Patent Application 17523951 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISINFECTING HANDS - Rejection
Appearance
Patent Application 17523951 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISINFECTING HANDS
Title: SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISINFECTING HANDS
Application Information
- Invention Title: SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISINFECTING HANDS
- Application Number: 17523951
- Submission Date: 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Effective Filing Date: 2021-11-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Filing Date: 2021-11-11T00:00:00.000Z
- National Class: 422
- National Sub-Class: 024000
- Examiner Employee Number: 82971
- Art Unit: 1758
- Tech Center: 1700
Rejection Summary
- 102 Rejections: 0
- 103 Rejections: 3
Cited Patents
No patents were cited in this rejection.
Office Action Text
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 . DETAILED ACTION Response to Amendment The amendment filed on 2/19/2025 has been received and claims 1, 3-4, 7-10, 12-14, 16-19, and 27-32 are pending. Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/27/2025 has been entered. Election/Restrictions Claims 12-14 and 16-19 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected group, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 8/15/2024. Newly submitted claims 27 and 31 are directed to an invention that is independent or distinct from the invention originally claimed for the following reasons: claims 27 and 31 are not patentably distinct from the previously withdrawn method claims which is an invention that was discussed to be independent or distinct as the Invention/Group II in the Restriction Requirement mailed 8/01/2024. Since applicant has received an action on the merits for the originally presented invention, this invention has been constructively elected by original presentation for prosecution on the merits. Accordingly, claims 27 and 31 are withdrawn from consideration as being directed to a non-elected invention. See 37 CFR 1.142(b) and MPEP Β§ 821.03. To preserve a right to petition, the reply to this action must distinctly and specifically point out supposed errors in the restriction requirement. Otherwise, the election shall be treated as a final election without traverse. Traversal must be timely. Failure to timely traverse the requirement will result in the loss of right to petition under 37 CFR 1.144. If claims are subsequently added, applicant must indicate which of the subsequently added claims are readable upon the elected invention. Should applicant traverse on the ground that the inventions are not patentably distinct, applicant should submit evidence or identify such evidence now of record showing the inventions to be obvious variants or clearly admit on the record that this is the case. In either instance, if the examiner finds one of the inventions unpatentable over the prior art, the evidence or admission may be used in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) of the other invention. Claim Objections Claims 28 and 32 are objected to because of the following informalities: in line 18 of Claim 28, insert --;-- after βsecond reflectorβ. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC Β§ 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.βThe specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1, 3-4, 7-10, 28-30 and 32 are 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the hand disinfection area" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 28 recites the limitation "the hand disinfection area" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 3-4, 7-10, 29-30 and 32 have been rejected based on their dependence on a rejected claim. Claim Rejections - 35 USC Β§ 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claim(s) 1, 3, 7-10, and 29-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gordon (WO2007051141) in view of Igarashi (20190321499) and Satermo (20180078101). As to Claims 1 and 30, Gordon (β141) discloses a system (100) for disinfecting hands (see Figures 1-2), the system (100) comprising: a first UV light emitter (220) located on a first side, wherein the first UV light emitter (220) is configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see Figures 1-2); a second UV light emitter (220) located on a second side opposite from the first side (see Figure 2). wherein the second UV light emitter (220) is configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see Figures 1-2); a first reflector (i.e. bottom interior wall/surface of 150) below the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly Figure 1, 10th page - lines 10-14); and a second reflector (i.e. top interior wall/surface of 150) above the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly Figure 1, 10th page - lines 10-14), wherein the first reflector (i.e. bottom interior wall/surface of 150) and the second reflector (i.e. top interior wall/surface of 150) are configured to reflect the UV light within the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly 10th page - lines 10-14). Gordon (β141) does not appear to specifically teach that the system further comprises a dryer configured to emit drying air into the hand disinfection area, or that the first and second UV light emitters are spaced to sides of the dryer, or that the first and second UV light emitters are angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector, or that the first reflector is disposed over a countertop adjacent to a sink, nor that the second reflector is proximate to one or more air nozzles of the dryer above the hand disinfection area. As