DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claims 1-5 are objected to because of the following informalities:
the use of abbreviations in parathesis for claim terms are unnecessary;
in claim 1 recites “synchronise” and “synchronizer”, please be consistent and use a “z” for both
claim 1 recites a first timer and a second timer, please clarify if there are two timers (i.e., clocks), for purposes of examination it appears that both the first timer and the second timer are the same.
the functional language following “thereby” and “preferably” in the claims may be omitted, including, for example, “geared toward conscious consumption of water” that may be better suited in the preamble, if at all
in claims 2 and 3, “a shower” is introduced, but “a shower” was previously introduced,
in claim 3, line 2, “a timer” is introduced, but a first and second timer were previously introduced.
While the Examiner understands Applicant’s claim language, the claim language is at times awkward. The above listed claim objections are mere examples of issues in the claims. A review of each claim is suggested and appropriate correction is required. If desired by Applicant, the Examiner invites Applicant to request Examiner interview to discuss possible clarifying changes to expedite patent prosecution.
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.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0068192 to Kliepera (Figs. 1 and 2 are shown below on the left for convenience) in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0157598 to Anelevitz (Fig. 2 is shown below on the right for convenience).
PNG
media_image1.png
730
813
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
838
802
media_image2.png
Greyscale
With regard to claim 1, Kliepera discloses a shower time tracker (e.g., see at least paragraph 93 for discussion of timing sensor 72 and measuring a total duration that the water supply has been on) for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate) and instructor mechanism, to be used in relation to a shower (e.g., see shower head in Fig. 1), said mechanism comprising: a synchronizer (e.g., see Fig. 5, CPU 84 is equivalent to a synchronizer) configured to synchronize a first timer correlative to flow rate of water being dispensed from said shower (e.g., see at least Fig. 5, clock IC 88) and a second timer (e.g., see Fig. 5, clock IC 88) correlative to said mechanism, the synchronizer (e.g., see Fig. 1, CPU 84) being configured to sense time and to use sensed time and senses flow rate to compute quantum of flow of water being dispensed through said shower (e.g., see at least paragraph 68 for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate) ); a first display (e.g., see Fig. 5, display 80) configured to be coupled with said synchronizer (e.g., see Fig. 5, CPU 84 via communication line 83), said first display (display 80);
[claim 2] said synchronizer (CPU 84) being coupled with a flow rate monitor (e.g., see at least Fig. 5, flow sensor 95) configured to sense, and record, flow rate and quantum of flow of water being dispensed through said shower (e.g., see shower head in Fig. 1; see also paragraph 68 for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate);
[claim 3] wherein, said synchronizer (CPU 84) being coupled with the first timer (clock IC 88) configured to sense, and record, amount of time spent using water from the shower (paragraph 68 for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate);
[claim 4] wherein, said synchronizer (CPU 84) being coupled with a flow rate monitor (flow sensor 95) configured to sense, and record, flow rate and quantum of flow of water being dispensed through a shower (e.g., see shower head in Fig. 1; see also paragraph 68 for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate); and
[claim 5] wherein, said synchronizer (CPU 84) being coupled with a flow rate monitor (flow sensor 95) configured to sense, and record, flow rate and quantum of flow of water being dispensed through a shower (paragraph 68 for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate); a timer (clock IC 88) configured to sense, and record, amount of time spent using water from the shower (e.g., see at least paragraph 93 for discussion of timing sensor 72 and measuring a total duration that the water supply has been on) for discussion of monitoring/measuring water flow rate); characterized in that, the flow rate monitor (flow sensor 95) and the timer (clock IC 88) of the shower is coupled with this first display (display 80), in such a manner that, basis various combinations of quantum, flow rate, and/or time, as obtained from the flow rate monitor (flow sensor 95) and/or the timer (clock IC), a pre-defined portion of the first display (display 80) provides a visual/audio/audio-visual alarm (e.g., see at least paragraphs 31-33 that discuss the use of a visual or auditory alarm).
With regard to claims 1 and 4, Kliepera comprising parts of a body, in order to display various body parts correlative to pre-set combinations of sensed quantum, sensed flow rate, and / or sensed time; and a rule engine configured to determine rules of display correlative to various pre-set combinations of sensed quantum, sensed flow rate, and/or sensed time is correlative with a body part, on the first display such that a person using this mechanism knows the amount of time and/or quantum of water to be used for that body part; thereby, imparting positive feedback, and tracking of activity, geared towards conscious consumption of water and [claim 4] said mechanism comprising a second display configured to be coupled with said flow rate monitor, said the second display comprising a reading-marked display to display consumption of water.
Reasonably pertinent to problem solved, Anelevitz teaches a second display that shows a timer corresponding with parts of a body (e.g., see Fig. 2, elements 128A-128D; see also paragraph 41 that discusses that a displayed image of a mouth having 4 quadrants of teeth that serve as an indication of timing for users; paragraph 41 also discloses a timer 122).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current invention to modify Kliepera with animated timer indicator as taught by Anelevitz in order to apply a known technique to a known device (method, or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable results. In this case, a visual timer is more likely to keep the attention of children, whereby increasing the likelihood of the children following the timing recommendation.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure, includes:
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0056677 to Kam discusses a shower with a device that provides a timer, flow rate info, and a usage alarm (e.g., see at least Fig. 4B and paragraph 37).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0333764 to Wright discusses a shower flow monitor and display (e.g., see Fig. 14).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0248144 to Tayenaka discusses a shower flow rate monitor, timer and alarm (e.g., see at least Fig. 2C and paragraphs 143-144).
U.S. Patent No. 8,220,722 to Shaffer discusses a shower with flow rate, timer, temperature sensor, and alarm (e.g., see at least Fig. 5).
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0233885 to Bird discusses a shower fluid metering and control device that displays flow rate, gallons consumed, and a graphical indicator for gallons consumed with an alarm function (e.g., see Fig. 1).
U.S. Patent No. 5,570,325 to Arpadi discusses a tooth brushing timer built into the mouth of a character to encourage a specific time period for brushing teeth (e.g., see Fig. 9).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES S MCCLELLAN whose telephone number is (571)272-7167. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (8:30AM-5:00PM).
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, Kang Hu can be reached at 571-270-1344. 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.
/James S. McClellan/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715