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
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The response filed on February 18, 2026 is acknowledged.
Claim Interpretation
A recitation that an element is “being connectable” merely requires the ability to connect. The function is not a positively recited limitation.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-16, 18 and 19 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 1 recites the limitation “the first inlet (24) being connectable separately to a first supply line (16) of a fitting (15) which opens into the outer duct (2), wherein the first supply line (16) is connected to a first liquid source assigned to the outer duct (2)” in lines 12-14. The recitation “being connectable” merely requires the capability to connect. It does not constitute a positively recited limitation. Yet, the claim recites “wherein the first supply line (16) is connected to a first liquid source assigned to the outer duct (2).” It is uncertain whether the “first supply line” and the “first liquid source” are positively recited limitations or merely a continuation of the “being connectable” phrase. If the “first supply line” and the “first liquid source” are positively recited limitations, they exceed the scope of the preamble, a jet regulator, because the first supply line and the first liquid source are elements outside the jet regulator.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the second inlet (25) being connectable separately to a second supply line (17) of the fitting (15) which is connected to the inner duct (3), wherein the second supply line (17) is connected to a second liquid source assigned to the inner duct (3)” in lines 15-17. The recitation “being connectable” merely requires the capability to connect. It does not constitute a positively recited limitation. Yet, the claim recites “wherein the second supply line (17) is connected to a second liquid source assigned to the inner duct (3).” It is uncertain whether the “second supply line” and the “second liquid source” are positively recited limitations or merely a continuation of the “being connectable” phrase. If the “second supply line” and the “second liquid source” are positively recited limitations, they exceed the scope of the preamble, a jet regulator, because the second supply line and the second liquid source are elements outside the jet regulator.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1-3, 9-11, 13, 14, 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Williamson (2,359,455).
Williamson discloses a jet regulator comprising:
two mutually separate ducts 1, 22, the two mutually separate ducts comprising an outer duct 1, 8 and an inner duct 22 disposed inside the outer duct;
the outer duct comprising a splitter unit 4, 5, 6 through which a water guide (portion of nozzle 22 in tubular extension 6) of the inner duct 22 is inserted;
the water guide having a latching groove (groove formed between shoulder 26 and disc valve 28) fixes (nozzle/tube 22 cannot move further downward when valve 28 abuts tubular extension 6 and nozzle/tube 22 cannot move further upward when shoulder 26 abuts tubular extension 6) the water guide to the splitter unit in two axial directions (upstream direction and downstream direction) along a longitudinal axis (vertical longitudinal axis in figures 1-3) parallel to a flow path (vertical flow path in figures 1-3);
the outer duct having a first inlet (at threads 2) and the inner duct has a second inlet 25 that is separate from the first inlet,
the first inlet being connectable separately to a first supply line (not positively recited) of a fitting (not positively recited) which opens into the outer duct, wherein the first supply line is connected to a first liquid source (not positively recited, continuation of “being connectable”) assigned to the outer duct (a source can be connected to body 1 via threads 2), and
the second inlet being connectable separately to a second supply line (not positively recited) of the fitting (not positively recited) which is connected to the inner duct, wherein the second supply line is connected to a second liquid source (not positively recited) assigned to the inner duct (a separate source can be connected to ports 25 by, for example, friction fit; the sources can be nested/concentric pipes);
wherein the latching groove is a circumferential latching groove and wherein the water guide is a water guide sleeve having the circumferential latching groove (space between shoulder 26 and tip 27) in which the splitter unit, in a latched position (stop limit position of nozzle 22 in tubular extension 6) of the water guide, is disposed;
wherein the longitudinal axis passes through a geometric center of the inner duct, wherein the latching groove is axially delimited, along the longitudinal axis, by two shoulders 26, 27 of the water guide, wherein one of the two shoulders 27 has a lesser radial extent, in a radial direction measured from the geometric center of the inner duct and perpendicular the longitudinal axis, than the other shoulder 26, wherein the shoulder 27 with the lesser radial extent comprises a downstream sloped ramp (the frustoconical shape of tip 27 which is in the downstream end), by way of which the splitter unit is able to be introduced into the latching groove;
wherein the splitter unit has or is configured as a splitter plate (plate of nozzle 1 having apertures 5) or a diffusor;
wherein further comprising an integrally-molded screen element (section having ports 25) is or configured in the water guide;
wherein the jet regulator has at least one attachment screen 10 or at least one screen insert 28;
wherein the outer duct has a first outlet (outlet at valve seat 16) and the inner duct has a second outlet (outlet at the downstream end of nozzle 22) that is separate from the first outlet;
wherein the flow path is a second flow path, wherein the outer duct provides a first flow path (flow path around nozzle 22) and the inner duct provides the second flow path (flow path through nozzle 22) that is mutually separate from the first flow path, and wherein the two mutually separate ducts are able to be simultaneously operated to provide the first flow path and the second flow path (especially in the mid position between figures 2 and 3).
wherein the outer duct has a first inlet (inlet at threads 2) and the inner duct has a second inlet (inlet at openings 25) that is separate from the first inlet, and the outer duct has a first outlet (outlet at valve seat 16) and the inner duct has a second outlet (outlet at the downstream end of nozzle 22) that is separate from the first outlet.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed February 18, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that claims 4-8, 12, 15, 16 and 18 would be allowable if amended to overcome the 112(b) rejections. Claims 4-8, 12, 15, 16 and 18 have been rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for being indefinite. Allowability of claims 4-8, 12, 15, 16 and 18 is withheld until the resolution of the indefiniteness and determination of the scope of the claimed invention.
Regarding Williamson, the first inlet (at threads 2) and the second inlet 25 are connectable to separate supply lines via concentric/nested tubing/pipes using threaded/friction fit connects.
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 CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur O Hall can be reached at (571) 270-1814. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK