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 .
Claim Interpretation
In claim 1, line 10, the phrase “at least one functional ion chemical” is interpreted as chemical containing ion particles as used in clothes sterilizing technology of washing and drying machines (see reference CN 111485367, KR -20070011757A). See also claim 10, wherein applicant further defining the at least on functional ion chemical as a chemical selected from the group consisting of silver ion, titanium ion, copper ion, and zinc ion chemicals, or a combination thereof.
In claim 9 and 19, lines 1-2 each, the measurement unit “Kg” in the phrase “the predetermined pressure is 2 Kg” is interpreted as “Kilogram-force per square centimeter” for the measurement of a “pressure”, not as the “Kilogram” measuring a mass.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The 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 1-20 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.
In claim 1, lines 12, 14, 15 and 16, the phrase “the functional ion chemical” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrase “the at least one functional ion chemical” is assumed (see claim 1, line 10).
In claim 1, line 11, the phrase “the chemical pipeline” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrase “a chemical pipeline” is assumed.
In claim 10, line 1, the phrase “the functional ion chemical” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrase “the at least one functional ion chemical” is assumed.
In claim 11, line 3, the phrase “a base fabric” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrase “the base fabric” is assumed.
In claim 20, line 1, the phrase “the functional ion chemical” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrase “the at least one functional ion chemical” is assumed.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claims 2-20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art of record teaches an apparatus KR -20070011757A for sterilized drying of clothes provided with a processing cavity (drum 12 with a door 15 having air inlet 45) and a chemical tank with chemical and steam pipeline delivering functional ion (an anion generator 37 for supplying water containing silver ions to the steam generator 30 is provided, wherein a steam supply pipe 33 extending from the steam generator 30 toward the rotating drum 12), and a control unit 140 supplies the silver nano steam to the clothes being dried for a predetermined time. However, KR’757 lacks teaching the apparatus for processing a base fabric overlaid on a frame, an airtight forming door, a pump set in communication with the chemical pipeline and the steam pipeline and an automated control device controlling operation of the steam device and the pump set. Actually, KR’757 teaches a drain pump. CA 3,118,386 also teaches (see Fig 1) an apparatus for sterilizing an object in a chamber (10) with a door making the inside of the chamber airtight keeping the chamber at predetermined pressure and temperature (see para [0048]), a chemical tank (a bottle delivering aqueous hydrogen peroxide,21a, 21b), a tube pump (23) to suck the aqueous solution, an evaporator 26 injecting ozone and a control unit (60) controlling the driving operations of the sterilizer 100. CA’386 lacks teaching a pump set in communication with the chemical pipeline and the steam pipeline and an automated control device controlling operation of the steam device and the pump set and a fabric processing apparatus with a base fabric overlaid on a frame. Instead, the apparatus sterilizes medical instruments and the controller controls injection of ozone into the chamber through valves. Furthermore, in CA’386 the chemical tank does not deliver at least one functional ion to the processing cavity or chamber. WO 93/05196 and Payet et al (US 3,712,083) teach apparatus for treating fabric articles (see Fig 1 of each), but the apparatuses are not used to sterilize fabric materials (the fabric containing cellulosic material is treated to improve durable press, not to sterilize fabric articles). Although each of WO’196 and Payet et al teaches a processing cavity (chamber, item 10 for each), a frame (cart 28, hanger 24 respectively) provided for laying clothing, a door (12, 18, sealed airtight in Payet et al), a chemical supply source (62, 64 respectively), a steam supply (36, 67 respectively), a pump (42 in WO’196) and control panel (120 in WO’196); a chemical tank, provided for containing at least one functional ion chemical, communicated with the steam pipeline through the chemical pipeline to deliver the functional ion chemical to the processing cavity is not taught in both WO’196 and Payet et al. CN 111485367A also teaches (see Description) various clothes sterilizing technologies of washing machine comprises ozone sterilizing, silver ion sterilizing, light sterilizing, electrolytic water sterilizing, high temperature removing bacteria and sterilizing liquid. The washing machine of CN’367 has a cavity (11) and uses a steam and silver ion particles to sterilize clothes (see claims and Fig 1). However, CN’367 or the closest prior art of record, the sterilized drying of KR’757, the sterilizing washing machine of CN’367, the sterilizer of CA’386, apparatuses for treating fabric of WO’196 and Payet et al all teach some aspects of the claim such as a chemical tank containing at least one functional ion chemical, processing cavity having a working door used for forming an airtight state inside the processing cavity, a pump, and an automatic control device coupled to the steam device, for controlling an operation state of the steam device but none of the references teach or suggest all of the many above limitations in claim 1 working in a single invention, wherein the sterilization fabric processing equipment, specifically comprising the combinations of a processing cavity forming airtight inside the processing cavity, a steam device coupled to the processing cavity through a steam pipeline, a chemical tank, provided for containing at least one functional ion chemical, communicated with the steam pipeline through a chemical pipeline to deliver the functional ion chemical to the processing cavity keeping the interior of the processing cavity at a predetermined pressure; a pump set in communication with the chemical pipeline and the steam pipeline sending steam and the functional ion chemical into the processing cavity, wherein functional ions in the at least one functional ion chemical are combined tightly with heated fibers of the base fabric under the effect of the predetermined pressure; and an automatic control device, tele-communicatively coupled to the steam device and the pump set, for controlling an operation state of the steam device and the pump set, among others (see claim 1).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YEWEBDAR T TADESSE whose telephone number is (571)272-1238. The examiner can normally be reached 7.00-3:30 PM.
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YEWEBDAR T. TADESSE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1717
/YEWEBDAR T TADESSE/