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 .
Response to Amendment
This Action is in response to Applicant’s Reply of June 18, 2026.
Claims 2-6 have been cancelled.
Applicant’s amendment to claim 1 overcomes the previously presented objection to the drawings.
Applicant’s amendments to claims 4-7 and 11 overcome the previously presented 35 USC 112(b) rejections thereof.
Applicant’s amendment to claim 1 overcomes the previously presented 35 USC 102(a)(1) rejection thereof.
Response to Arguments
Applicant has indicated that claim 1 was amended to address the 35 USC 112(b) rejection thereof presented in the previous Office Action however the amendments referenced on page 5 of Applicant’s Reply are not reflected in the claim amendments. As such, the 35 USC 112(b) rejection of claim 1 has been repeated below.
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 and 7-14 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.
Regarding claim 1: In lines 10 and 11, the phrase "by extruding an outer surface of the water pipe of an integrally formed integral structure" is considered generally confusing. It is unclear what the "integrally formed integral structure" is and how it relates to the water pipe jacket or water pipe.
Regarding claim 1: In line 12, the phrase "two ends of both sides" is considered generally confusing. This implies that both sides of the cable have two ends.
Regarding claims 7-14: These claims are considered indefinite due to their dependence on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 7-14 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1: The prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest a multifunctional pipe that includes water pipe with an intermediate pipe section and two flared pipe sections with a sheath arranged on each of the flared pipe sections, wherein one or more threading holes for a self-temperature-limiting heating tape to penetrate out are formed in the sheath as recited in the claimed combination.
Regarding claims 7-14: These claims are considered allowable due to their dependence on claim 1.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER H GAY whose telephone number is (571)272-7029. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 6-3:30 and every other Friday 6-11.
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 examiner’s supervisor, Anita Y Coupe can be reached at (571)270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JENNIFER H GAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
JHG
7/13/2026
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