Claims:

2024

1\. (Currently Amended) A privacy panel for a passenger seat comprising:a main body positionable between adjacent passenger seats and having an upper end and a lower end; and
an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the main body proximate the lower end, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:
a first attachment member configured to engage a circumferential portion of an armrest of the adjacent passenger seats; and
a second attachment member coupled to the first attachment member\[\[;\]\], wherein the second attachment member is attachable to a fixed location on the adjacentpassenger seats for preventing rotation of the armrest.
2\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a concave portion along an edge extending between the upper end and the lower end.

3\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 1, further comprising at least one stability member coupled to the main body configured to contact a seatback of the adjacent passenger seats resulting in less rotation of an upper portion of the main body.

2024
4\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 3, wherein the at least one stability member comprises projections that extend outward from opposing surfaces of the main body for contacting the adjacent passenger seats.

5\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 1, wherein the second attachment member extends from the first attachment member at a first end of the second attachment member, \[\[and\]\] couples to a seat structure between the adjacent passenger seats at a second end of the second attachment member, and forms a loop around the fixed location forming a stop.

6\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 1, wherein the second attachment member extends from the attachment mechanism at a first end of the second attachment member and couples to a seat bottom of the adjacent passenger seats at \[\[the\]\] a second end of the second attachment member.

7\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 6, wherein, when a passenger is seated, a weight of the passenger prevents rotation of the armrest.

8\. (Currently Amended) A privacy panel for a passenger seat comprising:a main body positionable between adjacent passenger seats and having an upper end and a lower end; and
an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the main body proximate the lower end, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

2024 a first attachment member configured to engage a circumferential portion of an armrest of the adjacent passenger seats; anda second attachment member coupled to the first attachment member\[\[;\]\],wherein the second attachment member prevents rotation of the armrest.

9\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 8, wherein the main body comprises a concave portion along an edge extending between the upper end and the lower end.

10\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 8, further comprising at least one stability member coupled to the main body configured to contact a seatback of the adjacent passenger seats resulting in less rotation of an upper portion of the main body.

11\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 10, wherein the at least one stability member comprises projections that extend outward from opposing surfaces of the main body for contacting the adjacent passenger seats.

12\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 8, wherein the second attachment member extends from the first attachment member at a first end of the second attachment member, \[\[and\]\] couples to a seat structure between the adjacent passenger seats at a second end of the second attachment member, and forms a loop forming a stop.

13\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 8, wherein the second attachment member extends from the attachment mechanism at a first end of the second attachment member

and couples to a seat bottom of the adjacent passenger seats at \[\[the\]\] a second end of the second attachment member.

14\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 13, wherein, when a passenger is seated, a weight of the passenger prevents rotation of the armrest.

15\. (Currently Amended) A privacy panel for a passenger seat comprising:a main body positionable between adjacent passenger seats and having an upper end and a lower end;
an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the main body proximate the lower end, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:
a first attachment member configured to engage a circumferential portion of an armrest of the adjacent passenger seats; and
a second attachment member coupled to the first attachment member; and
at least one stability feature positioned on the main body and configured to contact a seatback of the adjacent passenger seats resulting in less rotation of the privacy panel in a lateral direction\[\[;\]\], wherein the second attachment member is attachable to a fixed location on the adjacent passenger seats for preventing rotation of the armrest.

16\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 15, wherein the main body comprises a concave portion along an edge extending between the upper end and the lower end.

17\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 15, wherein the second attachment member extends from the first attachment member at a first end of the second attachment member, \[\[and\]\] couples to a seat structure between the adjacent passenger seats at a second end of the second attachment member, and forms a loop around the fixed location forming a stop.

18\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 15,wherein the second attachment member extends from the attachment mechanism at a first end of the second attachment member and couples to a seat bottom of the adjacent passenger seats at \[\[the\]\] a second end of the second attachment member.

19\. (Original) The privacy panel of claim 18, wherein, when a passenger is seated, a weight of the passenger prevents rotation of the armrest.

