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 of without traverse of group I in the reply filed on 11/25/25 is acknowledged.
Claim 3 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 11/25/25. Claims 4-17 directed to the system have been added. Claims 1-2 and 4-17 have been examined as follow:
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.
Claims 1-2 and 4-17 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 9-11, in the phrase “at least one cooling vortex cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in flow communication with the pressurized air source, and the outlet in flow communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil”, it is unclear if the outlet of each of the cooling vortex cylinders in fluid communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil. As shown in applicants’ Fig 3 “only” one cooling vortex cylinder (20) is in communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil (42). Cooling vortex cylinder (60) is not connected to inlet (42). Furthermore, the phrase “the inlet” on line 9 lacks proper antecedent basis in view of other “inlet” recited on line 5 or 8. Applicants’ Figure 3 also shows that both inlets (28, 38) of the cylinders 20 and 60 are in communication with the pressurized air source (as the inlets are compressed air inlet lines). For the purpose of examination, the phrase “at least one cooling vortex cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the at least one cooling vortex in flow communication with the pressurized air source, and the outlet of one of the at least one cooling vortex cylinder in flow communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil” is assumed. Furthermore
In claim 1, line 14, the phrase “the pressurized container outlet” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrases “a pressurized container inlet” and “a pressurized container outlet, the pressurized container inlet” are assumed on line 5.
In claim 2, line 16, the phrase “the pressurized container outlet” lacks proper antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the phrases “a pressurized container inlet” and “a pressurized container outlet, the pressurized container inlet” are assumed on line 5.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2 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 4-17 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: Structurally, Bernnan (US 2,683,623) appears to be the closest prior art of record disclosing an apparatus (see Fig 1) provided with a container (12), at least one coil (induction coil 31) in thermal contact with the container 12 having an inlet (14) and an outlet (opening on the base 11 at 35), a cooling vortex (a coil for cooling 27),a nozzle (26) having an air inlet port (28), a fluid inlet port (opening at valve seat 35) and a discharge nozzle (bores 42, 42, see Figs 3-4), the fluid inlet port is in communication with the container outlet, wherein the nozzle entrains a flow of fluid into a flow of pressurized air. However, Bernnan does not teach a pressurized container for holding liquid in communication with a pressurized air source and at least one cooling vortex cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the at least one cooling vortex in flow communication with the pressurized air source, and the outlet of one of the at least one cooling vortex cylinder in flow communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil. Courts (US 2,699,403) teaches a pressurized air source (13) in communication with a cooling cylinder (see coil inside ice machine 10), an air coil (inside ice machine 10), a container (tank 36) containing aqueous emulsion, and a coating application spray device (nozzle head 25). However, in Courts the tank is not pressurized and the coil is not in thermal contact with the tank wall. Schoop (US 1,179,762) teaches (see Figs 1-2) flasks (a) for compressed gas connected to a coil (c), a container (pressurized melting pot i), inlet of the container in communication with the pressurized air source, and a nozzle (g) in communication with the pressurized container outlet (see Fig 2). However, Schoop does not teach at least one cooling vortex cylinder and the coil is not provided in thermal contact with the container wall. Although, Schoop teaches a system for producing a temperature regulated fluid stream of surface coating material entrained in pressurized air, a cooling vortex cylinder is not disclosed in the coating apparatus of Schoop. Actually, Schoop teaches a burner provided for heating the coil and the air therein of the metallic coating apparatus (see Fig 1). As to claims 1 and 4-10, prior art of record does not disclose or suggest a system for producing a temperature regulated fluid stream of surface coating material entrained in pressurized air onto a surface to be coated, the system comprising, among others, a pressurized container for holding a quantity of liquid surface coating material, the pressurized container having a container wall, a pressurized container inlet, and a pressurized container outlet; at least one air flow coil in thermal contact with the container wall of the pressurized container, the at least one air flow coil having an inlet and an outlet; at least one cooling vortex cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the at least one cooling vortex in flow communication with the pressurized air source, and the outlet of one of the at least one cooling vortex cylinder in flow communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil; and a coating application spray device having an air inlet port, a fluid inlet port, and a discharge nozzle, the fluid inlet port in flow communication with the pressurized container outlet, the coating application spray device entraining a flow of fluid into a flow of pressurized air to be discharged from the discharge nozzle; wherein a flow of pressurized air through the at least one cooling vortex cylinder reduces the temperature of the air flow through the at least one air flow coil, thereby reducing the temperature of the container wall of the pressurized container, thereby reducing the temperature of a quantity of liquid surface coating material contained within the pressurized container.
As to claims 2 and 11-17, prior art of record does not disclose or suggest a system for producing a temperature regulated fluid stream of surface coating material entrained in pressurized air onto a surface similar to the claimed system of claim 1 (described above), further comprising, among others, the specific structures of at least one cooling vortex cylinder being: a first cooling vortex cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in flow communication with the pressurized air source, and the outlet in flow communication with the inlet of the at least one air flow coil; and a second cooling vortex cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in flow communication with the pressurized air source, the outlet in flow communication with the inlet of the pressurized container, wherein a flow of pressurized air through the first cooling vortex cylinder reduces the temperature of the air flow through the at least one air flow coil, thereby reducing the temperature of the container wall of the pressurized container, thereby reducing the temperature of a quantity of liquid surface coating material contained within the pressurized container, and wherein a flow of pressurized air through the second cooling vortex cylinder reduces the temperature of the air flow to the air inlet port of the coating application spray device, thereby reducing the temperature of the pressurized air to be entrained with the fluid flow of liquid surface coating material.
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/