US 12478181

Here is a concise summary of US patent 12478181:

US Patent 12478181 Summary

• Title: Adjustable drawer
• Assignee: CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
• Inventors: Hongyan Wang
• Filing Date: 2024-10-23
• Issue Date: 2025-11-25
• Abstract: An adjustable drawer is disclosed. The drawer includes a drawer body with multiple connecting elements that form a drawer configuration. At least one connecting element is movable along the width direction for adjustment, and at least one is movable along the length direction for adjustment, allowing the drawer body to expand or contract. This design enables the adjustable drawer to match various cabinets by adjusting its length and width.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes an adjustable drawer with a body made of multiple connecting elements and sliding rails. The connecting elements fit together to form the drawer and can move to adjust both the width and length, making the drawer expandable or contractible. Specifically, it details how two types of connecting elements (first and second) interlock: the first connecting element has a side wall with a bent portion forming a first sliding groove, and the second connecting element has a side wall with a bent portion forming a second sliding groove that is narrower and slides into the first groove. These connecting elements are partially stacked to create an adjustable section (first stacking portion). Their bottom walls have multiple openings (first openings) arranged for width or length adjustment. The elements are secured by aligning a pair of these openings and using a fastener.
• Claim 10: This claim describes an adjustable drawer with a body made of multiple connecting elements. These elements join to form the drawer and can be moved to adjust its width and length, allowing it to expand or contract. Each connecting element has a pattern of distinct, non-communicating openings on its bottom surface, arranged in rows and columns that are perpendicular to each other. Fasteners are inserted into these openings to connect the elements and adjust the drawer.
• Claim 17: This claim combines aspects of claims 1 and 10. It describes an adjustable drawer with a drawer body, connecting elements, and sliding rails. The connecting elements form a drawer that is adjustable in width and length, and can expand or contract. Similar to Claim 1, it specifies first and second connecting elements with bent portions and sliding grooves for interlocking, where the second groove slides into the first. Additionally, similar to Claim 10, each connecting element has a bottom surface with an array of distinct, non-communicating openings arranged in perpendicular rows and columns for securing the adjustable configuration.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
No CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) 2026 dockets were found for US12478181 in the provided patent information. The patent explicitly notes a "US case filed in Illinois Northern District Court" with case number 1:26-cv-02292, which is a district court, not the CAFC.## US Patent 12478181: Adjustable Drawer Summary and Claim Analysis

Patent Number: US12478181
Title: Adjustable drawer
Assignee: CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Inventors: Hongyan Wang
Filing Date: 2024-10-23
Issue Date: 2025-11-25
Abstract: An adjustable drawer is disclosed that includes a drawer body with a plurality of connecting elements. These connecting elements join together to form a drawer configuration, with at least one element movable along the width direction and at least one movable along the length direction for adjustment. This design allows the drawer body to be expandable or contractible, enabling it to match various cabinet sizes.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes an adjustable drawer featuring a drawer body composed of multiple connecting elements and sliding rails. The connecting elements assemble to form the drawer, with certain elements capable of movement in both width and length directions, allowing the drawer to expand or contract. Key to this adjustability are specific "first" and "second" connecting elements. Each first connecting element has a bottom wall and a first side wall with a bent portion that creates a "first sliding groove." Each second connecting element also has a bottom wall and a second side wall with a bent portion forming a "second sliding groove," which is narrower than the first and is designed to slide into it when the elements are joined. Two of these connecting elements are partially stacked to form a "first stacking portion." Their bottom walls contain multiple "first openings" arranged either along the width or length. The elements are secured by aligning specific first openings from each connecting element within the first stacking portion and inserting a fastener.

• Claim 10: This claim focuses on an adjustable drawer with a drawer body made from a plurality of connecting elements. These elements join to create the drawer configuration, and are movable for both width and length adjustment, making the drawer expandable or contractible. A central feature is that each connecting element's bottom surface has an array of distinct, non-communicating openings. This array is structured with multiple rows and columns, where the openings within each row are separate from each other, and similarly for the columns, with the column direction being perpendicular to the row direction. The connecting elements are fastened together by inserting fasteners into at least one of these openings.

• Claim 17: This claim also describes an adjustable drawer comprising a drawer body with multiple connecting elements and sliding rails, allowing for width and length adjustability, and overall expansion or contraction. Similar to claim 1, it specifies "first" and "second" connecting elements. Each first connecting element has a first bottom wall and a first side wall with a bent portion forming a "first sliding groove" of a certain width. Each second connecting element has a second bottom wall and a second side wall with a bent portion forming a "second sliding groove," which is narrower than the first and is designed to be slidably received within it. Furthermore, similar to claim 10, each of the plurality of connecting elements features an array of distinct, non-communicating openings on its bottom surface, arranged in perpendicular rows and columns.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

Based on the provided patent information, there is no authoritative information indicating any CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) 2026 dockets specifically for US12478181. The patent mentions "Family has litigation" and specifies a "US case filed in Illinois Northern District Court" with the case identifier 1:26-cv-02292. This indicates litigation at a District Court level, not the CAFC.

As a patent attorney, I can confirm the litigation details for US patent 12478181 based on the provided information.

Known Litigation Involving US Patent 12478181:

• Jurisdiction: Illinois Northern District Court
• Case Number: 1:26-cv-02292
• Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided information.
• Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided information.
• Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided information.
• Outcome or Current Status: The patent indicates "US case filed in Illinois Northern District Court" with the given case number and lists "litigation" as a legal status, but does not provide an outcome or current status for this specific case beyond its filing.

No other litigation involving US patent 12478181 in the CAFC or PACER dockets is known from the provided information. The prior output and my current search confirm that the identified litigation is at the District Court level.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 12478181. This means the patent has not been challenged through Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) review at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). For a defendant, this means all claims of the patent are currently untested by these administrative review processes, and an IPR, PGR, or CBM petition could still be a viable defensive strategy.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, US12478181 has not been subjected to any AIA trial proceedings before the PTAB. Consequently, all claims (claims 1-17) of the patent are currently UNTESTED in this forum. This implies that the patent owner has not yet had to defend the patent's validity against prior art challenges or other statutory grounds in a PTAB setting.

The absence of PTAB activity means there is no estoppel landscape established under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2). Therefore, a potential defendant facing assertion of this patent would not be barred from raising any ground they could have reasonably raised in an IPR, PGR, or CBM. The full spectrum of prior-art grounds, including those under § 102 (novelty) and § 103 (obviousness) for IPRs, and additional grounds like § 101 (subject matter eligibility) and § 112 (written description, enablement, definiteness) for PGRs, would theoretically be available.

The lack of PTAB activity could indicate several things: the patent is relatively new, it has not yet been asserted aggressively in district court litigation (which often triggers IPR filings), or potential challengers have not yet identified strong grounds for invalidity that warrant a PTAB proceeding. The filing date of 2024-10-23 and issue date of 2025-11-25 indicate that the patent is indeed quite new, which is a common reason for the absence of PTAB challenges. An IPR petition typically cannot be filed until 9 months after the patent grant, or after a PGR if one was instituted. A PGR petition must be filed within 9 months of the patent's issuance.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US12478181, a defendant facing assertion of this patent should consider the following:

• Evaluate for potential PTAB challenges: A thorough prior art search should be conducted to identify strong anticipation (§ 102) or obviousness (§ 103) arguments that could form the basis of an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition. If applicable, consider whether the patent claims a covered business method, which could open it up to a CBM review, or if a Post-Grant Review (PGR) petition is still timely (within nine months of issuance) and if broader grounds of unpatentability under § 101 or § 112 are available.
• Monitor for future PTAB filings: Given the patent's recent issue date, it is possible that an IPR or PGR petition could be filed in the near future. Regularly check the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS) using the patent number to stay updated on any newly filed proceedings.
• Coordinate with litigation strategy: If the patent is being asserted in district court, any decision to pursue a PTAB challenge should be carefully coordinated with the ongoing litigation strategy. PTAB proceedings offer a faster and often less expensive alternative to district court invalidity challenges.

Inventors

• Hongyan Wang (no employer listed at time of filing).

Original assignee

The original assignee, CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., is listed on the issued patent. There is no information provided within the patent text or its associated data to determine if they ship a product embodying the claims, their primary line of business, or their current operational status.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) is the authoritative source for patent assignments. A search for patent number US12478181 reveals the following assignment:

• 2026-05-05 (executed) / recorded 2026-05-05 (Google Patents lists as "reassignment", no reel/frame details available through public Google Patents view)
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: WANG, HONGYAN (Inventor)
  • Assignee: CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: Not specified in Google Patents event details.
  • Context: Transfer from individual inventor to original assignee.

The Google Patents "Legal Events" section states that on 2026-05-05, the patent was "Assigned to CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD." from Assignor: WANG, HONGYAN. It specifies "ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST". This is the only assignment information readily available in the provided data.

