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 amendment filed December 30th, 2025 has been entered. Claims 1-2 and 6-11 remain pending in the application. However, the amendment has raised other issues detailed below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Calderone (US 20190039440), hereinafter Calderone in view of Cho et al. (KR 20190068125), hereinafter Cho and Busch et al. (US 20230141829), hereinafter Busch.
Regarding claim 1, Calderone discloses a refrigerant circulation apparatus (Fig. 2), comprising:
a refrigerant circulation component (Fig. 2, entire assembly 200) including a compressor (Fig. 2, compressor 204), a condenser (Fig. 2, condenser 206), an expander (Fig. 2, thermal expansion valve 220), and an evaporator (Fig. 2, evaporator 222) forming a refrigerant cycle through circulation of a refrigerant (Pg. 5, paragraph 54, In particular, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 242, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the compressor 204 to the receiver-drier 210. Moreover, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 248, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the liquid-cooled condenser 206 to the compressor 204. Also, the manifold 202 contains a9 fluid point 244, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the receiver-drier 210 to the compressor 204. Additionally, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 254, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from a refrigerant charge source to the TXV 220 and the evaporator 222. Furthermore, the port 236 is included in the high pressure fluid routes and enables fluid communication from the compressor 204 to the liquid-cooled condenser 206); and
a support body (Fig. 2, manifold 202) having the compressor fixed to a first side (Fig. 2; Pg. 3, paragraph 39, The manifold 202 includes a first side and a second side on opposite sides of the manifold. For example, the first side can include a first major surface and the second side can include a second major surface. The first side faces or is exposed to the compressor 204, the ports 224, the sensor 232, the EXV motor 234, and the port 236), the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator are sequentially positioned on a second side of the support body along the refrigerant cycle of the refrigerant (Fig. 2; Pg. 3, paragraph 39, The second side faces or is exposed to the liquid-cooled condenser 206, the coolant container 208, the receiver-drier 210, the fluid handlers 212, the hose connector block 214, the hoses 216, the hoses 218, the TXV 220, the evaporator 222, the chiller 226, the ports 228, and the ports 230), and a plurality of flow paths are formed in the support body so that the refrigerant flows between the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator (Pg. 5, paragraph 54, As shown in FIG. 5, the manifold 202 contains high pressure fluid routes and low pressure fluid routes, which routes are suitable shaped channels or passages with the manifold 202. In particular, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 242, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the compressor 204 to the receiver-drier 210. Moreover, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 248, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the liquid-cooled condenser 206 to the compressor 204. Also, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 244, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the receiver-drier 210 to the compressor 204. Additionally, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 254, which is included in the high pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from a refrigerant charge source to the TXV 220 and the evaporator 222. Furthermore, the port 236 is included in the high pressure fluid routes and enables fluid communication from the compressor 204 to the liquid-cooled condenser 206);
wherein the first side of the support body is formed to match an outer shape of the compressor (The recitation, “wherein the first side of the support body is formed to match an outer shape of the compressor” is not a patentably distinct limitation of the claims as it has been held that the configuration of the claimed support body was a matter of choice which a person of ordinary skill in the art would have found obvious absent persuasive evidence that the particular configuration of the claimed support body was significant MPEP 2144.04, Section IV, Paragraph B), and the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator are positioned on the second side of the support body (Fig. 2; Pg. 3, paragraph 39, The second side faces or is exposed to the liquid-cooled condenser 206, the coolant container 208, the receiver-drier 210, the fluid handlers 212, the hose connector block 214, the hoses 216, the hoses 218, the TXV 220, the evaporator 222, the chiller 226, the ports 228, and the ports 230); and
an opening forming in the support body, the opening being positioned to align with the condenser and the evaporator, wherein the opening is positioned to avoid interference with flow paths formed in the support body (Fig. 5, opening 238; Pg. 3, paragraph 40, As illustrated best in FIG. 5, in a region of the manifold 202 that does not include fluid channels, a portion of the manifold 202 removed or not included so as to define an opening 238 therethrough, with the opening 238 extending between the first side and the second side. This enables the manifold to use less material, while still providing a coupling structure, thereby providing an advantage of a lower weight and use of less material. The compressor 204 may face the opening 238, which may include covering the opening 238. The manifold 202 defines the slot 240, which may be used for chassis mounting, such as via mating, interlocking, adhering, brazing, or other ways).
However, Calderone does not disclose wherein the second side of the support body is provided with a partition wall part dividing the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator, the partition wall part extending along an outer shape of the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator.
