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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the upper edge and a lower edge of the spray orifice being convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s).
The examiner notes that it appears that the upper and lower edges of the spray orifice appear to have the radius of convexity pointed towards a tip of the nozzle, but not the edges being convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle. The curved upper and lower edges appear to be curved away from the tip, not towards the tip.
No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1 and 3-7 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.
Regarding claim 1, it is unclear if the fan shaped layer of a cleaning fluid is only sprayed onto the convex surface when the spray orifice is positioned outside the convex surface, or can the fan shaped layer of a cleaning fluid be sprayed onto the convex surface independent of the spray orifice location.
Additionally, in his remarks, the applicant states that claim 1 is amended to make clear that the convex surface is not positively recited (the response states “outer surface” but the examiner is assuming the applicant means convex surface since that is what the claim and the 112 rejection are referring to). This is contradictory to what is in the body of claim 1. Line 4 states that fluid is sprayed onto the convex surface and line 7 states that the cleaning fluid is convexly curved toward the same direction as the convex surface. Both of these limitations require the convex surface. Additionally, claim 3 also recites the convex surface in line 2.
It is unclear if the claim is only directed to a nozzle, or if it is directed towards the combination of the nozzle and the convex surface.
The examiner is interpreting the claims to require the combination of the convex surface and the nozzle.
The remainder of the claims are rejected for depending from claim 1.
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) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 is/are rejected, as best as understood, under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Walsoe et al. (2020/0238955).
Regarding claim 1, Walsoe et al. shows a nozzle (3) of a cleaner device that cleans an object to be cleaned having a convex surface (1), the nozzle comprising: a spray orifice (3) from which a fan-shaped layer of a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the convex surface (fig 3B), when the spray orifice is positioned outside the convex surface (fig 3), wherein the spray orifice is shaped such that the sprayed fan- shaped layer of the cleaning fluid is convexly curved toward the same direction as the convex surface (fig 3B), and an upper edge and a lower edge of the spray orifice are convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle (fig 3B. the examiner has labeled the tip of the nozzles in the below figure. Opening 3 has an upper and lower convex surface as shown in figure 3b, these surfaces are convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle as shown below).
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Regarding claim 3, wherein the spray orifice is positioned such that the fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid hits the convex surface at one side thereof with respect to a center of the convex surface (fig 3B) and flows along the convex surface to pass over the center of the convex surface and reach the other side of the convex surface (this will happen depending on the orientation of the nozzle convex surface).
Regarding claim 4, wherein the spray orifice is arranged such that circumferential ends of the sprayed fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid respectively travel toward points of a circumferential edge of the convex surface (fig 3b).
Regarding claim 6, wherein the convex surface is a surface of an optical element (abstract).
Regarding claim 7, wherein the cleaner device is mounted on a vehicle, and the optical element constitutes part of a vehicle-mounted device as the object to be cleaned (abstract).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-7 are is/are rejected, as best as understood, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (2017/0036657) in view of Walsoe et al. (2020/0238955).
Regarding claim 1, Zhao et al. shows a nozzle (420) of a cleaner device that cleans an object to be cleaned having a convex surface (402), the nozzle comprising: a spray orifice (outlet on left of 420) that is positioned outside the convex surface and from which a fan-shaped layer of a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the convex surface (fig 11),
But fails to disclose wherein the spray orifice is shaped such that the sprayed fan- shaped layer of the cleaning fluid is convexly curved toward the same direction as the convex surface and an upper edge and a lower edge of the spray orifice are convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle
Walsoe et al. shows a nozzle (3) of a cleaner device that cleans an object to be cleaned having a convex surface (1), the nozzle comprising: a spray orifice (3) from which a fan-shaped layer of a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the convex surface (fig 3B), when the spray orifice is positioned outside the convex surface (fig 3), wherein the spray orifice is shaped such that the sprayed fan- shaped layer of the cleaning fluid is convexly curved toward the same direction as the convex surface (fig 3B), and an upper edge and a lower edge of the spray orifice are convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle (fig 3B. the examiner has labeled the tip of the nozzles in the below figure. Opening 3 has an upper and lower convex surface as shown in figure 3b, these surfaces are convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle as shown below).
Regarding claim 3, wherein the spray orifice is positioned such that the fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid hits the convex surface at one side thereof with respect to a center of the convex surface (fig 3B) and flows along the convex surface to pass over the center of the convex surface and reach the other side of the convex surface (this will happen depending on the orientation of the nozzle convex surface).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was effectively filed to shape nozzle outlet so that it was curved like that of Walsoe et al figure 3B, so that the curved nozzle will dispense a sprayed fan- shaped layer of the cleaning fluid that is convexly curved toward the same direction as the convex surface and an upper edge and a lower edge of the spray orifice are convexly curved toward a tip of the nozzle, in order have the spray adapt to the shape of the surface as taught by Walsoe et al. [0066],
Regarding claim 3, wherein the spray orifice is positioned such that the fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid hits the convex surface at one side thereof with respect to a center of the convex surface (fig 3B, Walsoe, fig 11, Zhao) and flows along the convex surface to pass over the center of the convex surface and reach the other side of the convex surface (this will happen depending on the orientation of the nozzle convex surface).
Regarding claim 4, wherein the spray orifice is arranged such that circumferential ends of the sprayed fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid respectively travel toward points of a circumferential edge of the convex surface (fig 3B, Walsoe, fig 11, Zhao).
Regarding claim 5, wherein the nozzle includes a plurality of spray orifices (fig 11), each positioned such that the fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid is sprayed therefrom onto a corresponding convex surface among a plurality of convex surfaces arranged around the nozzle, and the spray orifices are each shaped such that the sprayed fan-shaped layer of the cleaning fluid therefrom is convexly curved toward the same direction as the corresponding convex surface for that spray orifice 9fg 11).
Regarding claim 6, wherein the convex surface is a surface of an optical element (fig 1a, backup camera).
Regarding claim 7, wherein the cleaner device is mounted on a vehicle, and the optical element constitutes part of a vehicle-mounted device as the object to be cleaned (fig 1a).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 7/31/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The examiner notes the claims has not defined any structure of the tip of the nozzle that prevents the examiner from calling the entire end of the nozzle the tip. The above figures point to the portion of the nozzle that the examiner is calling the tip in Walsoe. Since the entire end portion of the nozzle is being considered the tip, the spray orifice is located on the tip and both the upper and lower edges of the spray orifice are convexly curved towards at least a portion of the tip.
The above rejections are being maintained.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 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 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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/JASON J BOECKMANN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 8/27/2025