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 “first gripping ring” and “second gripping ring” of claim 8 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). 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.
Claim 20 is 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 20 recites the limitation "the docking bracket" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear as to what “the docking bracket” is meant to refer as this limitation has not been established previously in the claim. As such the metes and bounds of the claim cannot be determined and the claim is rendered indefinite.
Claim 20 recites the limitation "the docking sleeve" in the last line. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The claim recites the docking bracket in the preamble however it is unclear as to whether or not the docking sleeve is meant to be the same as the docking bracket or if this is an entirely separate structure. As such the metes and bounds of the claim cannot be determined and the claim is rendered indefinite.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Quinn (US Pub No 2023/0085999 A1).
Re claim 1, Quinn shows a showerhead (Figs. 1A & 1B) configured for use with a docking bracket (100), the showerhead comprising:
an elongate handle (110);
a spray head (112) coupled to the elongate handle, the spray head having a plurality of openings (120) configured to facilitate spraying of water when the showerhead is connected to a water source;
a first attachment body (115) extending from the elongate handle (110) and configured to be selectively engageable with the docking bracket (Fig. 1B); and
a second attachment body (114) extending from the spray head (112) and configured to be selectively engageable with the docking bracket (Fig. 1A);
the showerhead (102) being configured to be selectively engageable with the docking bracket (100) in a first configuration (Fig. 1B) and a second configuration (Fig. 1A), in the first configuration, the first attachment body (115) being coupled to the docking bracket (100) and the second attachment body (114) being disconnected from the docking bracket (100), in the second configuration (Fig. 1A), the second attachment body (114) being coupled to the docking bracket (100) and the first attachment body (115) being disconnected from the docking bracket (100).
Re claims 2 & 14, Quinn shows the elongate handle (110) includes a proximal end portion (at 115) and a distal end portion (connected to 112), the proximal end portion being connectable to a hose (108) and the distal end portion being connected to the spray head (112), the first attachment body (115) extending from the proximal end portion of elongate handle (110).
Re claims 3, 6, 15 & 18, Quinn shows the spray head (112) includes a spraying face (120) having a plurality of openings (Fig. 2C) formed therein, and a rear surface (132) opposite the spraying face, the second attachment body (114) extending from rear surface (132) of the spray head.
Re claims 4 & 16, Quinn shows the first attachment body (115) extends along a first axis (Fig. 1B, “Axis Hose”) and the second attachment body (114) extends along a second axis (through 114) offset from the first axis (“Axis Hose”).
Re claims 5 & 17, Quinn discloses the first axis is offset from the second axis by 15-40 degrees (paragraph 0025).
Re claims 7 & 19, Quinn shows the first attachment body (115) includes a first tapered cylinder (Fig. 1A, 182) and the second attachment body (114) includes a second tapered cylinder (Fig. 2A, 124).
Re claim 8, Quinn shows a first gripping ring (182) coupled to the first attachment body (115) and a second gripping ring (124) attached to the second attachment body (114).
Re claim 9, Quinn shows a showerhead assembly (Figs. 1A & 1B) comprising:
a docking bracket (100) having a docking sleeve (150/160); and a showerhead (102) engageable with the docking bracket, the showerhead comprising:
an elongate handle (110);
a spray head (112) coupled to the elongate handle, the spray head having a plurality of openings (120) configured to facilitate spraying of water when the showerhead is connected to a water source;
a first attachment body (115) extending from the elongate handle (110) and configured to be selectively engageable with the docking sleeve (150); and
a second attachment body (114) extending from the spray head (112) and configured to be selectively engageable with the docking sleeve (160);
the showerhead (102) being configured to be selectively engageable with the docking sleeve (150/160) in a first configuration (Fig. 1B) and a second configuration (Fig. 1A), in the first configuration (Fig. 1B), the first attachment body (115) being coupled to the docking sleeve (150) and the second attachment body (114) being disconnected from the docking sleeve (160), in the second configuration (Fig. 1A), the second attachment body (114) being coupled to the docking sleeve (160) and the first attachment body (115) being disconnected from the docking sleeve (150).
Re claim 10, Quinn shows the docking sleeve (150/160) is configured to circumferentially engage the first attachment body (115) when the showerhead is in the first configuration (Fig. 1B), and circumferentially engage the second attachment body (114) when the showerhead is in the second configuration (Fig. 1A).
Re claim 11, Quinn shows the docking bracket (100) includes a connector (106) configured to be attachable to a water line.
Re claim 12, Quinn shows the docking bracket (100) is configured such that the connector (106) is moveable relative to the docketing sleeve (150/160).
Re claim 13, Quinn shows a hose (108) connected to the docking bracket (100) and the showerhead (102) to place the showerhead in fluid communication with the docket bracket (100).
Re claim 20, Quinn shows a showerhead (102) engageable with the docking bracket (100), the showerhead comprising:
an elongate handle (102);
a spray head (112) coupled to the elongate handle, the spray head having a plurality of openings (120) configured to facilitate spraying of water when the showerhead is connected to a water source; and
an attachment body (114) extending from the spray head (112) and configured to be selectively engageable with the docking sleeve (100).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN MICHAEL CERNOCH whose telephone number is (571)270-3540. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri; 8am-5pm.
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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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STEVEN MICHAEL CERNOCH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3752
/STEVEN M CERNOCH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752