DETAILED 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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I (claims 1-4) in the reply filed on 01/21/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that all pending claims recite subject matter related to a heating apparatus. This is not found persuasive because the independent claims disclose different inventions and do not overlap in scope.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/28/2022 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ieda et al (JP 2001301447 A).
Regarding claim 1, Ieda discloses a heating apparatus, comprising:
a motor control unit, having an inverter (Fig. 1 #7 inverter device) and a controller (Fig. 1 #20 control device) that are connected to each other;
an electric heater (Fig. 1 #s16 and 18 first and second heating means);
and a motor (Fig. 1 #6 three-phase motor), having three-phase windings, wherein ends of the three-phase windings are connected to the inverter (Shown in figure 1), other ends of the three-phase windings are connected to a connection point (Shown in the figure below), and the connection point (Shown in the figure below) is connected to the electric heater (Fig. 1 #s16 and 18 first and second heating means).
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Regarding claim 2, Ieda teaches the heating apparatus as appears above (see the rejection of claim 1), and Ieda teaches further comprising a switch (Fig. 1 #s 15 and 17 first and second electromagnetic relay) disposed between the motor (Fig. 1 #6 three-phase motor) and the electric heater (Fig. 1 #s16 and 18 first and second heating means).
Regarding claim 3, Ieda teaches the heating apparatus as appears above (see the rejection of claim 2), and Ieda teaches wherein the switch (Fig. 1 #s 15 and 17 first and second electromagnetic relay) is configured to switch the electric heater (Fig. 1 #s16 and 18 first and second heating means) and the motor (Fig. 1 #6 three-phase motor) to form a serial connection (Fig. 1 shows a serial connection between the motor, switch, and heater.) or parallel connection loop.
Regarding claim 4, Ieda teaches the heating apparatus as appears above (see the rejection of claim 2), and Ieda teaches wherein the switch (Fig. 1 #s 15 and 17 first and second electromagnetic relay) is connected to the controller (Fig. 1 #20 control device), and the controller (Fig. 1 #20 control device) controls opening and closing of the switch (Fig. 1 #s 15 and 17 first and second electromagnetic relay) (Page 5 para 3-4 “The inverter device 7 and the relays 15 and 17 are controlled by a control device 20 described later.”).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOE E MILLS JR. whose telephone number is (571)272-8449. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ibrahime Abraham can be reached at (571) 270-5569. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOE E MILLS JR./Examiner, Art Unit 3761
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