The original assignee, CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., appears to be a Chinese company. While "CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD." itself doesn't immediately yield extensive product information, related searches for companies with similar names in Chengdu indicate a focus on various technologies, from hydraulic systems to home cleaning appliances, and general trading. Without more specific information directly from CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. itself, it is difficult to definitively state their primary line of business or whether they ship a product embodying the claims. However, there is a recently filed patent infringement case in the Illinois Northern District Court on June 8, 2026, where Chengdu Huiyuzhongtai Technology Co., Ltd. is listed as the plaintiff (1:26-cv-06735). This indicates the company is actively asserting its patent rights.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US12478181
    2024 : Filed by Individual
    2025 : Issued
    2026 : Assigned to Chengdu Huiyuzhongtai
         : Patent infringement suit filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. The patent was assigned from the individual inventor to CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. This is a common initial transfer. There is no information provided to suggest CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. is a shell entity or to identify its products or business model from the given data.

2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. does not appear on common public NPE lists based on the provided information.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. The correspondent information for the assignment is not provided in the readily available Google Patents legal events section.

4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment is noted in the provided data.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — present. The assignment from the inventor to CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. occurred on 2026-05-05. A patent infringement suit was filed by CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. in the Illinois Northern District Court on 2026-06-08 (case 1:26-cv-06735). This transfer occurred approximately one month before the reported litigation, which is within the 6-month window often associated with pre-litigation transfers to enable assertion.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. No information suggesting bankruptcy of the assignor or assignee is available.

7. Privateering — unclear. While a pre-litigation transfer is indicated, there is no information from SEC filings or other sources to confirm if this is an operating company transferring to an NPE for assertion on its behalf.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion

The patent was assigned from the individual inventor to CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. on 2026-05-05. Subsequently, CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. filed a patent infringement lawsuit on 2026-06-08, indicating an active assertion of the patent rights. While the timing suggests a pre-litigation transfer, without further evidence to classify CHENGDU HUIYUZHONGTAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. as a shell entity or known NPE, the most appropriate verdict is operating-company assertion, as they are directly litigating the patent.

USPTO Assignment Center search page for verification: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12478181 and analyze which claims it potentially anticipates, I will examine the citations listed on the patent. I'll focus on the "Citations" section of the provided patent text, which lists documents cited by the examiner.

Here's an analysis of the prior art cited in US Patent 12478181:

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 12478181

The following prior art documents were cited against US Patent 12478181. For each, a brief description and potential anticipation of claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102 are provided.

1. US1746720A - Adjustable tray

• Full Citation: US1746720A, Daniel A Sullivan, published 1930-02-11.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1927-09-03, Published 1930-02-11.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an adjustable tray. While the specific details of its adjustability are not fully elaborated in the provided text, the title itself suggests a mechanism for changing its dimensions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates the general concept of an "adjustable drawer" or "adjustable tray" as broadly described in the preambles of claims 1, 10, and 17, particularly the aspect of a structure being "expandable or contractible" for adjustment. The details of how the adjustment is achieved would determine closer anticipation.

2. US2627801A - Extensible cake pan

• Full Citation: US2627801A, Danziger Manfred, published 1953-02-10.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1949-08-03, Published 1953-02-10.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an extensible cake pan, implying a structure that can change its dimensions, likely its length or width, for baking purposes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US1746720A, this patent broadly anticipates the concept of an "expandable or contractible" container. It could potentially anticipate the general adjustability aspect in claims 1, 10, and 17, focusing on the ability to change dimensions.

3. US2907487A - Expansible containers

• Full Citation: US2907487A, Harrington Susie, published 1959-10-06.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1957-07-01, Published 1959-10-06.
• Brief Description: This patent details expansible containers, which inherently possess the ability to increase in size.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference directly addresses "expansible containers," which could anticipate the "expandable or contractible" feature of the drawer body in claims 1, 10, and 17. The specific mechanisms for expansion would dictate closer relevance to the more detailed features of the claims.

4. US2948624A - Expansible metal foil package

• Full Citation: US2948624A, Dighton L Watson, published 1960-08-09.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1954-12-16, Published 1960-08-09.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an expansible metal foil package, indicating a packaging solution that can vary in size.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Like the other "expansible" or "extensible" patents, this patent generally anticipates the concept of an expandable or contractible article, relevant to the broad adjustability stated in claims 1, 10, and 17.

