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 Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/19/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Examiner disagrees with Applicant’s narrow interpretation of the Garrels reference. Both portions 331 and 306 are integral one piece, the Examiner interpreted both portions to be the bowl as claimed in claims 1, 9 and 16. The claim(s) fails to present any limitation(s) that would prevent such broadest reasonable interpretation by the Examiner. Accordingly, the previous rejections are maintained as indicated below.
It is noted that Applicant relies on the arguments against claim 1 for independent claims 9 and 16 and all dependent claims; hence, they will stand or fall together.
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 and 7-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 10,655,313 (hereinafter Garrels).
Regarding claim 1, Garrels discloses a grey water rinse toilet (Fig. 18), the toilet comprising a first reservoir (326) configured to store a first water supply (where 326 is pointing); a second reservoir (325) configured to store a second water supply (where 325 is pointing); a bowl (331, 306) having a first inlet (about 324b) fluidly connected to the first reservoir and a second inlet (about 324a) fluidly connected to the second reservoir; a first valve (324b) configured to control a flow of the first water supply from the first reservoir to the bowl, the flow of the first water supply being configured to rinse an inner surface of the bowl; and a second valve configured to control a flow of the second water supply from the second reservoir to the bowl.
Regarding claim 2, the toilet of claim 1, wherein the first water supply comprises grey water.
Regarding claim 3, the toilet of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are disposed within a tank (302) of the toilet with the first water supply and the second water supply fluidly separated.
Regarding claim 7, the toilet of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir is fluidly connected to a drain for a shower, a bath, or a sink (see col. 3, lines 5-67).
Regarding claim 8, the toilet of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir includes a filter, an ultraviolet (UV) light, or a chemical dispenser (see co. 4, lines 32-33).
Regarding claim 9, Garrels discloses a method of flushing a toilet using grey water, the method comprising opening a first valve (324b) disposed between a first reservoir (326) configured to store grey water and a bowl (331, 306) of the toilet; providing a flow of grey water to the bowl; the grey water rinsing an inner surface of the bowl; opening a second valve (324a) disposed between a second reservoir (325) configured to store freshwater and the bowl; and providing a flow of fresh water to the bowl of the toilet.
Regarding claim 10, the method of claim 9, wherein the flow of grey water is provided before the flow of fresh water (see Figs. 19 and 20).
Regarding claim 11, the method of claim 9, further comprising filling the bowl of the toilet using the flow of fresh water (see Fig. 20).
Regarding claim 12, the method of claim 9, wherein the first valve is opened for a first predetermined period of time and the second valve is opened for a second predetermined period of time (see Figs. 19 and 20).
Regarding claim 13, the method of claim 9, further comprising collecting grey water from a shower, a bath, or a sink using a drain connected to the first reservoir (see col. 3, lines 5-67).
Regarding claim 14, the method of claim 9, further comprising treating the grey water with a filter, UV light, or a cleaning chemical (see co. 4, lines 32-33).
Regarding claim 15, the method of claim 9, further comprising pumping the grey water from the first reservoir to the first valve (see Fig. 19).
Regarding claim 16, Garrels discloses a method of flushing a toilet using grey water, the method comprising sending, by a controller (see co. 7, lines 65+: “electronic device), a first control signal to a first valve (324b) disposed between a first reservoir (326) storing grey water and a bowl (331, 306) of the toilet, the first control signal configured to open the first valve for a predetermined period of time, wherein a flow of grey water is provided to the bowl while the first valve is open (see Fig. 19), the flow of grey water being configured to rinse an inner surface of the bowl; and sending, by the controller, a second control signal to a second valve (324a) disposed between a second reservoir (325) storing fresh water and the bowl, the second control signal configured to open the second valve for a predetermined period of time, wherein a flow of fresh water is provided to the bowl while the second valve is open (see Fig. 20), the flow of fresh water being configured to fill the bowl.
Regarding claim 17, the method of claim 16, further comprising: sending, by the controller a third control signal to a pump (71) configured to pump grey water from the first reservoir to the first valve, the third control signal configured to turn the pump on.
Regarding claim 18, the method of claim 16, wherein providing a flow of grey water to the bowl occurs before providing a flow of fresh water to the toilet (see Fig. 19).
Regarding claim 19, the method of claim 16, wherein the first valve and the second valve comprise solenoid valves (see col. 8, lines 1-5).
Regarding claim 20, the method of claim 16, wherein grey water is collected from at least one of a shower, bath, or sink using a drain connected to the first reservoir (see col. 3, lines 5-67).
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.
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/TUAN N NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754