20\. (Currently Amended) The privacy panel of claim 15, wherein the at least one stability feature comprises at least one projection, wherein the at least one projection extends from a surface of the main body.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
This office action is in response to the amendment filed 12/30/24 for application serial number 18/025,434 which was filed 3/09/23 as a national stage entry of PCT/US2020/066185.  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 .
Applicant’s argument filed 12/30/24 is not persuasive.  Applicant argues that Colletti fails to provide a first attachment member configured to engage a circumferential portion of an armrest as the base of the housing 132 is attached to rear end of the armrest 112.  This is not persuasive because the rear end is a circumferential portion of the armrest as illustrated in the marked-up figure below.
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Nonetheless, the claims are deemed allowable as Colletti, nor any of the other prior art of record, teach or adequately suggest the second attachment member coupled to the first attachment member wherein the second attachment is attachable to fixed location of the seats for preventing rotation of the armrest or where the second attachment prevents rotation of the armrest
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Note:
In US 2023/0264817 to Audelo Navarro et al.  privacy panel 126 attached to an armrest 122 between passenger seats 124 at a first attachment [0035] and to a fixed location 128 on the seats but there is no disclosure of prevention of rotation of the armrest not is readily apparent when deployed rotation would be prevented as the panel 126 is a non-rigid-material [0036].
Figure 13 of JP 10-75847 to Fujimoto et al. provides a partition 3 attached to an armrest with a first attachment 12-12 which engages a circumferential portion of an armrest 2.
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.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Anthony Guebert on 2/19/25.
The application has been amended as follows:
CANCEL CLAIMS 3 and 4.
Claims 1, 2 and 5-20 are allowed.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
I.
Introduction
The undersigned thanks Examiner Allred for review and consideration of the present Application. In response to the Office Action of September 29, 2024 ("Office Action"), the undersigned submits the present amendment and remarks ("Response").
Upon entry of the present amendment, claims 1-20 will be pending in this application. Claims 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, and 20 have been amended. No new matter is added. Based on the following remarks, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and allowance of the pending claims.
II.
Claim Rejections under 35 U.S.C.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) as allegedly 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. Accordingly, claims 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, and 20 have been amended to address the issues noted in the Office Action. III.
Claim Rejections under 35 U.S.C.
Claims 1-4, 8-11, 15-16, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as allegedly being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 10,479,506 B1 to Colletti ("Colletti"). Claims 5, 12, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Colletti in view of U.S. Patent No. 11,291,306 B1 to Bergdoll et al. ("Bergdoll"). Claims 6-7, 13-14, and 18-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Colletti in view of U.S. Patent No. 6,260,903 B 1 to von der Heyde ("von der Heyde").
Applicant respectfully traverses these rejections and submits that all the pending claims are patentable. Nevertheless, strictly in the interest of advancing prosecution, Applicant has amended the claims to further distinguish the pending claims from the references cited in the Action. Accordingly, these rejections are now moot, as the Office has not had the opportunity to assess the claims as fully set forth herein and thus has not shown relevance of the current rejections to the claims as presented herein. Moreover, for at least the reasons set forth below, Applicant submits that none of the cited references, alone or in combination with each other or any other cited reference, anticipate or render obvious the subject matter recited in the claims presented herein. Applicant accordingly requests withdrawal of the rejections and allowance of the pending claims.
Claims 1, 8, and 15 have been amended to recite, in relevant part, an attachment mechanism that comprises "a first attachment member configured to engage a circumferential portion of an armrest of the adjacent passenger seats" (emphasis added).
Colletti fails to describe a first attachment member configured to engage a circumferential portion of an armrest. Colletti teaches a first attachment member (base of the housing 132) as having a top 136, back 138, and lateral walls 134 that form a box-shaped housing, and as described and shown in FIG. 2 of Colletti, the base of the housing 132 is attached to the rear end 116 of the armrest 112. Thus, due to its described shape and attachment location, the base of the housing 132 therefore cannot be configured to engage a circumferential portion of the armrest 116.
For at least these reasons, Colletti, separately or in combination with each other or any other cited reference, fails to anticipate or render obvious the subject matter of independent claims 1, 8, and 15. Claims 1, 8, and 15 are therefore allowable. As dependent claims 5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 18, and 20 depend directly or indirectly from claims 1, 8, and 15, they are also allowable at least based upon their dependency from allowable base claims 1, 8, and 15.
CONCLUSION