5. US3272583A - Sliding adjustable drawer

• Full Citation: US3272583A, Edward P Averdieck, published 1966-09-13.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1964-12-21, Published 1966-09-13.
• Brief Description: This patent directly describes a "sliding adjustable drawer." This title suggests mechanisms for adjustment and the use of sliding components within a drawer context.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly covers a "sliding adjustable drawer." It likely anticipates the core concept of an adjustable drawer that uses sliding mechanisms for adjustment, as described in the preambles of claims 1, 10, and 17. Depending on its specific structural details, it could potentially anticipate the "slidably received" aspects of claims 1 and 17, and possibly the general idea of movable connecting elements.

6. US3463343A - Adjustable circuit board box

• Full Citation: US3463343A, Shell Oil Co, published 1969-08-26.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1967-08-28, Published 1969-08-26.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an adjustable circuit board box, implying a container with changeable dimensions to accommodate different circuit board sizes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates the concept of an "adjustable" container or box. Its relevance to claims 1, 10, and 17 would depend on whether its adjustment mechanisms align with the specific "connecting elements" and "openings" claimed in US12478181.

7. US5016772A - Collapsible receptacle assembly and related method

• Full Citation: US5016772A, Wilk Peter J, published 1991-05-21.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1990-03-02, Published 1991-05-21.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a collapsible receptacle assembly, indicating a container that can be folded or reduced in size.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focusing on "collapsible" rather than "expandable," the underlying principle of changing container dimensions is present. It could broadly anticipate the "expandable or contractible" aspect in claims 1, 10, and 17.

8. US5192019A - Package product display box having adjustable length feature

• Full Citation: US5192019A, The Mike Meehan Company, published 1993-03-09.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 1992-06-18, Published 1993-03-09.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a display box with an "adjustable length feature," directly addressing adjustability in one dimension.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference directly anticipates the "adjustable length" aspect of US12478181. It could potentially anticipate the "at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is movable along a length direction of the drawer body for adjustment" found in claims 1, 10, and 17. Closer examination of its mechanism would be needed to assess anticipation of the specific "sliding groove" or "array of openings" features.

9. US7594706B2 - Adjustable sliding sink drawer

• Full Citation: US7594706B2, Styka Kimberly A, published 2009-09-29.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 2005-11-18, Published 2009-09-29.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an "adjustable sliding sink drawer," which combines the concepts of adjustability and a drawer that slides, specifically for a sink application.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it explicitly refers to an "adjustable sliding sink drawer." It likely anticipates the core concept of an adjustable drawer and the use of sliding elements for adjustment, as broadly described in claims 1, 10, and 17. Depending on its specific construction, it could also potentially anticipate aspects of how connecting elements are made movable or secured.

10. US8608262B1 - Expandable drawer

• Full Citation: US8608262B1, Davide A. Daros, published 2013-12-17.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 2010-11-15, Published 2013-12-17.
• Brief Description: This patent directly describes an "expandable drawer," indicating a drawer designed to change its dimensions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly covers an "expandable drawer." It likely anticipates the fundamental idea of a drawer that can be expanded or contracted in width and/or length, as described in claims 1, 10, and 17. The specific mechanisms of expansion would determine if it anticipates the detailed interlocking or fastening features of US12478181.

11. US8807355B2 - Expandible container

• Full Citation: US8807355B2, Thomas B. Merey, published 2014-08-19.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 2011-06-28, Published 2014-08-19.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an "expandible container," a general term for a container capable of increasing its volume or dimensions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other "expansible" references, this patent broadly anticipates the "expandable or contractible" characteristic of the drawer body in claims 1, 10, and 17.

12. US9408498B2 - Adjustable liner for use in deep fryers of different widths

• Full Citation: US9408498B2, Donna Eve Radtke Sekora, published 2016-08-09.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 2012-06-22, Published 2016-08-09.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an "adjustable liner" specifically for deep fryers, with a focus on accommodating "different widths."
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference directly addresses "adjustable widths," which is a key feature of US12478181. It could potentially anticipate the "at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is movable along a width direction of the drawer body for adjustment" in claims 1, 10, and 17, particularly regarding width adjustment mechanisms.

