Office Action 1: Notice of Allowance (2025-07-01)

CLAIMS:
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1\. A flow path switching unit of a dryer configured to dry a drying material, the flow path switching unit comprising:
a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface;
and a flow path guide dividing an internal space of the body portion to selectively form one of a first flow path of air for drying the drying material and a second flow path of air for dehumidifying outside air, according to an arrangement position of the body portion,wherein, in a state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at a first position, the flow path switching unit provides the first flow path to guide air from a drum of the dryer toward a heat exchanger of the dryer,
wherein, in a state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at a second position, the flow path switching unit provides the second flow path to guide the outside air introduced from an outside of the dryer toward the heat exchanger and discharge the outside air which has been dehumidified after passing through the heat exchanger and the drum to the outside of the dryer, and
wherein, in the first position, the body portion is arranged so that the first surface is a top surface of the body portion and the second surface is a bottom surface of the body portion, and in the second position, the body portion is arranged so that the first surface is the bottom surface of the body portion and the second surface is the top surface of the body portion.

2\. The flow path switching unit of claim 1, wherein the flow path guide extends from the first side surface to the second side surface,
wherein the flow path guide comprises:a first inlet at the first side surface and configured to, in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the first position, receive the air from the drum; and
an outlet at a back surface of the body portion and configured to, in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the first position, output the air toward the heat exchanger, and
wherein the first flow path is configured to have the air to flow from the first inlet to the outlet.

3\. The flow path switching unit of claim 1, wherein the flow path guide extends from the first side surface to the second side surface,
wherein the flow path guide comprises:a second inlet at the second side surface and configured to, in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the second position, receive the air from the drum;
a separating wall protruding forward from the flow path guide and dividing the body portion into a first region through which the outside air is introduced in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the second position and a second region through which the outside air is discharged in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the second position; and

an opening configured to be opened and closed in the flow path guide at the first region, and
wherein the second flow path is configured such that the outside air introduced through the opening is received through the second inlet after passing through the drum, and then is discharged through the second region.

4\. The flow path switching unit of claim 1, further comprising an opening and closing unit coupled to the body portion and configured to open and close a front of the body portion.

5\. The flow path switching unit of claim 3, further comprising:
an opening and closing unit configured to open and close a front of the body portion; and
an airtight member coupled to the opening and closing unit and configured to seal the opening,
wherein the airtight member is further configured to open the opening when the opening and closing unit opens the front.

6\. The flow path switching unit of claim 5, wherein the airtight member has a size corresponding to the opening, and
wherein the flow path switching unit further comprises a sealing member coupled to a perimeter of the airtight member.

7\. The flow path switching unit of claim 3, further comprising a guide grill provided in the second region and configured to guide the air to an outside of the body portion.

8\. The flow path switching unit of claim 3, further comprising a guide grill provided in the second region and configured to guide the air to an outside of the body portion, and
wherein the guide grill is further configured to introduce the air in a direction away from the separating wall.

9\. The flow path switching unit of claim 2, further comprising an air dispersion rib protruding from a surface of the flow path guide toward the outlet.

10\. The flow path switching unit of claim 4, wherein the opening and closing unit is configured to, in the state where the body portion is at the second position, be opened by pivoting of a hinge of the body portion.

11\. The flow path switching unit of claim 3, wherein a distance between the first side surface and the second side surface of the body portion is greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface, and
wherein the separating wall is provided a central position between the first side surface and the second side surface.

12\. The flow path switching unit of claim 3, wherein an area of the outlet is greater than an area of the first inlet,
wherein the area of the outlet is greater than an area of the opening, and
wherein an area of the second region is greater than an area of the second inlet.

13\. The flow path switching unit of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a filter member configured to filter out a foreign substance.

14\. The flow path switching unit of claim 1, further comprising a handle configured to rotate the body portion from the first position to the second position,
wherein the handle is at a front lower side of the body portion in the state where the body portion is at the first position.

15\. A dryer comprising the flow path switching unit according to claim 1.