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US6113183A: Claims:
A privacy shroud assembly designed for use with a chair structure having a reclining backrest, said assembly comprising: a) a base adapted to be fixedly secured to a support surface on which the chair structure is mounted, b) a shield portion movably connected to said base and selectively positionable relative thereto between a stored position and an operative position, c) said operative position defined by a substantially upward and outward disposition of said shield portion relative to said base, d) said shield portion comprising spaced apart side walls, a back portion interconnecting corresponding ends of said side walls, an open front end, and an at least partially open top, e) said open front end and said open top dimensioned and configured to allow extension therethrough of a portion of the chair structure, f) said shield portion disposed and configured to substantially surround a portion of the chair structure when said shield portion is in said operative position, and g) a track assembly mounted on said base, at least one coupling member secured to said shield portion and disposed in sliding engagement with said track assembly, said track assembly disposed to orient said shield portion between said stored position and said operative position.
a) a base adapted to be fixedly secured to a support surface on which the chair structure is mounted,
b) a shield portion movably connected to said base and selectively positionable relative thereto between a stored position and an operative position,
c) said operative position defined by a substantially upward and outward disposition of said shield portion relative to said base,
d) said shield portion comprising spaced apart side walls, a back portion interconnecting corresponding ends of said side walls, an open front end, and an at least partially open top,
e) said open front end and said open top dimensioned and configured to allow extension therethrough of a portion of the chair structure,
f) said shield portion disposed and configured to substantially surround a portion of the chair structure when said shield portion is in said operative position, and
g) a track assembly mounted on said base, at least one coupling member secured to said shield portion and disposed in sliding engagement with said track assembly, said track assembly disposed to orient said shield portion between said stored position and said operative position.
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said base includes spaced apart side panels each disposed adjacent an opposite side of said chair structure and adjacent and substantially parallel to correspondingly positioned sidewalls of said shield portion.
An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said base further includes an open front end and an open top both dimensioned and disposed to allow extension of the chair structure therethrough when the chair structure is in an upright or reclined position.
An assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said base further includes a rear end disposed in spaced relation to a rear portion of the chair structure and further configured and disposed in a continuous relation to the backrest when in a reclined position.
An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said base further includes a support structure disposed substantially adjacent said rear end and positioned in supporting engagement with the backrest when in a reclined position.
An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said base and said shield portion are relatively dimensioned and configured to substantially surround a lower portion of the chair structure when said shield portion is in said stored position.
An assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said shield portion is correspondingly configured relative to said base so as to be disposed in surrounding, relation thereto when said shield portion is in said stored position.
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said base includes spaced apart side panels each disposed adjacent an opposite side of said chair structure and adjacent and substantially parallel to correspondingly positioned sidewalls of said shield portion; said track assembly comprising two track members each disposed on an outer surface of a different one of said side panels, said shield portion comprising two coupling members each formed on an inner surface of a different one of said side walls and extending outwardly therefrom into sliding engagement with a correspondingly positioned one of said track members.
said track assembly comprising two track members each disposed on an outer surface of a different one of said side panels, said shield portion comprising two coupling members each formed on an inner surface of a different one of said side walls and extending outwardly therefrom into sliding engagement with a correspondingly positioned one of said track members.
An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said coupling members are cooperatively dimensioned and configured relative to said track members to allow travel along a length thereof as said shield portion moves between said stored position and said operative position.
An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cover structure including a supporting attachment structured to movably mount said cover structure on said shield portion, said cover structure positionable between an open position and a closed position relative to said open top of said shield portion.
An assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said closed position is defined by said cover structure being disposed in a reclined position relative to a portion of said backrest.
An assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said cover structure includes a cover portion extending between said side walls when disposed in both said open and closed positions and being movable relative thereto along said open top when moved from said open position to said closed position of said open top.
An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said cover portion is formed of a flexible material disposable in an overlapping, rolled orientation when in slid open position.
An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said cover portion is formed of a flexible material sheet retractable from said closed position to said open position.
An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said cover portion is formed from a substantially flexible, light, impermeable material structured to shield ambient light from the chair structure when in a reclined position.
Ref US20210380256A1: Claims:
A screen carrier arrangement comprising: a first screen carrier having a carrier body extending vertically from a vehicle floor; and a second screen carrier having a carrier body arranged at a distance and substantially parallel to the first screen carrier, wherein at least the one of the first and second screen carriers comprises a screen element configured to move between a stowed position within the carrier body and an extended position extending from the carrier body, and the screen element being concealed within the carrier body in the stowed position and extending from one of the first or second screen carriers to and detachably attached to the carrier body of the other one of the first or second screen carriers in an extended position.
a first screen carrier having a carrier body extending vertically from a vehicle floor; and
a second screen carrier having a carrier body arranged at a distance and substantially parallel to the first screen carrier, wherein at least the one of the first and second screen carriers comprises a screen element configured to move between a stowed position within the carrier body and an extended position extending from the carrier body, and the screen element being concealed within the carrier body in the stowed position and extending from one of the first or second screen carriers to and detachably attached to the carrier body of the other one of the first or second screen carriers in an extended position.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of additional screen carriers, wherein the first and second screen carriers, and the additional screen carriers are arranged in rows in parallel relationship one behind the other, and extendable in a same direction from a corresponding carrier body to another carrier body.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the carrier body of the first and second screen carriers comprises an opening side corresponding to an extension direction of the screen element and an attachment side to which a screen element of another screen carrier is attachable.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the attachment side comprises at least one magnetic attachment device.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the carrier body of the first and second screen carriers is substantially tube-shaped or box-shaped.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a height of the carrier body of each of the first and second screen carriers is greater than a length and width of each carrier body of the first and second screen carriers.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the screen element is a flexible screen or a roller blind element.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein in the stowed position, the screen element is rolled up within the carrier body.
The screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the screen element comprises one end coupled to the carrier body and a free end having at least a gripping handle and at least one attachment device.
A passenger seat arrangement for a vehicle cabin, the passenger seat arrangement comprising: at least one seat; a first screen carrier having a carrier body arranged adjacent to the at least one seat and extending vertically from a vehicle floor; and a second screen carrier having a carrier body arranged in front of the first screen carrier, wherein at least the one of the first and second screen carriers comprises a screen element configured to move between a stowed position within the carrier body and an extended position extending from the carrier body, and the screen element being concealed within the carrier body in the stowed position and extending from one of the first or second screen carriers to and detachably attached to the carrier body of the other one of the first or second screen carriers in an extended position.
at least one seat;
a first screen carrier having a carrier body arranged adjacent to the at least one seat and extending vertically from a vehicle floor; and
a second screen carrier having a carrier body arranged in front of the first screen carrier, wherein at least the one of the first and second screen carriers comprises a screen element configured to move between a stowed position within the carrier body and an extended position extending from the carrier body, and the screen element being concealed within the carrier body in the stowed position and extending from one of the first or second screen carriers to and detachably attached to the carrier body of the other one of the first or second screen carriers in an extended position.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising: a front row with at least one pair of seats; a mid-row with at least one pair of seats; and a rear row with at least one pair of seats, wherein one screen carrier is arranged between each pair of seats, and each screen carrier of the front row and the mid-row comprises a screen element that extendable in a same direction from the corresponding carrier body to the carrier body of another screen carrier arranged in the rear row.
a front row with at least one pair of seats;
a mid-row with at least one pair of seats; and
a rear row with at least one pair of seats, wherein one screen carrier is arranged between each pair of seats, and each screen carrier of the front row and the mid-row comprises a screen element that extendable in a same direction from the corresponding carrier body to the carrier body of another screen carrier arranged in the rear row.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein each carrier body is mounted to an armrest structure of the seat or between pairs of seats.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein each carrier body comprises an opening side corresponding to an extension direction of the screen element and an attachment side to which a screen element of another screen carrier is attachable.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the attachment side comprises at least one magnetic attachment device.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the carrier body is one of substantially tube-shaped or substantially box-shaped.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein a height of each carrier body is greater than a length and width of each carrier body.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the screen elements are one of a flexible screen or a roller blind element.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein each carrier body comprises a pre-loaded or drivable winding device coupled to one end of the screen element.
The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the screen elements are configured with one end coupled to the corresponding carrier body and a free end having at least a gripping handle and at least one attachment device.