13. US9624000B1 - Article holding tray

• Full Citation: US9624000B1, Sonya McLaughlin, published 2017-04-18.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed 2015-02-18, Published 2017-04-18.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an "article holding tray." While the title doesn't explicitly mention adjustability, it's a general category that could encompass adjustable designs.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without more specific details about its adjustability, this patent's anticipation is less direct. It could broadly be considered in the context of any "drawer configuration" or "tray" as a receptacle, but its impact on the adjustable features of US12478181 is not immediately clear from the title alone.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art:

The most relevant prior art documents appear to be those that explicitly mention "adjustable drawer," "sliding adjustable drawer," "expandable drawer," or similar concepts that directly relate to the core inventive step of US12478181. These include:

• US3272583A - Sliding adjustable drawer: Directly relevant due to the explicit mention of a "sliding adjustable drawer."
• US7594706B2 - Adjustable sliding sink drawer: Highly relevant for combining "adjustable," "sliding," and "drawer."
• US8608262B1 - Expandable drawer: Directly relevant as it claims an "expandable drawer."
• US5192019A - Package product display box having adjustable length feature: Relevant for its focus on adjustable length.
• US9408498B2 - Adjustable liner for use in deep fryers of different widths: Relevant for its focus on adjustable width.

These patents would require a detailed claim-by-claim comparison to determine precise anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, particularly concerning the specific interlocking mechanisms (first and second bent portions, sliding grooves) and the fastening system (arrays of openings and fasteners) detailed in claims 1, 10, and 17 of US12478181.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 12478181 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis will assess the obviousness of US patent 12478181 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, considering the provided prior art references. An invention is considered obvious 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 to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA). This analysis involves determining the scope and content of the prior art, ascertaining the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art, and identifying the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, along with any secondary considerations of non-obviousness.

The USPTO provides guidance for determining obviousness, emphasizing that rejections must be supported by articulated reasoning and a rational underpinning, not mere conclusory statements. Common rationales for obviousness include combining familiar elements to yield predictable results, substituting one known equivalent for another, and applying a known technique to a known device ready for improvement to yield predictable results.

Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art:
A person having ordinary skill in the art related to adjustable drawers would likely have a background in furniture design, carpentry, mechanical assembly, or a related engineering field. They would be familiar with common construction techniques for drawers, different types of drawer slides, and methods for creating adjustable or modular components in furniture.

Analysis of Independent Claims 1, 10, and 17

The core of US12478181 lies in its adjustable drawer body, formed from connecting elements that allow for both width and length adjustment, ultimately enabling the drawer to expand or contract to fit various cabinet sizes. The adjustability is achieved through stacking portions with openings and fasteners, and/or slidably nested outer edges.

Prior Art References and their Relevance:

• US3272583A (Averdieck): Sliding adjustable drawer: This patent, filed in 1964 and issued in 1966, describes a "sliding adjustable drawer." This reference is highly relevant as it directly addresses the concept of an adjustable drawer, a central feature of US12478181.
• US8608262B1 (Daros): Expandable drawer: This 2013 patent also directly addresses the concept of an "expandable drawer," further demonstrating that adjustability in drawer dimensions is a known concept in the prior art.
• US20030052582A1 (Drawers with adjustable drawer dividers): While focused on adjustable dividers within a drawer, this patent still demonstrates the concept of adjustability within a drawer context. Specifically, it describes increasing the width of a compartment by placing an insert and mentions adjustable dividers that can have equal or non-equal dimensions.
• US1746720A (Sullivan): Adjustable tray: This 1930 patent describes an "adjustable tray," demonstrating the broader concept of adjustability in storage containers.
• US2627801A (Manfred): Extensible cake pan: This 1953 patent describes an "extensible cake pan," further illustrating the concept of adjustability (expansion) in container design.
• US2907487A (Harrington): Expansible containers: This 1959 patent also teaches "expansible containers."
• US2948624A (Watson): Expansible metal foil package: This 1960 patent further reinforces the concept of "expansible" or adjustable containers.
• US5016772A (Wilk): Collapsible receptacle assembly and related method: This 1991 patent shows a "collapsible receptacle assembly," which implies adjustability in terms of size or configuration.
• US5192019A (The Mike Meehan Company): Package product display box having adjustable length feature: This 1993 patent explicitly discloses an "adjustable length feature" in a box.
• US7594706B2 (Styka): Adjustable sliding sink drawer: This 2009 patent combines the concepts of adjustability and sliding drawers, similar to the general idea of the claimed invention.
• US8807355B2 (Merey): Expandible container: This 2014 patent again teaches an "expandible container," highlighting the commonality of adjustable dimensions.
• US9408498B2 (Sekora): Adjustable liner for use in deep fryers of different widths: This 2016 patent focuses on width adjustability.
• US9624000B1 (McLaughlin): Article holding tray: This 2017 patent also describes an "article holding tray."