to the limitations that that the system further comprises a dryer configured to emit drying air into the hand disinfection area and that the first and second UV light emitters are to disposed at the sides of the dryer and angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector, it was known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a dryer with a system for disinfecting hands. Igarashi (β499) discloses a system (100; 100A) for disinfecting hands (see Figures 1-8 and 12-13), the system (100; 100A) comprising: a dryer (106) configured to emit drying air (107) into the hand disinfection area (104); one or more reflectors (16; 17; 110) configured to reflect the UV light within a hand disinfection area (104), wherein the one or more reflectors (16; 17; 110) comprises a first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) and a second reflector (16 in 10A; 17 in 10Aβ) (see Figures 4-5, 8 and 13); wherein the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) and the second reflector (16 in 10A; 17 in 10Aβ) (see Figures 4-5, 8 and 13) are configured to reflect the UV light within the hand disinfection area (104); one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (20; 20A) configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (104), wherein the one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (20) are configured to emit the UV light (see entire document, particularly p. 4 [0068]-[0069], p. 5 [0088] β last 2 lines, p. 6 [0096] β last 2 lines); wherein the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) comprises: a first UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20A within 10A or 10Aβ or 10B) spaced from a first side of the dryer (106); and a second UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20A within 10B or 10A/10Aβ) spaced from a second side of the dryer (106), wherein the second side is opposite from the first side (i.e. A side vs B side - see Figures 1-2, 4 and 12-13), wherein the first UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20Awithin 10A or 10Aβ or 10B) is angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) so that the UV light reflects back and forth between the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) and the second reflector (16; 17) (see Figures 4-5, 8 and 12-13); wherein the first UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20A within 10A or 10Aβ) is angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) so that the UV light reflects back and forth between the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) and the second reflector (16; 17) (see Figures 4-5, 8 and 12-13); and a dryer (106) configured to emit drying air (107) into the hand disinfection area (104), in order to supply a warm wind 107 into the hand disinfection area so as to dry the hands and fingers (see entire document, particularly p. 4 [0067]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in this art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a dryer in the system of Gordon as well as to dispose the first and second UV light emitters at the sides of the dryer and to angle the first UV light emitter to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector as known component and configuration in order to dry as well as to disinfect the hands and fingers as shown by Igarashi. While Igarashi (β499) merely discloses one UV light emitter is angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector (110) (see Figures 12-13), it would have been well within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide more than one UV light emitter such as two UV light emitters on one side of the system of Gordon as modified by Igarashi as a known alternate configuration (see MPEP 2144.04(VI)(B)) in order to ensure that adequate UV light is provided within the system for thorough disinfection. Only the expected results would be attained. As to the limitations that the first reflector is disposed over a countertop adjacent to a sink and that the second reflector is proximate to one or more air nozzles of the dryer above the hand disinfection area, while Igarashi (β499) discloses that the second reflector (16) is proximate to one or more nozzles (106) of the dryer above the hand disinfection area (104), neither Gordon (β141) nor Igarashi (β499) specifically teaches that the first reflector is disposed over a countertop adjacent to a sink. It was known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a system for disinfecting hands adjacent a countertop adjacent to a sink. Satermo (β539) discloses a lavatory (100), wherein the lavatory comprises a system (200) for disinfecting hands (see Figures 1A-6B), the system (200) comprising: one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (216) configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (228) (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0028]); a dryer (214, 220, 222, 232) configured to emit drying air into the hand disinfection area (228); one or more sensors (224) configured to detect presence of the hands within the hand disinfection area (228) (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0029]); and a control unit (302) configured to control operation of the one or more UV light emitters (216) (see entire document, particularly Figure 3), wherein the system (200) is disposed adjacent a countertop (105) adjacent to a sink (108) (see entire document, particularly Figures 5A-6B, p. 3 [0034]-[0035]), in order to dry and sanitize hands (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0028]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in this art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the