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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The response filed on December 18, 2025 is acknowledged.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "134" and "130" have both been used to designate the locking units (see paragraph 0034, line 7). 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. 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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “130” has been used to designate both the “locking units” and the “U-shaped member (see paragraph 0034, lines 7-8). 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. 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 the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 21-40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 21 recites the limitation “wherein said internal member is configured to receive a sprinkler threaded portion of a fire sprinkler” in lines 4-5. The specification discloses, in paragraph 0033, a smooth internal member 124 configured to fit over the outside of the pipe outlet 110. The specification further discloses, in paragraph 0032, The connecting member 120 encompasses first threaded portion 122 configured to receive a fire sprinkler 104 at its sprinkler threaded portion 106. The disclosure, as originally filed, does not disclose that the internal member 124 is configured to receive a sprinkler threaded portion of a fire sprinkler 104.
Claim 22 recites the limitation “a first threaded portion configured to receive said sprinkler threaded portion” in line 2. Therefore, claim 22 requires the internal member and the first threaded portion to receive the sprinkler threaded portion. The disclosure, as originally filed does not disclose such configuration.
Claim 30 recites the limitation “a bolt member” in line 2. The disclosure, as originally filed, does not appear to disclose a bolt member. The disclosure, as originally filed, discloses set screws A9. Screws and bolts are distinctive elements as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claim 35 recites the limitation “a bolt member” in line 1. The disclosure, as originally filed, does not appear to disclose a bolt member. The disclosure, as originally filed, discloses set screws A9. Screws and bolts are distinctive elements as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claim 36 recites the limitation “wherein said internal member is configured to receive a sprinkler threaded portion of a fire sprinkler” in lines 7-8. The specification discloses, in paragraph 0033, a smooth internal member 124 configured to fit over the outside of the pipe outlet 110. The specification further discloses, in paragraph 0032, The connecting member 120 encompasses first threaded portion 122 configured to receive a fire sprinkler 104 at its sprinkler threaded portion 106. The disclosure, as originally filed, does not disclose that the internal member 124 is configured to receive a sprinkler threaded portion of a fire sprinkler 104.
Claim 37 recites the limitation “a first threaded portion configured to receive said sprinkler threaded portion” in line 2. Therefore, claim 37 requires the internal member and the first threaded portion to receive the sprinkler threaded portion. The disclosure, as originally filed does not disclose such configuration.
Claim 40 recites the limitation “a bolt member” in line 2. The disclosure, as originally filed, does not appear to disclose a bolt member. The disclosure, as originally filed, discloses set screws A9. Screws and bolts are distinctive elements as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claims 21-35 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.
Claim 21 recites the limitation “a fire sprinkler” in line 5. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “fire sprinkler” recited in line 2.
Claim 21 recites the limitation “a pipe outlet” in line 8. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “pipe outlet” recited in line 1.
Claim 28 recites the limitation “hard plastic” in line 2. The term “hard” is a relative term. What may be considered hard by one of ordinary skill in the art may not be considered hard by another of ordinary skill in the art.
Claim 31 recites the limitation “a fire sprinkler” in line 5. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “fire sprinkler” recited in line 1.
Claim 31 recites the limitation “a sprinkler pipe” in line 8. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “sprinkler pipe” recited in line 1.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 21-40 have been considered but are moot based on the new grounds of rejections.
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 CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
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 O 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.
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.
/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK