DETAILED ACTION
The indicated allowability of claims 7-8 and 13 is withdrawn after further consideration of the reference to Nakajima et al.
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 7-8, 12, and 14-17 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.
Claim 7 recites “at least one inlet valve receptacle configured to receive an inlet valve of the slip control assembly” and later recites “an inlet valve receptacle of the receptacles for valves of the slip control system.” It is not clear from the claim language if the later recited “an inlet valve receptacle” corresponds to the “at least one inlet valve receptacle”, or is an additional receptacle.
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) 7-8, 13, and 16-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nakajima et al (US# 2002/0025400).
Regarding claim 7, Nakajima et al disclose all the limitations of the instant claim including; hydraulic block 20 for a hydraulic assembly for a slip control system of a hydraulic vehicle braking system, comprising; receptacles for valves 5/6 of the slip control system, the receptacles for valves including at least one inlet valve receptacle 23 configured to receive an inlet valve 5 of the slip control assembly and at least one outlet valve receptacle 24 configured to receive an outlet valve 6 of the slip control assembly, the at least one inlet valve receptacle and the at least one outlet valve receptacle being defined in a first side 20a of the hydraulic block; a receptacle for a hydraulic pump 112 defined in a second side (bottom side of block, Fig. 7) of the hydraulic block and assigned to a first brake circuit 22 of the hydraulic vehicle braking system; a receptacle 33 for a pressure-change damper 142 defined in the first side 20a of the hydraulic block and assigned to the first brake circuit; and a receptacle for a throttle 152 defined in a third side (top, fig. 6) of the hydraulic block and assigned to the first brake circuit; a bore that connects a delivery side of the hydraulic pump 112 arranged in the receptacle for the hydraulic pump to the receptacle for the throttle 152, and to an inlet valve receptacle 23 of the receptacles for valves of the slip control system.
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Regarding claim 8, the bore further connects to a master cylinder line connection 22 configured to connect to a master cylinder M.
Regarding claim 13, Nakajima et al disclose all the limitations of the instant claim including; hydraulic block 20 for a hydraulic assembly for a slip control system of a hydraulic vehicle braking system, comprising; receptacles for valves 5/6 of the slip control system, the receptacles for valves including at least one inlet valve receptacle 23 configured to receive an inlet valve 5 of the slip control assembly and at least one outlet valve receptacle 24 configured to receive an outlet valve 6 of the slip control assembly, the at least one inlet valve receptacle and the at least one outlet valve receptacle being defined in a first side 20a of the hydraulic block; a receptacle for a hydraulic pump 112 defined in a second side (bottom side of block, Fig. 7) of the hydraulic block and assigned to a first brake circuit 22 of the hydraulic vehicle braking system; a receptacle 33 for a pressure-change damper 142 defined in the first side 20a of the hydraulic block and assigned to the first brake circuit; and a receptacle for a throttle 152 defined in a third side (top, fig. 6) of the hydraulic block and assigned to the first brake circuit, wherein the at least one inlet valve receptacle 23 and the at least one outlet valve receptacle 24 are configured to receive solenoid valves as the inlet valve 5 and outlet valve 6, respectively.
Regarding claim 16, the receptacle for the pressure-change damper 142 and the receptacle for the throttle 152 are arranged at an offset in relation to one another. Figure 6.
Regarding claim 17, the receptacle for the pressure-change damper 142 and the receptacle for the throttle 152 intersect one another or open into one another. Figure 6.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-6, 9-11 and 18-19 are allowed.
Claims 20-21 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 12 and 14-15 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRADLEY T KING whose telephone number is (571)272-7117. The examiner can normally be reached 10:30-5:00 PM.
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/BRADLEY T KING/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3616
BTK
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