A method comprising installing the screen carrier arrangement of claim 1 in an aircraft.
Ref US20210371110A1: Claims:
An aircraft seat blocker comprising: a fabric body; a seat back attachment element disposed on the fabric body; and a seat cushion attachment element disposed on the fabric body, wherein the seat back attachment element and seat cushion attachment element are configured to retain the fabric body in an upright orientation in a middle region of an aircraft seat.
a seat back attachment element disposed on the fabric body; and
a seat cushion attachment element disposed on the fabric body,
wherein the seat back attachment element and seat cushion attachment element are configured to retain the fabric body in an upright orientation in a middle region of an aircraft seat.
The aircraft seat blocker of claim 1 , further comprising at least one spring element disposed along a peripheral portion of the fabric body.
The aircraft seat blocker of claim 1 , wherein the seat cushion attachment element comprises a strap configured to surround a seat cushion.
The aircraft seat blocker of claim 1 , wherein the seat cushion attachment comprises one or more upright retention bodies configured to maintain the fabric body in an upright orientation with respect to a seat cushion.
The aircraft seat blocker of claim 1 , wherein the seat back attachment element comprises a strap configured to surround a seat back.
The aircraft seat blocker of claim 5 , wherein the seat back attachment element further comprises a midline strap configured to go over the seat back and engage the strap at a posterior portion of the seat back.
The aircraft seat blocker of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft seat blocker is configured to stack with other aircraft seat blockers for storage.
An aircraft seat divider comprising: a fabric body; and a seat cushion attachment element disposed on the fabric body, wherein the seat back attachment element and seat cushion attachment element are configured to retain the fabric body between neighboring aircraft seats.
a fabric body; and
wherein the seat back attachment element and seat cushion attachment element are configured to retain the fabric body between neighboring aircraft seats.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 8 , further comprising at least one spring element disposed along a peripheral portion of the fabric body.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 9 , wherein the spring element is configured to allow the aircraft seat divider to fold for storage.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 8 , wherein the seat cushion attachment element comprises a strap configured to surround two neighboring seat cushions.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 8 , further comprising an inter-seat friction element configured to be placed between neighboring seats and be held in place via friction.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 8 , wherein the seat back attachment element comprises a strap configured to surround two neighboring seat backs.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 8 , further comprising one or more armrest engaging elements configured for attachment to armrests of the neighboring seats.
The aircraft seat divider of claim 8 , further comprising a seat back attachment element configured to retain the fabric body in an upright orientation between neighboring aircraft seats.
Ref US20210237880A1: Claims:
A privacy panel assembly for a passenger seat comprising: a vertically extending panel adjacent to a lateral side of the passenger seat, the vertically extending panel comprising a forward edge and an aft edge; and at least one sliding mechanism attached to an interior surface of the vertically extending panel, wherein: the vertically extending panel comprises a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration; in the stowed configuration, the aft edge of the vertically extending panel is positioned aft of an aft edge of a seatback of the passenger seat when the passenger seat is viewed from the lateral side and the passenger seat is in an upright configuration; and in the deployed configuration, the aft edge of the vertically extending panel is positioned forward of at least a portion of a forward edge of the seatback of the passenger seat when the passenger seat is viewed from the lateral side and the passenger seat is in the upright configuration.
a vertically extending panel adjacent to a lateral side of the passenger seat, the vertically extending panel comprising a forward edge and an aft edge; and
at least one sliding mechanism attached to an interior surface of the vertically extending panel, wherein:
the vertically extending panel comprises a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration;
in the stowed configuration, the aft edge of the vertically extending panel is positioned aft of an aft edge of a seatback of the passenger seat when the passenger seat is viewed from the lateral side and the passenger seat is in an upright configuration; and
in the deployed configuration, the aft edge of the vertically extending panel is positioned forward of at least a portion of a forward edge of the seatback of the passenger seat when the passenger seat is viewed from the lateral side and the passenger seat is in the upright configuration.
The privacy panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein: in the stowed configuration, the forward edge of the vertically extending panel is disposed closer to an aft end of an armrest of the passenger seat as compared to a forward end of the armrest of the passenger seat; and in the deployed configuration, the forward edge of the vertically extending panel is disposed closer to the forward end of the armrest as compared to the aft end of the armrest of the passenger seat.
in the stowed configuration, the forward edge of the vertically extending panel is disposed closer to an aft end of an armrest of the passenger seat as compared to a forward end of the armrest of the passenger seat; and
in the deployed configuration, the forward edge of the vertically extending panel is disposed closer to the forward end of the armrest as compared to the aft end of the armrest of the passenger seat.
The privacy panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding mechanism comprises two slides including an upper slide and a lower slide.
The privacy panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein: an exterior surface of the vertically extending panel comprises at least one cover member that corresponds to a location of the at least one sliding mechanism; and the at least one cover member protrudes from the exterior surface of the vertically extending panel.
an exterior su
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