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 .
Terminal Disclaimer
The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/20/2025 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US Patent App. No. 17/563666, which corresponds to US Patent No. 12,338,570 has been reviewed and is accepted.  The terminal disclaimer has been recorded.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the closest prior art of record fails to teach or disclose each of the claim features of independent claim 1, from which all other claims depend from. One of the closest prior art reference, Cha et al. herein referred to as “Cha” (USPPN 2023/0265601, previously cited on IDS filed 12/15/2023) discloses a dryer that may be switched from a dry mode to ta dehumidification mode (Cha at para 56, Figs. 2-3), however, this fails to teach or disclose the combination of features of the recited claim 1 in which “the flow path switching unit comprising: a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface; and a flow path guide dividing an internal space of the body portion to selectively form one of a first flow path of air for drying the drying material and a second flow path of air for dehumidifying outside air, according to an arrangement position of the body portion, wherein, in a state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at a first position, the flow path switching unit provides the first flow path to guide air from a drum of the dryer toward a heat exchanger of the dryer, wherein, in a state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at a second position, the flow path switching unit provides the second flow path to guide the outside air introduced from an outside of the dryer toward the heat exchanger and discharge the outside air which has been dehumidified after passing through the heat exchanger and the drum to the outside of the dryer, and wherein, in the first position, the body portion is arranged so that the first surface is a top surface of the body portion and the second surface is a bottom surface of the body portion, and in the second position, the body portion is arranged so that the first surface is the bottom surface of the body portion and the second surface is the top surface of the body portion” with emphasis on the space being divided as claimed and arranged as claimed. For these reasons, the claims are allowed.
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



CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US12338570: Claims:
1. A dryer, comprising:
a cabinet;
a drum disposed inside the cabinet;
a first opening disposed on a front side of the cabinet through which an object to be dried is to be placed in the drum;
a heat exchanger disposed inside the cabinet to exchange heat with air;
a second opening disposed on the front side of the cabinet; and
a dehumidification unit, accessible through the second opening, the dehumidification unit including:
an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit to allow air to be introduced through the second opening into the inlet port,
a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit to guide the air, which is introduced through the inlet port into the discharge port, to the heat exchanger,
an intake port disposed on a lateral side of the dehumidification unit to allow the air, which is discharged from the drum, to be introduced into the intake port,
an outlet port disposed on the front side of the dehumidification unit to allow the air, which is introduced through the intake port into the outlet port, to be discharged through the second opening, and
a guide disposed to partition a first flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port and a second flow path extending from the intake port to the outlet port.
2. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are disposed side by side in a left and right direction.
3. The dryer of claim 1, wherein with respect to a vertical line passing through a center of the first opening, the outlet port is disposed closer to the vertical line than the inlet port.
4. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the guide includes a curved portion to form a curved section in the second flow path.
5. The dryer of claim 1, further comprising:
a discharge rib which protrudes from the guide horizontally to at least partially divide the second flow path into upper and lower regions.
6. The dryer of claim 1, wherein
the inlet port is disposed on a right side of the outlet port,
the inlet port includes a plurality of inlet guide ribs extending in an oblique direction is disposed in the inlet port to allow air to be introduced from a lower right direction, and
the outlet port includes a plurality of outlet guide ribs extending in an oblique direction is disposed in the outlet port to allow air to be discharged to an upper left direction.
7. The dryer of claim 1, wherein
the dehumidification unit includes an identification portion, and
the dryer is configured to detect whether the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet based on the identification portion.
8. The dryer of claim 1, wherein an area occupied by the inlet port is a same area occupied by the outlet port.
9. The dryer of claim 1, wherein
the dehumidification unit is attachable to and detachable from the cabinet through the second opening,
the dehumidification unit further includes a protrusion disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port, and
when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet, the protrusion protrudes outwardly beyond the front side of the cabinet.
10. The dryer of claim 9, further comprising:
a unit cover configured to open and close the second opening,
wherein in a state in which the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet, the unit cover is in an open position and is prevented from being moved to a closed position by the protrusion.
11. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the guide is moveable between a first position at which the guide partitions the first flow path and the second flow path, and a second position at which a third flow path extending from the intake port to the discharge port is formed.
12. The dryer of claim 11, wherein the guide is rotatable between the first position and the second position.
13. The dryer of claim 1, wherein
the heat exchanger is accessible through the second opening, and
the dehumidification unit is interchangeable with a filter unit configured to provide a third flow path for supplying air which is discharged from the drum during a drying operation to the heat exchanger, and
the dryer further comprises:
a first sensor configured to detect a first identification portion disposed on the filter unit;
a second sensor configured to detect a second identification portion disposed on the dehumidification unit; and
a controller configured to determine whether to perform a dehumidifying operation using the dehumidification unit, based on information received from the second sensor.
14. A dehumidification unit mountable to a dryer having a cabinet, a heat exchanger, and a drum, the dehumidification unit comprising:
a body;
an inlet port disposed on a front side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to allow air outside of the cabinet to be introduced through an opening of the cabinet into the inlet port;
a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to guide the air, which is introduced through the inlet port into the discharge port, to the heat exchanger;
an intake port disposed on a lateral side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer and the air guided to the heat exchanger from the discharge port is circulated from the heat exchanger into the drum and discharged from the drum, is to allow the air discharged from the drum to be introduced into the intake port;
an outlet port disposed on the front side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to allow the air, which is introduced through the intake port into the outlet port, to be discharged through the opening of the cabinet; and
a guide disposed to partition a first flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port and a second flow path extending from the intake port to the outlet port.
15. A dryer, comprising:
a cabinet;
a drum disposed inside the cabinet;
a heat exchanger disposed inside the cabinet; and
a dehumidification unit configured to:
introduce air from outside the cabinet to the heat exchanger via a first flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit, to lower a humidity of the air, wherein the air is introduced from the outside via an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit, and is discharged to the heat exchanger via a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit,
receive, via the drum, that has passed through the heat exchanger and the drum, and
discharge the air received via the drum to the outside of the cabinet via a second flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit and partitioned from the first flow path.
Ref APP-17_563666: Claims:
A dryer, comprising: a cabinet; a drum disposed inside the cabinet; a first opening disposed on a front side of the cabinet through which an object to be dried is to be placed in the drum; a heat exchanger disposed inside the cabinet to exchange heat with air; a second opening disposed on the front side of the cabinet; and a dehumidification unit, accessible through the second opening, the dehumidification unit including: an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit to allow air to be introduced through the second opening into the inlet port, a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit to guide the air, which is introduced through the inlet port into the discharge port, to the heat exchanger, an intake port disposed on a lateral side of the dehumidification unit to allow the air, which is discharged from the drum, to be introduced into the intake port, an outlet port disposed on the front side of the dehumidification unit to allow the air, which is introduced through the intake port into the outlet port, to be discharged through the second opening, and a guide disposed to partition a first flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port and a second flow path extending from the intake port to the outlet port.
a drum disposed inside the cabinet;
a first opening disposed on a front side of the cabinet through which an object to be dried is to be placed in the drum;
a heat exchanger disposed inside the cabinet to exchange heat with air;
a second opening disposed on the front side of the cabinet; and
a dehumidification unit, accessible through the second opening, the dehumidification unit including:
an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit to allow air to be introduced through the second opening into the inlet port,
a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit to guide the air, which is introduced through the inlet port into the discharge port, to the heat exchanger,
an intake port disposed on a lateral side of the dehumidification unit to allow the air, which is discharged from the drum, to be introduced into the intake port,
an outlet port disposed on the front side of the dehumidification unit to allow the air, which is introduced through the intake port into the outlet port, to be discharged through the second opening, and
a guide disposed to partition a first flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port and a second flow path extending from the intake port to the outlet port.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are disposed side by side in a left and right direction.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein with respect to a vertical line passing through a center of the first opening, the outlet port is disposed closer to the vertical line than the inlet port.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the guide includes a curved portion to form a curved section in the second flow path.
