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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/25/2026 has been entered.
Claim Status
Claims 1,2,6,8,9,12,13,14 and 17-19 have been amended.
Claims 3-5,7,11,15,16 and 20 have been canceled.
Claims 1,2,6,8-10,12-14 and 17-19 are pending and examined as follows:
Claim Objections
Claims 1,6,8 and 13 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1:
The limitation “exchangers are coupled” should be - - exchangers being coupled - - one line 3.
The limitation “fan is split” should be - - fan being split - - on line 10.
Claim 6:
The limitation “a first heat exchanger of the heat exchangers is configured to transfer heat from the exhaust gasses to a liquid, wherein the liquid is water for sanitary or cooking purposes, to be heated and/or a second heat exchanger of the heat exchangers is configured to transfer heat from the exhaust gasses to a gas, wherein the gas is ventilation air from an indoor room of the recreational vehicle, to be heated” should be - -a first heat exchanger of the heat exchangers is configured to transfer heat from the exhaust gasses to a liquid to be heated, wherein the liquid is water for sanitary or cooking purposes, to be heated, wherein the gas is ventilation air from an indoor room of the recreational vehicle,
Claim 8:
The limitation “both, of the heat exchangers is/are” should be - - both of the heat exchangers are - - on line 2.
The limitation "through the respective heat exchanger" should be - - through the heat exchangers - - lines 4-5.
The limitation “exhaust piping(s) has/have a tubular shape” should be - - the exhaust gas piping has a tubular shape - - on line 7.
The limitation “within the corresponding heat exchanger” should be - - within the
Claim 13
The limitation “wheel, in the form of an impeller” should be - - wheel in the form of an impeller - - on line 8.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim 8 is 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 8, the phrase "in particular" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Response to Amendment
The amendments to claim 1,17 and 18 overcome the previous 112(f) interpretation concerning heat exchanging unit, secondary air supply arrangement and ventilation air driving unit. Preheating portion in claim 19 has not been amended and is still considered to invoke 112(f) as stated in the previous office action.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claims 1,2,6,9,10,12-14 and 17-19 are allowable because the prior art does not disclose or teach the burners being coupled in parallel, the at least one combustion air fan unit having a fan positioned before the burners, the fan at least partially positioned within two housing elements, at least one of the two housing elements having an air outlet to be coaxially aligned with at least one burner of the burners, a flow of combustion air generated by the fan being split between the burners.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS JOHN WARD whose telephone number is (571)270-1786. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, EDWARD LANDRUM can be reached at 5712725567. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THOMAS J WARD/ Examiner, Art Unit 3761
/JOHN J NORTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
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