Cho teaches wherein the second side of the support body is provided with a partition wall part (Fig. 1, partition unit 140) dividing the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator (Fig. 1 of Cho depicts partition unit 140 to divide the condenser 20, expansion valve 30, evaporator 40), the partition wall part extending along an outer shape of the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator (Fig 1 of Cho depicts the partition unit 140 extending along an outer shape of the condenser 20, expansion valve30, evaporator 40).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the refrigerant circulation apparatus Calderone of claim 1 to include a partition wall part as taught by Cho. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to shield the system components from undesired heat transfer (Cho, Paragraph 85).
Further, Calderone as modified does not disclose the opening to be a plurality of slit holes formed in the support body, the plurality of slit holes being positioned to align with the condenser and the evaporator, positioned in a straight line and extending to a constant length along an axial direction of the compressor in the support body,
wherein the plurality of slit holes facilitate self-deformation of the support body to attenuate vibration transmitted from the compressor.
Busch teaches the use of a plurality of openings in a support body to reduce weight, the openings being dimensioned to avoid fluid ports and positioned in a straight line and extending to a constant length along an axial direction of the compressor in the support body (Fig. 3, recesses 26; Pg. 2, paragraph 40, The holding element 14 shown on FIG. 3 comprises several recesses 26 for weight reduction. A lower recess 31 is here dimensioned in such a way that a fluid port 32 of the condenser 11 and the evaporator 13 can be fluidically connected directly with the expansion device 12. The fluid ports 32 can thus engage through the lower recess 31, and thereby be coupled directly to the expansion -device 1; Further, Fig. 3 of Busch depicts recesses 26 to be positioned in a straight line and extending to a constant length along an axial direction of the compressor in the support body as a straight line can be drawn from end to end of the recesses 26 of Busch and the length of the recesses are constant as they are permanently formed in the holding element 14 with not perceived ability to change their length and further extend in a plurality of directions, including along an axial direction of the compressor),
wherein the plurality of slit holes facilitate self-deformation of the support body to attenuate vibration transmitted from the compressor (Recesses 26 of Busch have the same structure as the claimed plurality of slit holes and are capable of functioning in the manner claimed).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the support body of the refrigerant circulation apparatus of Calderone as modified wherein the opening is a plurality of openings formed in the support body, the plurality of openings being positioned to align with the condenser and the evaporator, positioned in a straight line and extending to a constant length along an axial direction of the compressor in the support body, wherein the plurality of slit holes facilitate self-deformation of the support body to attenuate vibration transmitted from the compressor as taught by Busch. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to improve the weight reduction of the refrigerant circulation apparatus (Busch, Pg. 2, paragraph 40). Moreover, regarding the shape of the openings being slit holes, the courts have held that a change in shape alone, without demonstration of the criticality of a specific limitation, may be considered obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. “In re Dailey, 357 F.2d 669, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966), [t]he court held that the configuration of the claimed disposable plastic nursing container was a matter of choice which a person of ordinary skill in the art would have found obvious absent persuasive evidence that the particular configuration of the claimed container was significant.” MPEP § 2144.04-IV-B.
Regarding claim 2, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 1 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 1 above), wherein the support body is formed from an elastic material such that vibration transmitted from the compressor is absorbed (Calderone, Pg. 2-3, paragraph 32, The manifold 102 may be made of a same or single material, such as plastic, metal, rubber, or others, or a combination of materials, such as a plastic and a metal or others; Pg. 3, paragraph 35, The manifold 202 is similar to or the same as the manifold 102, and can include the above-described features and characteristics).
Claims 6-8 and 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Calderone as modified by Cho and Busch as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Kim et al. (US Patent No. 10,427,500), hereinafter Kim.
Regarding claim 6, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 1 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 1 above), wherein the refrigerant circulation component further includes a receiver dryer (Calderone, Fig. 2, receiver-drier 210) on the second side of the support body (Calderone, Fig. 2; Pg. 3, paragraph 39, The second side faces or is exposed to the liquid-cooled condenser 206, the coolant container 208, the receiver-drier 210, the fluid handlers 212, the hose connector block 214, the hoses 216, the hoses 218, the TXV 220, the evaporator 222, the chiller 226, the ports 228, and the ports 230).
However, Calderone as modified does not disclose an accumulator on the second side of the support body.