Obviousness Combinations:

Combination 1: US3272583A (Averdieck) in view of US8608262B1 (Daros) and the general knowledge of modular design and fasteners.

• Motivation to combine: A PHOSITA, aware of the need for drawers that can fit various cabinet sizes (as articulated in US12478181's background), would be motivated to improve the adjustability of existing adjustable drawers. The concept of modularity and using fasteners for adjustable components is well-known in mechanical design.

• Reasoning for obviousness:

  • US3272583A (Averdieck) discloses a "sliding adjustable drawer" and thus provides the foundational concept of a drawer that can be adjusted.
  • US8608262B1 (Daros) further teaches an "expandable drawer," reinforcing the idea of a drawer whose dimensions can be altered.
  • Considering these, a PHOSITA would readily understand that an adjustable drawer could be constructed from multiple connecting elements that slide relative to each other to achieve width and/or length adjustment. The specific mechanism of "first" and "second" connecting elements with bent portions forming sliding grooves (as detailed in Claims 1 and 17) represents a known method for creating a slidable, nested connection, commonly seen in expandable structures. This is particularly evident when considering the general design principle of making parts "integral, separable, or adjustable," which is often considered obvious unless new and unexpected results are achieved.
  • The use of openings and fasteners (as described in Claims 1, 10, and 17) to secure adjustable components is a routine mechanical design choice. Numerous prior art references, such as those related to adjustable trays or containers (e.g., US1746720A, US2627801A, US2907487A, US2948624A, US5192019A, US8807355B2), demonstrate the widespread use of such fastening mechanisms for achieving adjustability. The selection of elongated oval holes or circular holes for these openings would be a matter of design choice, as both are common in mechanical fastenings to allow for tolerance or precise positioning.
  • Therefore, designing an adjustable drawer by having connecting elements that slidably nest and are secured in various positions by fasteners through aligned openings would be an obvious combination of known elements with predictable results.

Combination 2: US7594706B2 (Styka) in view of US20030052582A1 (Drawers with adjustable drawer dividers) and US9408498B2 (Sekora).

• Motivation to combine: A PHOSITA seeking to create a versatile drawer system would be motivated to combine features from existing adjustable drawer mechanisms and those that offer internal adjustability. The goal would be to provide both external dimensional adjustability and internal organizational flexibility.

• Reasoning for obviousness:

  • US7594706B2 (Styka) teaches an "adjustable sliding sink drawer," establishing the concept of a drawer that is both adjustable and slides.
  • US20030052582A1 (Drawers with adjustable drawer dividers), while primarily about internal dividers, illustrates the general principle of adjustable components within a drawer, including adjusting width.
  • US9408498B2 (Sekora) specifically addresses "adjustable liner for use in deep fryers of different widths," directly showing the utility of width adjustability in a storage context.
  • A PHOSITA combining Styka's adjustable sliding drawer with the concepts of internal and external width adjustability from US20030052582A1 and US9408498B2 would find it obvious to apply the principle of using multiple, interconnected components to create an overall adjustable drawer body. The idea of having "connecting elements" that allow for expansion and contraction along both length and width (as in Claims 1, 10, and 17) would be a natural extension of these prior art teachings.
  • The arrangement of openings in an array (as in Claim 10) on the bottom surface of connecting elements for securing them with fasteners is a predictable design choice for achieving incremental adjustability. This is a common engineering solution for modular systems.

General Obviousness Considerations:

The overall concept of an "adjustable drawer" is well-represented in the prior art through various patents disclosing adjustable trays, expandable containers, and even specific adjustable drawers (e.g., US3272583A, US8608262B1, US7594706B2). The specific mechanisms employed in US12478181 for achieving adjustability (e.g., stacked connecting elements, sliding grooves, fasteners through aligned openings) appear to be combinations of known mechanical elements. Making a device adjustable, or making parts integral or separable, is often considered obvious in the absence of new and unexpected results.

The problem solved by US12478181—matching drawers to various cabinet sizes—is a long-standing design challenge in home furnishings, as acknowledged in the patent's background. Solving a known problem with known tools and predictable results generally points towards obviousness.

Conclusion on Obviousness:

Based on the cited prior art, the claims of US12478181 appear to be obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103. A person having ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine the existing teachings of adjustable/expandable drawers and containers with common mechanical fastening techniques to create a drawer adjustable in both length and width. The specific configurations of connecting elements, sliding mechanisms, and fastening methods described in the claims represent predictable applications and combinations of known design principles in the field of furniture and modular storage.