system for disinfecting hands of Gordon as modified by Igarashi adjacent a countertop adjacent a sink such that the first reflector is disposed adjacent the countertop adjacent to the sink as known location and orientation for the system in order to dry and disinfect hands as shown by Satermo. In addition, as Satermo (β539) discloses various possible location of the system for disinfecting hands such as any other walls and vertical surfaces (see entire document, particularly Figures 5A-6B, p. 3 [0034] -β lines 7-8 and [0035] β lines 8-9), it would have been obvious to and well within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to locate/elevate the system above the countertop (e.x.: on/into a vertical wall/surface above the countertop) such that the first reflector is disposed over/on a surface of the countertop adjacent to the sink in the system of Gordon as modified by Igarashi and Satermo as an alternate location/configuration for the system in order to provide disinfection and drying of hands as shown by Satermo. Only the expected results would be attained. As to Claim 3, Igarashi (β499) discloses that the first and second UV light emitters (20; 20A) are configured to emit the UV light between 215-235 nanometers (see entire document, particularly p. 4 [0068]-[0069], p. 5 [0088] β last 2 lines, p. 6 [0096] β last 2 lines). As to Claim 7, Gordon (β141) discloses that the system (100) further comprises one or more sensors (160/260) configured to detect presence of the hands within the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly Figure 1, 12th page β lines 12-14). As to Claim 8, Igarashi (β499) discloses that the system (100; 100A) further comprises a control unit (135) configured to control operation of the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) (see entire document, particularly Figures 4 and 13, pp. 4-5 [0078]). As to Claim 9, Igarashi (β499) discloses that the control unit (135) is configured to continue operating the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) for a predetermined period of time after the hands have been removed from the hand disinfection area (see entire document, particularly p. 2 [0025]-[0026]) As to Claim 10, Igarashi (β499) discloses that the control unit (135) is further configured to disable or reduce power to one or more other powered systems (113) when the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) emit the UV light into the hand disinfection area (104) (see entire document, particularly pp. 4-5 [0078], p. 8 [0083]). As to Claim 29, Igarashi (β499) discloses that the system further comprises a gray use water capturing means (103, 116, 117, 118) configured to capture gray water that drips from the hands (see Figures 4 and 13, p. 5 [0081]). While Igarashiβs gray use water capturing means is not specifically in the configuration of a grill, it would have been well within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a grill configuration for at least at the gray water capturing means outlet 116 as a known configuration in the system of Gordon as modified by Igarashi and Satermo in order to ensure that any personal effects or any debris accidentally dropped within the system would not become trapped and enable return/removal of any dropped object from the interior/disinfection area within the system. Only the expected results would be attained. Thus, Claims 1, 3, 7-10, and 29-30 would have been obvious within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 103 over the combined teachings of Gordon (β141), Igarashi (β499), and Satermo (β101). Claim(s) 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gordon (WO2007051141) in view of Igarashi (20190321499) and Satermo (20180078101) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Childress (20210346539) or Tillotson (20190060496). Gordon (β141), Igarashi (β499), Satermo (β101) are relied upon for disclosure described in the rejection of claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. 103. None of Gordon (β141), Igarashi (β499), and Satermo (β101) appears to specifically that the one or more reflectors are formed of one or both of Teflon or Aluminum. It was known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide Teflon and/or Aluminum as the material for a reflector. Childress (β539) discloses a system (100) for disinfecting comprised of one or more UV light emitters (140) configured to emit UV light into a disinfection area; and one or more reflectors (142) formed of Teflon (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0057] β last 7 lines) in order to outwardly reflect the UV light within the disinfection area (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0057] β last 7 lines). Tillotson (β496) also discloses a system (100) for disinfecting comprised of one or more UV light emitters (110) configured to emit UV light into a disinfection area (200, 214); and one or more reflectors (112) formed of Aluminum (see entire document, particularly p. 2 [0028] β lines 4-5) in order to outwardly reflect the UV light to the disinfection area (see entire document, particularly Figures 2-6, p. 2 p0028]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in this art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide one or both of Teflon or Aluminum as the material for the first and second reflectors in the system of Gordon as modified by Igarashi and Satermo as known reflective material in order to provide high reflectivity of the UV light emitted by the one or more UV emitters as shown by Childress or Tillotson. Thus, Claim 4 would have been obvious within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 