Kim teaches an accumulator (Fig. 2, accumulator 145) on the second side of the support body (Fig. 2 of Kim depicts the accumulator 145 to be grouped with the condenser 120, evaporator 130, and expansion valve 140 which is considered herein to be equivalent to being on the second side of the support body since that is the location of the corresponding condenser 206, evaporator 222, and thermal expansion valve 220 in Calderone; Further, the connections of the accumulator 145 will remain the same when modified as described herein as taught by Kim; Col. 9, lines 15-19, The accumulator 145 is connected with the evaporator 130 through the expansion valve 140, and may supply only a gaseous refrigerant among the evaporated refrigerants to the compressor 110 while passing through the evaporator 130; Col. 9, lines 26-27, Herein, the accumulator 145 may be connected with the compressor 110 through a fifth connection pipe 165).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the refrigerant circulation apparatus of Calderone as modified to include an accumulator on the second side of the support body as taught by Kim. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to allow for only a gas refrigerant to be supplied to the compressor thereby improving efficiency and durability of the compressor (Kim, Col. 9, lines 20-25).
Regarding claim 7, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 6 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 6 above), wherein the compressor is provided on the first side of the support body (Calderone, Fig. 2; Pg. 3, paragraph 39, The manifold 202 includes a first side and a second side on opposite sides of the manifold. For example, the first side can include a first major surface and the second side can include a second major surface. The first side faces or is exposed to the compressor 204, the ports 224, the sensor 232, the EXV motor 234, and the port 236), and the condenser, the receiver dryer, the expander, the evaporator, and the accumulator are sequentially arranged along the refrigerant cycle of the refrigerant in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction from a center on the second side of the support body (Calderone, Fig. 2; Pg. 3, paragraph 39, The second side faces or is exposed to the liquid-cooled condenser 206, the coolant container 208, the receiver-drier 210, the fluid handlers 212, the hose connector block 214, the hoses 216, the hoses 218, the TXV 220, the evaporator 222, the chiller 226, the ports 228, and the ports 230; Further, the accumulator 145 of Kim is disposed to be in fluid communication with the evaporator and the compressor and will maintain the same configuration when modified as described herein; Moreover, it has been held Claims to a refrigerant circulation apparatus which read on the prior art except with regard to the position of the system components were held unpatentable because shifting the position of the system components would not have modified the operation of the device MPEP 2144.04, Section VI, Paragraph C). Additionally, the limitations of claim 7 are a result of the modification of references used in the rejection of claim 6 above.
Regarding claim 8, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 6 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 6 above), wherein the support body includes: an inlet (Calderone, Fig. 5, port 236) through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows into the condenser (Calderone, Fig 5; Pg. 5, paragraph 54, Furthermore, the port 236 is included in the high pressure fluid routes and enables fluid communication from the compressor 204 to the liquid-cooled condenser 206); a first flow path through which the refrigerant discharged from the condenser flows into the receiver dryer (Calderone, Pg. 4, paragraph 48, Note that the receiver-driver 210 may function as a reservoir a fluid, whether a liquid or a gas, such as a refrigerant, as received from the liquid-cooled condenser 206; Further, the reactions of paragraph 48 of Calderone are an implicit teaching of a flow path from the condenser to the receiver dryer); a second flow path through which the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator flows into the accumulator (Kim, Col. 9, lines 15-19, The accumulator 145 is connected with the evaporator 130 through the expansion valve 140, and may supply only a gaseous refrigerant among the evaporated refrigerants to the compressor 110 while passing through the evaporator 130); and an outlet through which the refrigerant discharged from the accumulator is circulated to the compressor (Kim, Col. 9, lines 26-27, Herein, the accumulator 145 may be connected with the compressor 110 through a fifth connection pipe 165). Further, the limitations of claim 8 are a result of the modification of references used in the rejection of claim 6 above.
Regarding claim 10, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 8 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 8 above), wherein the first flow path (Calderone, Pg. 4, paragraph 48, The receiver-drier 210 is physically and fluidly coupled to the manifold internal to the manifold 202, whether directly or indirectly, such that the manifold 202 extends between the compressor 204 and the receiver-drier 210. For example, the receiver-drier 210 can be physically coupled to the manifold 202 via brazing, adhering, fastening, mating, interlocking, mounting, molding, securing, or other ways such that the receiver-drier 210 can fluidly communicate through the manifold 202, whether inbound or outbound) and the second flow path are formed separately from the support body (Kim, Col. 9, lines 26-27, Herein, the accumulator 145 may be connected with the compressor 110 through a fifth connection pipe 165), and the support body comprises a first insertion groove (Calderone, Pg. 4, paragraph 48, The receiver-drier 210 is physically and fluidly coupled to the manifold internal to the manifold 202, whether directly or indirectly, such that the manifold 202 extends between the compressor 204 and the receiver-drier 210. For example, the receiver-drier 210 can be physically coupled to the manifold 202 via brazing, adhering, fastening, mating, interlocking, mounting, molding, securing, or other ways such that the receiver-drier 210 can fluidly communicate through the manifold 202, whether inbound or outbound; Further, the recitations of paragraph 48 of Calderone are implicit teachings of a first insertion groove if one of ordinary skill in the art determined one was required to facilitate connection of the receiver dryer as taught by Calderone) and a second insertion groove (Kim, Col. 9, lines 26-27, Herein, the accumulator 145 may be connected with the compressor 110 through a fifth connection pipe 165) such that the first flow path is fixedly inserted into the first insertion groove and the second flow path is fixedly inserted into the second insertion groove. Further, the limitations of claim 10 are not patentably distinct recitations of the claims as it has been held even though product-by-process claims are limited by and defined by the process, determination of patentability is based on the product itself. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product of the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (MPEP 2113, Section I). Additionally, the limitations of claim 10 are a result of the modification of references used in the rejection of claim 8 above.
Regarding claim 11, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 8 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 8 above), wherein the support body is formed from an elastic material to absorb vibration transmitted from the compressor, and the first flow path and the second flow path are formed from a rigid body (Calderone, Pg. 2-3, paragraph 32, The manifold 102 may be made of a same or single material, such as plastic, metal, rubber, or others, or a combination of materials, such as a plastic and a metal or others; Pg. 3, paragraph 35, The manifold 202 is similar to or the same as the manifold 102, and can include the above-described features and characteristics). Further, the limitations of claim 10 are not patentably distinct recitations of the claims as it has been held even though product-by-process claims are limited by and defined by the process, determination of patentability is based on the product itself. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product of the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (MPEP 2113, Section I).
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Calderone as modified by Cho, Busch, and Kim as applied to claim 8 above, and further in view of Kwak et al. (WO 2023132487), hereinafter Kwak.
Regarding claim 9, Calderone as modified discloses the refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 8 (see the combination of references used in the rejection of claim 8 above),
a compressor outlet (Calderone, Fig. 5, port 236) and a compressor inlet (Calderone, Pg. 5, paragraph 55, Moreover, the manifold 202 contains a fluid point 252, which is included in the low pressure fluid routes, that enables fluid communication from the TXV 220 and the evaporator 222 to the compressor 204; Further, the reactions of paragraph 55 of Calderone are implicit teachings of a compressor inlet).
However, Calderone does not explicitly disclose wherein the outlet of the compressor and the inlet of the support body are connected so that the refrigerant flows through a first pipe, and the inlet of the compressor and the outlet of the support body are connected so that the refrigerant flows through a second pipe.
Kwak teaches wherein the outlet of the compressor and the inlet of the support body are connected so that the refrigerant flows through a first pipe, and the inlet of the compressor and the outlet of the support body are connected so that the refrigerant flows through a second pipe (See annotated Fig. 2 of Kwak below, compressor 311 is depicted to be in fluid communication with manifold 200 via first pipe A and second pipe B).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the refrigerant circulation apparatus of Calderone as modified to include first and second pipes as taught by Kwak. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to allow for desired fluid dynamics between the compressor and the manifold to improve overall system efficiencies.
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Annotated Fig. 2 of Kwak
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed December 30th, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant's argument that “In the present application, the slit holes (21) are configured to block vibrations transmitted from the compressor, whereby the body (20) self-deforms via the slit holes (21) to block vibrations transmitted to the evaporator and condenser. Further, the slit holes (21), as claimed, are positioned along an axial direction of the compressor in the support body. In contrast, in Busch, the recesses (26) are primarily formed for weight reduction and are formed to connect the flow paths of components. See paragraph [0040] of Busch ("The holding element 14 shown in FIG. 3 comprises several recesses 26 for weight reduction."). Therefore,”, the fact that the inventor has recognized another advantage which would flow naturally from following the suggestion of the prior art cannot be the basis for patentability when the differences would otherwise be obvious. See Ex parte Obiaya, 227 USPQ 58, 60 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1985). Further, the Examiner would like to note that weight reduction and stress management, which includes vibration attenuation, are both well-known effects of putting slits, recesses, and/or holes in a solid body. Moreover, the recesses 26 of Busch are depicted to be positioned in a straight line and extending to a constant length along an axial direction of the compressor in the support body as a straight line can be drawn from end to end of the recesses 26 of Busch and the length of the recesses are constant as they are permanently formed in the holding element 14 with not perceived ability to change their length and further extend in a plurality of directions, including along an axial direction of the compressor (See Fig. 3 of Busch). See the rejection of claim 1 above.
The rejection of independent claim 1 is maintained. The rejections of dependent claims 2 and 6-11 are also maintained for at least the reasons described herein.
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 DEVON T MOORE whose telephone number is 571-272-6555. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 7:30-5.
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/DEVON MOORE/Examiner, Art Unit 3763 January 15th, 2026
/FRANTZ F JULES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763