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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 12/22/2025 has been entered.
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) 7-10, 12, 14-16 and 21is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schwobe et al. (9,890,873)
Regarding claim 7, Schwobe et al. shows A sprinkler system, comprising: one or more pipes (40) that receive fluid from a fluid supply (20); at least one fluid distribution device (col 4, line 20) coupled with the one or more pipes; a solenoid valve (136) coupled with the one or more pipes between the fluid supply and the at least one fluid distribution device, the solenoid valve selectively allows fluid to flow from the fluid supply to the at least one fluid distribution device; and a valve sensor (152) that triggers an alarm (col 7, lines 33-35) responsive to detecting that the solenoid valve is not in an operational state (if the valve is removed,152 triggers the alarm. When the valve is removed it is not in an operational state) a bracket (111 or 155) comprising a first end that couples with the solenoid valve (the larger diameter roundish section that houses the coil and connects to the valve 136, fig 2, 4) and a second end (the smaller roundish end that attaches with the valve sensor (fig 2, 4, 5), the second end radially outward from the first end relative to the solenoid valve (fig 2, 5), the bracket comprising a bend (fig 2 and 5 shows a bend between the larger diameter and the smaller diameter roundish sections) between the first end and the second end to position the valve sensor in a sensor position at which the valve sensor is expected to detect the solenoid valve at a target position in which the solenoid valve is in the operational state (fig 3); and a fastener (138 or 158) to secure the first end of the bracket to the solenoid valve.
Regarding claim 8, an alarm (the device that provides the above alarm signal) that outputs an indication of an alarm condition responsive to the valve sensor triggering the alarm.
Regarding claim 9, a fire detector (50 includes a fire sensor) that outputs a detection signal responsive to detecting a fire condition; and a controller (50) that causes the solenoid valve to change from a closed state to an open state responsive to the detection signal to allow the fluid from the fluid supply to flow to the at least one fluid distribution device (col 4, lines 24-35).
Regarding claim 10, a fire control panel (50) that causes the solenoid valve to change from a closed state to an open state responsive to detecting a fire condition to allow the fluid from the fluid supply to flow to the at least one fluid distribution device, the fire control panel outputs an indication of an alarm condition responsive to the valve sensor triggering the alarm (col 7, lines 33-35).
Regarding claim 12, the solenoid valve comprises a core (126) and a coil (132) that surrounds the core in the operational state, and the fastener secures the first end of the bracket to the coil (fig 3 the fastener 138 holes the cap in place which holds the coil in place).
Regarding claim 14, the valve sensor causes the alarm to be triggered responsive to detecting that the solenoid valve is not in the operational state while the solenoid valve is receiving an electrical current (the valve sensor triggers the alarm weather when solenoid valve is receiving electrical current and when it is not).
Regarding claim 15, the valve sensor includes at least one of a switch (159), an optical sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a radio frequency sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.
Regarding claim 16, the valve sensor causes the alarm to be triggered by at least one of outputting an electrical signal responsive to detecting that the solenoid valve is not in the operational state and discontinuing output of the electrical signal responsive to detecting that the solenoid valve is not in the operational state (this is how an electrical switch works).
Regarding claim 21, the fastener removably couples the first end of the bracket with the solenoid valve (fig 4) such that the second end of the bracket is to be attached with the valve sensor while the first end of the bracket is decoupled from the solenoid valve (fig 4).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/22/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Please see the modified 102 rejections above for the examiner’s new interpretation of the Schwobe et al reference.
The examiner notes that the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 155 can both be considered the bracket.
155 and 111 includes a first end that couples with the solenoid valve (the larger diameter roundish section that houses the coil and connects to the valve 136, fig 2, 4, 5) and a second end (the smaller roundish end that attaches with the valve sensor (fig 2, 4, 5), the second end radially outward from the first end relative to the solenoid valve (fig 2, 4, 5), the bracket comprising a bend (fig 2 and 5 shows a bend between the larger diameter and the smaller diameter roundish sections) between the first end and the second end.
The above rejection is being maintained.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON J BOECKMANN whose telephone number is (571)272-2708. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm.
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, Arthur Hall can be reached on (571) 270-1814. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JASON J BOECKMANN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 3/4/2026