Prior art

Analysis of Prior Art for U.S. Patent 12,232,681

Based on a review of the patent file for U.S. Patent 12,232,681, the following references were cited during its prosecution. These patents constitute the most relevant prior art considered by the USPTO examiner. An analysis of each reference and its potential relevance to the claims of patent '681 is detailed below.

A core inventive concept of U.S. Patent 12,232,681, as defined in independent claims 1 and 14, involves a dishwasher rack with a bottom wall constructed of two distinct sections: a "substantially horizontal-planar portion" and a "second portion" that is angled relative to the first, often forming a depression. This dual-geometry bottom is designed to hold different types of items, with the planar section supporting utensil holders and the angled or depressed section creating cup seats or supporting other utensil holders like "spaced pins."

The following prior art references disclose features related to adjustable or multi-level dish racks and various types of utensil and cup holders.

Prior Art and Potential Anticipation Analysis

1. US Patent 9,901,240 B2

• Full Citation: US Patent 9,901,240 B2, "Tine adjustment and adaptable wash cycle control," assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Publication Date: February 27, 2018 (Filed August 26, 2013).
• Brief Description: This patent describes a dishwasher rack with adjustable tines that can be moved or reconfigured to accommodate different types of dishware. The system allows a user to change the layout of the rack and, in some embodiments, the dishwasher can automatically adapt the wash cycle based on the tine configuration. The rack structure itself can have varied heights and sections for different items.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference is relevant to the general concept of a configurable dish rack but does not appear to explicitly disclose the specific two-part bottom wall structure claimed in '681, namely a planar portion seamlessly connected to an angled portion that extends downwards. While it shows racks with varied heights, it does not describe the specific combination of a horizontal-planar area for utensils and an angled depression for cups or additional utensils as described in claims 1 and 14 of U.S. Patent 12,232,681. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the claims on its own.

2. US Patent Application Publication 2015/0245762 A1

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication 2015/0245762 A1, "Glasses rack for dishwasher," assigned to Whirlpool Corporation.
• Publication Date: September 3, 2015 (Filed February 28, 2014).
• Brief Description: This document details a rack specifically designed for holding glassware. It features a base and multiple supports and holders configured to securely hold glasses, including stemware. The rack has sections at different elevations to accommodate the height of various glasses.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference discloses a dish rack with varied vertical heights to accommodate specific items (glasses), which relates to the concept of a multi-level rack bottom. However, the structure described is primarily focused on supports for glassware rather than the specific combination of a broad, horizontal-planar surface for general utensils and an integrated, angled depression for cups as claimed in '681. The specific geometric arrangement of the bottom wall as a combination of a horizontal plane and an angled plane is not clearly taught.

3. US Patent Application Publication 2019/0290094 A1

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication 2019/0290094 A1, "Low profile rack and wash assembly for dishwasher," assigned to Whirlpool Corporation.
• Publication Date: September 26, 2019 (Filed March 21, 2018).
• Brief Description: This publication describes a low-profile "third level" rack for a dishwasher, designed to hold utensils and other small items. The rack works with a dedicated wash assembly. The design focuses on maximizing space in the upper part of the dishwasher tub.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference is highly relevant as it comes from the same assignee and deals with third-level utensil racks. It teaches a rack for holding utensils in a generally horizontal orientation. However, the key distinction lies in the claimed structure of U.S. Patent 12,232,681. The '094 application does not appear to describe the specific bottom wall geometry featuring both a "substantially horizontal-planar portion" and an "angled second planar portion" defining a depression for cups or alternative utensil holders as laid out in claims 1 and 14. Its focus is more on the overall low-profile design and its interaction with the spray system.

4. US Patent Application Publication 2019/0298146 A1

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication 2019/0298146 A1, "Modular dishwasher rack with interchangeable and customizable basket inserts," assigned to BSH Home Appliances Corporation.
• Publication Date: October 3, 2019 (Filed March 29, 2018).
• Brief Description: This document discloses a modular dish rack system with interchangeable baskets and inserts. This allows the user to customize the rack to hold different types of items, including utensils, cups, and other cookware. The base rack is designed to receive these various modules.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference teaches a highly configurable rack. While a user could potentially create sections with different functions and effective heights by inserting various modules, it does not inherently disclose the claimed monolithic bottom wall structure of patent '681. The invention in '681 resides in the fixed, integrated geometry of the bottom wall (horizontal-planar plus angled portions), whereas the '146 application achieves variability through separate, modular components. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific structural limitations of the claims.