103 over the combined teachings of Gordon (β141), Igarashi (β499), Satermo (β101), and Childress (β539) or Tillotson (β496). Claim(s) 28 and 32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Satermo (20180078101) in view of Igarashi (20190321499) and Gordon (WO2007051141). Satermo (β101) discloses a vehicle (see entire document, particularly p. 2 [0022] β last 3 lines) comprising: an internal cabin (i.e. aircraft cabin - see entire document, particularly p. 2 [0024] β lines 4-5) including a lavatory (100), wherein the lavatory comprises a system (200) for disinfecting hands (see Figures 2A-6B), the system (200) comprising: one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (216) configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (228) (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0028]); a dryer (214, 220, 222, 232) configured to emit drying air into the hand disinfection area (228); one or more sensors (224) configured to detect presence of the hands within the hand disinfection area (228) (see entire document, particularly p. 3 [0029]); and a control unit (302) configured to control operation of the one or more UV light emitters (216) (see entire document, particularly Figure 3). Satermo (β101) does not appear to specifically that the one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters comprises a first UV light emitter and a second UV light emitter that are disposed on opposites sides of the dryer and angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector, or that the system for disinfecting hands further comprises a first reflector below the hand disinfection area and a second reflector above the hand disinfection area, nor that the control unit is configured to continue operating the one or more UV light emitters for a predetermined period of time after the hands have been removed from the hand disinfection area and configured to disable or reduce power to one or more other powered systems when the one or more UV light emitters emit the UV light into the hand disinfection area. As to the limitations that the one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters comprises a first UV light emitter and a second UV light emitter disposed opposite sides of the dryer while angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector and that the control unit is configured to continue operating the one or more UV light emitters for a predetermined period of time after the hands have been removed from the hand disinfection area and configured to disable or reduce power to one or more other powered systems when the one or more UV light emitters emit the UV light into the hand disinfection area, Igarashi (β499) discloses a system (100; 100A) for disinfecting hands (see Figures 1-8 and 12-13), the system (100; 100A) comprising: one or more reflectors (16; 17; 110) configured to reflect the UV light within a hand disinfection area (104), wherein the one or more reflectors (16; 17; 110) comprises a first reflector (16 in 10A; 17 in 10Aβ) and a second reflector (16 in 10B; 17 in 10Bβ; 16 in 10A) (see Figures 4-5, 8 and 13); one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (20; 20A) configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (104), wherein the one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (20) are configured to emit the UV light (see entire document, particularly p. 4 [0068]-[0069], p. 5 [0088] β last 2 lines, p. 6 [0096] β last 2 lines); wherein the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) comprises: a first UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20A within 10A or 10Aβ or 10B) spaced from a first side of the dryer (106); and a second UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20A within 10B or 10A/10Aβ) spaced from a second side of the dryer (106), wherein the second side is opposite from the first side (i.e. A side vs B side - see Figures 1-2, 4 and 12-13), wherein the first UV light emitter (i.e. 20/20Awithin 10A or 10Aβ) is angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) so that the UV light reflects back and forth between the first reflector (16 or 17 in 10B; 110) and the second reflector (16; 17) (see Figures 4-5, 8 and 12-13); a dryer (106) configured to emit drying air (107) into the hand disinfection area (104); one or more sensors (108) configured to detect presence of the hands within the hand disinfection area (104) (see entire document, particularly Figures 4 and 13, p. 4 [0063] and [0077]); and a control unit (135) configured to control operation of the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) (see entire document, particularly Figures 4 and 13, pp. 4-5 [0078]), wherein the control unit (135) is configured to continue operating the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) for a predetermined period of time after the hands have been removed from the hand disinfection area (see entire document, particularly p. 2 [0025]-[0026]), and wherein the control unit (135) is further configured to disable or reduce power to one or more other powered systems (113) when the one or more UV light emitters (20; 20A) emit the UV light into the hand disinfection area (104) (see entire document, particularly pp. 4-5 [0078], p. 8 [0083]), in order to void harmful effect to human cells while sterilizing contaminant(s) (see entire document, particularly p. 4 [0069]), to reflect the UV light emitted from the one or more UV light emitters and into the hand disinfection area (see entire document, particularly p. 5 [0091]) and to further sterilize/disinfect the hand disinfection area (see entire document, particularly p. 2 [0025]-[0026]) and to operate other components to control the environment within the hand disinfection area (see entire document, particularly p. 8 [0083]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in this art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a first UV light emitter and a second UV light emitter configured to emit the UV light and disposed on opposite sides of the dryer, as well as a control unit configured as set forth in the claim in the system of Satermo as known components/configuration in a hand disinfection system in order to emit UV light to irradiate hands as well as the hand disinfection area and to control the system so as to disinfect hands and the hand disinfection area and to control the environment within the system as shown by Igarashi. While Igarashi (β499) merely discloses one UV light emitter is angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector (110) (see Figures 12-13), it would have been well within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide more than one UV light emitter such as two UV light emitters on one side of the system of Gordon as modified by Igarashi that are angled to emit the UV light toward and onto the first reflector (110) as a known alternate configuration (see MPEP Β§2144.04(VI)(B)) in order to ensure that adequate UV light is provided within the system for thorough disinfection. Only the expected results would be attained. As to the limitation that the system for disinfecting hands comprises a first reflector below the hand disinfection area and a second reflector above the hand disinfection area, it was known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a first reflector below a hand disinfection area and a second reflector above the hand disinfection area in a system for disinfecting hands. Gordon (β141) discloses a system (100) for disinfecting hands (see Figures 1-2), the system (100) comprising: one or more ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (120; 220) configured to emit UV light into a hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see Figures 1-2); a first reflector (i.e. bottom interior wall/surface of 150) below the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly Figure 1, 10th page - lines 10-14); and a second reflector (i.e. top interior wall/surface of 150) above the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly Figure 1, 10th page - lines 10-14), wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are configured to reflect the UV light within the hand disinfection area (i.e. within 110 via 140) (see entire document, particularly 10th page - lines 10-14), in order to increase radiation intensity in crevices or irregularities in the hands inserted into the system such as between the fingers and to decrease the number of required UV light emitters and decrease the complexity of the geometry of the UV light emitters (see entire document, particularly 10th page - lines 10-14). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in this art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a first reflector below the hand disinfection area and a second reflector above the hand disinfection area in the system of disinfecting hands of Satermo as modified by Igarashi as known components in order to increase radiation intensity in crevices or irregularities in the hands being disinfected such as between the fingers as well as to decrease the number of required UV light emitters and decrease the complexity of the geometry of the UV light emitters as shown by Gordon. While combined teaching of Satermo (β101), Igarashi (β499), and Gordon (β141) only appears to teach that the first reflector is disposed adjacent a countertop adjacent to a sink (see Satermo (β101) - Figures 5A-6B) and where Igarashi (β499) specifically discloses that the second reflector (16) is proximate to/around one or more nozzles (106) of the dryer above the hand disinfection area (104), neither Satermo (β101) nor Igarashi (β499) or Gordon (β141) specifically teaches that the first reflector is disposed over/on a countertop adjacent to a sink. However, as Satermo (β101) discloses various possible location of the system for disinfecting hands such as on any other walls/vertical surfaces (see entire document, particularly Figures 5A-6B, p. 3 [0034] -β lines 7-8 and [0035] β lines 8-9), it would have been obvious to and well within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to locate/elevate the system to a location/wall/vertical surface above the countertop such that the first reflector is disposed over/on the countertop adjacent to the sink in the system of Satermo as modified by Igarashi and Gordon as an alternate location/configuration for the system in order to provide disinfection and drying of hands of a user. Only the expected results would be attained. Thus, Claims 28 and 32 would have been obvious within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 103 over the combined teachings of Satermo (β101), Igarashi (β499), and Gordon (β141). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 2/19/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. As to applicantβs argument on p. 8 of Remarks, examiner points to the new ground of rejection (i.e. obviousness rejection) as set forth in the paragraphs above. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to REGINA M YOO whose telephone number is (571)272-6690. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examinerβs supervisor, Maris Kessel can be reached at (571)270-7698. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /REGINA M YOO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1758