The dryer of claim 1, further comprising: a discharge rib which protrudes from the guide horizontally to at least partially divide the second flow path into upper and lower regions.
a discharge rib which protrudes from the guide horizontally to at least partially divide the second flow path into upper and lower regions.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is disposed on a right side of the outlet port, the inlet port includes a plurality of inlet guide ribs extending in an oblique direction is disposed in the inlet port to allow air to be introduced from a lower right direction, and the outlet port includes a plurality of outlet guide ribs extending in an oblique direction is disposed in the outlet port to allow air to be discharged to an upper left direction.
the inlet port is disposed on a right side of the outlet port,
the inlet port includes a plurality of inlet guide ribs extending in an oblique direction is disposed in the inlet port to allow air to be introduced from a lower right direction, and
the outlet port includes a plurality of outlet guide ribs extending in an oblique direction is disposed in the outlet port to allow air to be discharged to an upper left direction.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the dehumidification unit includes an identification portion, and the dryer is configured to detect whether the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet based on the identification portion.
the dehumidification unit includes an identification portion, and
the dryer is configured to detect whether the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet based on the identification portion.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein an area occupied by the inlet port is a same area occupied by the outlet port.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the dehumidification unit is attachable to and detachable from the cabinet through the second opening, the dehumidification unit further includes a protrusion disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port, and when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet, the protrusion protrudes outwardly beyond the front side of the cabinet.
the dehumidification unit is attachable to and detachable from the cabinet through the second opening,
the dehumidification unit further includes a protrusion disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port, and
when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet, the protrusion protrudes outwardly beyond the front side of the cabinet.
The dryer of claim 9, further comprising: a unit cover configured to open and close the second opening, wherein in a state in which the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet, the unit cover is in an open position and is prevented from being moved to a closed position by the protrusion.
a unit cover configured to open and close the second opening,
wherein in a state in which the dehumidification unit is mounted to the cabinet, the unit cover is in an open position and is prevented from being moved to a closed position by the protrusion.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the guide is moveable between a first position at which the guide partitions the first flow path and the second flow path, and a second position at which a third flow path extending from the intake port to the discharge port is formed.
The dryer of claim 11, wherein the guide is rotatable between the first position and the second position.
The dryer of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is accessible through the second opening, and the dehumidification unit is interchangeable with a filter unit configured to provide a third flow path for supplying air which is discharged from the drum during a drying operation to the heat exchanger, and the dryer further comprises: a first sensor configured to detect a first identification portion disposed on the filter unit; a second sensor configured to detect a second identification portion disposed on the dehumidification unit; and a controller configured to determine whether to perform a dehumidifying operation using the dehumidification unit, based on information received from the second sensor.
the heat exchanger is accessible through the second opening, and
the dehumidification unit is interchangeable with a filter unit configured to provide a third flow path for supplying air which is discharged from the drum during a drying operation to the heat exchanger, and
the dryer further comprises:
a first sensor configured to detect a first identification portion disposed on the filter unit;
a second sensor configured to detect a second identification portion disposed on the dehumidification unit; and
a controller configured to determine whether to perform a dehumidifying operation using the dehumidification unit, based on information received from the second sensor.
A dehumidification unit mountable to a dryer having a cabinet, a heat exchanger, and a drum, the dehumidification unit comprising: a body; an inlet port disposed on a front side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to allow air outside of the cabinet to be introduced through an opening of the cabinet into the inlet port; a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to guide the air, which is introduced through the inlet port into the discharge port, to the heat exchanger; an intake port disposed on a lateral side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer and the air guided to the heat exchanger from the discharge port is circulated from the heat exchanger into the drum and discharged from the drum, is to allow the air discharged from the drum to be introduced into the intake port; an outlet port disposed on the front side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to allow the air, which is introduced through the intake port into the outlet port, to be discharged through the opening of the cabinet; and a guide disposed to partition a first flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port and a second flow path extending from the intake port to the outlet port.
an inlet port disposed on a front side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to allow air outside of the cabinet to be introduced through an opening of the cabinet into the inlet port;
a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to guide the air, which is introduced through the inlet port into the discharge port, to the heat exchanger;
an intake port disposed on a lateral side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer and the air guided to the heat exchanger from the discharge port is circulated from the heat exchanger into the drum and discharged from the drum, is to allow the air discharged from the drum to be introduced into the intake port;
an outlet port disposed on the front side of the body that, when the dehumidification unit is mounted to the dryer, is to allow the air, which is introduced through the intake port into the outlet port, to be discharged through the opening of the cabinet; and
A dryer, comprising: a cabinet; a drum disposed inside the cabinet; a heat exchanger disposed inside the cabinet; and a dehumidification unit configured to: introduce air from outside the cabinet to the heat exchanger via a first flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit, to lower a humidity of the air, wherein the air is introduced from the outside via an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit, and is discharged to the heat exchanger via a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit, receive, via the drum, that has passed through the heat exchanger and the drum, and discharge the air received via the drum to the outside of the cabinet via a second flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit and partitioned from the first flow path.
a heat exchanger disposed inside the cabinet; and
a dehumidification unit configured to: introduce air from outside the cabinet to the heat exchanger via a first flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit, to lower a humidity of the air, wherein the air is introduced from the outside via an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit, and is discharged to the heat exchanger via a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit, receive, via the drum, that has passed through the heat exchanger and the drum, and discharge the air received via the drum to the outside of the cabinet via a second flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit and partitioned from the first flow path.
introduce air from outside the cabinet to the heat exchanger via a first flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit, to lower a humidity of the air, wherein the air is introduced from the outside via an inlet port disposed on a front side of the dehumidification unit, and is discharged to the heat exchanger via a discharge port disposed on a rear side of the dehumidification unit,
receive, via the drum, that has passed through the heat exchanger and the drum, and
discharge the air received via the drum to the outside of the cabinet via a second flow path disposed in the dehumidification unit and partitioned from the first flow path.