DETAILED ACTION
1 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 4/17/2026 has been entered.
2 The cancellation of claims 1 and 2 is acknowledged. Pending claims are 3-6.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
3 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(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 5 and 6 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. This is a New Matter rejection.
The limitation. “wherein the amount of the hydrochloric acid is 0.5% or more by weight relative to the predetermined amount of water, the amount of the glycolic acid is 0.3% or more by weight relative to the predetermined amount of water, and the amount of lactic acid is 0.25% or more by weight relative to the predetermined amount of water, represent(s) a departure from the specification and the claims as originally filed.
Allowable Subject Matter
4 Claims 3 and 4 are allowed. The closest prior art of record (JP 2018155095 A1) teaches a method for removing and preventing fixation of efflorescence in pipe such as vertical pipe and device for the same (see Title) wherein the medical solution is injected and poured inside of a pipe (see claim 4). The closest prior art of record (JP’ 095 A1) does not teach or disclose an efflorescence removing chemical liquid applicable to a device for removing and efflorescence, wherein hydrochloric acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid are essential components mixed in an amount of water and wherein hydrochloric acid in the amount of 10% or less by weight relative to the amount of water, glycolic acid in 3.6% or less by weight relative to the amount of water and lactic acid in 5% or less by weight relative to the amount of water as claimed.
Response to Applicant’s Arguments
5 Applicant's arguments filed on 4/17/2026, have been considered but are moot because the rejection of the claims under 112, second paragraph is withdrawn because of the applicant’s cancellation of the claims.
With regards the limitations recited in the instant claims 5 and 6, applicant argued that these limitations are not explicitly described in the original specification. The applicant further, argued that a person skilled in the art would readily understand such lower limits necessarily for the efflorescence-removing chemical liquid to function effectively.
The examiner respectfully, disagrees the above argument because with experimental measurement, the person of the ordinary skill in the art would not be able to determine the lower amounts of hydrochloric acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid that used to give an effective result in efflorescence-removing chemical liquid.
Conclusion
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/EISA B ELHILO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761