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 July 27, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Amendments to the claims have changed the scope of the claimed invention, but a modification of the previous prior art rejection using the same references reads upon the claims.
On pages 11-12, Applicant discusses the amendments made to address the previous claim objections, Specification objections, and 112(b) rejections. In response, the Examiner has withdrawn these objections and rejections.
On pages 12-13, Applicant begins arguments against the previous 103 prior art rejection of independent Claim 1, involving primary reference Park et al., KR20090040807A (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages), and secondary reference Liu, (US 2016/0213193). Applicant summarizes the claimed invention of Claim 1. Then, on page 13, Applicant summarizes the disclosed invention of primary reference Park, noting that Park does not disclose transferring heated purified water to the pre-heating tank. Applicant notes that Examiner relies upon secondary reference Liu to disclose this feature instead. However, Applicant argues that Liu does not disclose this feature, asserting that Liu’s return pipe is a temperature verification and recirculation mechanism designed to prevent lower temperature water from being dispensed. Applicant argues that the claimed invention directly routes newly pre-heated water into the pre-heating tank for storage. Applicant argues that Liu does not direct newly filtered purified water to a pre-heating tank, build a reserve of pre-heated water or have a pre-heating tank. The Examiner takes the position that it is not required that the purified water must directly go to a pre-heating tank first, only that it must reach a pre-heating tank at some point. Further, the Examiner notes that the pre-heating tank has already been disclosed in primary reference Park. In addition, each module 40 in Liu provides a tank for storage after water has been heated by the heating unit 11, the furnace/heater 11 is not the pre-heating tank, the modules 40 providing the storage of the purified heated water are. The Examiner finds this argument unpersuasive.
Applicant also argues that Liu does not disclose any flow to be returned to be heated to a higher temperature. The Examiner notes first that the direction of flow transferring the water to the heating unit is already disclosed in primary reference Park, so this observation is considered piecemeal analysis. Additionally, the Examiner finds that Liu does not teach away because its additional heating units 81 in the modules 40 are at a temperature that is not less than the first predetermined temperature, but not required to be higher than the first predetermined temperature. In response to applicant's arguments against the references individually, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
On pages 15-16, Applicant also argues that the rationale for combining Liu with Park is allegedly “flawed”, because the motivation provided is for beverage preparation as in Liu, not for Park’s water purifier. Applicant continues to argue that the efficiency improvement in Liu is for elimination of sub-temperature beverage water through recirculation, and that incorporating a return pipe into Park would not create the claimed pre-heating mode for rapid hot water dispensing, and would merely add a recirculation function that serves a different purpose from what is claimed. The Examiner notes here that employing a hot water system for applying to beverages is within reasonable overlap of technologies, since starting with purified water to heat to a certain temperature is then employed to provide beverages for drinking for people. Both references use hot water for a consumer to drink at their end point, (See page 11, Park), making them overlapping in scope. Additionally, providing a recirculation function as disclosed in Liu to ensure there is not sub-temperature water at the end point does not change the overall purpose of either Park or Liu, since it then ensures that the temperature of the water/beverage being dispensed does not drop below a desired level. In response to applicant’s argument that there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references, the examiner recognizes that obviousness may be established by combining or modifying the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching, suggestion, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselves or in the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 5 USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988), In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992), and KSR International Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007). Thus, the Examiner finds Applicant’s remarks here unpersuasive.
On pages 16-17, Applicant argues that both Park and Liu have a heat source for pre-heating and the heat source for final heating that are physically separate, thus they disclose two heat sources, unlike the claimed invention, which uses one. Applicant argues that there is no motivation or suggestion to remove the dedicated heat source to reconfigure such that a single heating unit performs both functions. Here, the Examiner notes that the claimed invention does not require a single heating unit or preclude an additional heating unit being used in combination with the other claimed features. Furthermore, the Examiner notes that the combination of Liu with Park demonstrates the recirculatory aspect such that the original heating unit can re-heat the water at least twice, such that one single or original heat source can carry out the claimed task as well. The Examiner finds Applicant’s remarks here unpersuasive as a result.
On page 17, Applicant argues that the discharging of the reserve water as in Liu for dependent Claims 2 & 3 is just a drain arrangement for lowering an abnormal water level and that when the temperature of the water in the reservoir drops, Liu merely reheats it with the reservoir’s own heater. The Examiner notes that the claim requires discharging the water which Liu does perform using the drain valve 88. Furthermore, recirculating the water for heating using the recirculation pipe in Liu with the heating unit 11 and returning to the modules 40, will result in a change in the newly generated pre-heated water added to them. The Examiner finds this argument also unpersuasive.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6, 9-11, 15, & 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., KR20090040807A (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages), in view of Liu, (US 2016/0213193).
Regarding Claims 1-3, 6, & 9-11, Park discloses a hot water supply device, (See Abstract, Park), comprising: a water purification filter which purifies raw water, (Water Purifier 200, See Figures 2 & 3, See page 5); a heating unit into which purified water that has been filtered in the water purification filter flows, (Heating Unit 130, See Figures 2 & 3, See page 5), and which generates pre-heated water by heating the purified water to a first pre-heating temperature, or generates hot water by heating the purified water or reserve water, which is stored pre-heated water, to a target temperature that is higher than the first pre-heating temperature, (See page 9 & page 11’ “rapidly heating purified water…to a high temperature desired by the user”); a pre-heating tank in which the pre-heated water is stored as reserve water, (Preheating Tank 120, See Figures 2 & 3, See page 5); a flow switching unit which switches a direction of a flow between the heating unit and the pre-heating tank, in a second direction, in which the reserve water flows from the pre-heating tank to the heating unit, (See pages 6-7, “the feed valve…opens when the hot water tap…is switched to the ON state…and closes when the hot water tap is switched to the OFF state”); and a control unit which controls the heating unit and the flow switching unit, (See page 8, “the control unit…performs the function…turning the feed valve (161) on/off using the water level information” and “a thermistor for controlling the temperature…into the housing”), and wherein in the hot water dispensing mode, the control unit controls the flow switching unit to switch the direction of the flow to the second direction such that the reserve water flows into the heating unit, and controls the heating unit to generate the hot water by heating the reserve water flowing from the pre-heating tank to the heating unit to the target temperature, (See pages 10-11, “in the standby mode described…when an user who wishes to drink hot water turns on the hot water tap…the feed valve…is turned on…At this time, the purified water…is first transferred to the heating unit…and heated” and “preheats purified water to a predetermined temperature”).
Park does not disclose wherein in the pre-heating mode, the control unit controls the heating unit to generate the pre-heated water by heating purified water flowing from the water purification filter to the heating unit to the first pre-heating temperature, and controls the flow switching unit to switch the direction of the flow to the first direction such that the pre-heated water generated by the heating unit is transferred to the pre-heating tank.
Liu discloses wherein in the pre-heating mode, the control unit controls the heating unit to generate the pre-heated water by heating purified water flowing from the water purification filter to the heating unit to the first pre-heating temperature, and controls the flow switching unit to switch the direction of the flow to the first direction such that the pre-heated water generated by the heating unit is transferred to the pre-heating tank, (Return Pipe 60 carries hot water back to Heater 11 from Supply Line 20 and Filter 24, and then Heater 11 recirculates via Supply Line 20 and solenoids 31 for each Module 40 open to receive heated water, See Figure 1 & 5, See paragraph [0045], Liu). Additional features of this embodiment are included as part of the overall combination.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the hot water supply device of Park by incorporating further comprising: a temperature sensor which is provided in the pre-heating tank to detect the temperature of the reserve water, wherein when the temperature of the reserve water is less than or equal to a first pre- heating temperature, the control unit controls the heating unit to generate the pre-heated water by heating the purified water to the first pre-heating temperature, and controls the flow switching unit to switch the direction of the flow to the first direction such that the pre-heated water generated by the heating unit flows into the pre- heating tank, and the reserve water stored in the pre-heating tank is discharged to the outside as in Liu in order to “more effectively maintain hot water at a predetermined temperature” and “greatly improve efficiency”, (See paragraph [0013], Liu).
Additional Disclosures Included:
Claim 2: The hot water supply device of claim 1, further comprising: a temperature sensor which is provided in the pre-heating tank to detect a temperature of the reserve water, (Temperature Sensor 82 for Module 40, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0063], Liu), wherein when the temperature of the reserve water is less than or equal to the first pre- heating temperature, the control unit controls the heating unit to generate the pre-heated water by heating the purified water to the first pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0063], Liu; water is heated to a level not less than the first predetermined temperature, thus it is heated to equal or more, in which the first predetermined temperature refers to heater/heating unit as in paragraphs [0017], [0052], Liu), and controls the flow switching unit such that the pre-heated water generated by the heating unit flows into the pre- heating tank, (Return Pipe 60 carries hot water back to Heater 11 and Heater 11 recirculates via Supply Line 20 and solenoids 31 for each Module 40 open to receive heated water, See Figure 1 & 5, See paragraph [0045], Liu), and the reserve water stored in the pre-heating tank is discharged to outside of the pre-heating tank, (Drain Valve 88, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0067], Liu).
Claim 3: The hot water supply device of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the heating unit to generate the pre-heated water by heating the purified water to the first pre- heating temperature at each preset time, (See paragraph [0029], [0079], Liu); and the control unit controls the flow switching unit such that the pre-heated water generated in the heating unit flows into the pre-heating tank, (Return Pipe 60 carries hot water back to Heater 11 and Heater 11 recirculates via Supply Line 20 and solenoids 31 for each Module 40 open to receive heated water, See Figure 1 & 5, See paragraph [0045], Liu), and the reserve water stored in the pre-heating tnak is discharged to outside of the pre-heating tank, (Drain Valve 88, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0067], Liu).
Claim 6: The hot water supply device of claim 1, wherein the pre-heating tank is made of an insulating material or an insulating material is disposed around an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank, (See paragraph [0078], Liu).
Claim 9: The hot water supply device of claim 1, wherein the flow switching unit comprises: a first valve which is disposed on a first flow path from a side of the water purification filter toward the heating unit to open and close the first flow path such that the purified water flows into the heating unit, (Water Valve 23, See Figures 1 & 2, See paragraph [0055], Liu); a second valve which is disposed on an input side of the heating unit to open and close a second flow path that is branched from the first flow path such that either the purified water or the reserve water flows into the heating unit, (One of Solenoid Valves 31 branching off via Hot Water Branch 30, See Figure 1, and Water can continue to flow via Supply Line 20 to Heater 11 via Return Pipe 60 if valve 31 is closed, See paragraphs [0044] & [0045], Liu); a third valve which is disposed on a third flow path from an output side of the heating unit toward the pre-heating tank to open and close the third flow path such that the pre-heated water flows into the pre-heating tank, (Another one of Solenoid Valves 31 branching off Hot Water Branch 30, See Figure 1, in which when valve 31 is open, hot water flows into Module 40, See Figure 1, See paragraph [0045], Liu); a fourth valve which is disposed on a fourth flow path that is branched from the third flow path and coupled to the second flow path to open and close the fourth flow path such that either the purified water or the reserve water from the pre-heating tank flows into the heating unit, (Valve 131 on Line from Pre-Heating Tank 120 to Heater 130, See Figure 3, Park); a fifth valve which is disposed on a fifth flow path leading to a drain valve for discharging the reserve water from the pre-heating tank to outside of the pre-heating tank to open and close the fifth flow path such that the reserve water is discharged to the drain valve, (Drain Valve 88, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0067], Liu); a sixth valve which is disposed on a sixth flow path from the side of the water purification filter toward the pre-heating tank to open and close the sixth flow path such that the purified water flows into the pre-heating tank, (Another one of Solenoid Valves 31 (at least 3) branching off Hot Water Branch 30, See Figure 1, in which when valve 31 is open, hot water flows into Module 40, See Figure 1, See paragraph [0045], Liu); and an eighth valve which is disposed on an eighth flow path leading to an extraction valve for extracting one of the hot water or the purified water from the output side of the heating unit to open and close the eighth flow path such that the hot water is extracted to the extraction valve, (Either Hot Water Tap 150 from Heating Unit 130, See Figure 3, Park; or Drain Valve 18 from Heater 11, See Figure 2, See paragraph [0055], Liu).
Claim 10: The hot water supply device of claim 9, wherein the flow switching unit further comprises a ninth valve which is disposed on a ninth flow path that is branched from the first flow path toward the extraction valve to open and close the ninth flow path such that the purified water is extracted through the extraction valve, (Water Purification Valve 122 to Preheating Tank 120 to Heating Unit 130 which will go to Hot Water Tap 150, See Figure 3, Park).
Claim 11: The hot water supply device of claim 10, further comprising: a seventh flow path which connects branching points of the third flow path and the fourth flow path from the pre-heating tank, (Portion of Line on which Valve 131 is located between Preheating Tank 120 and Heating Unit 130, See Figure 3, Park).
Regarding Claims 15 & 16, Park discloses a method for supplying hot water, comprising the steps of: supplying purified water filtered by a water purification filter, (Water Purifier 200, See Figures 2 & 3, See page 5), to a heating unit, (Heating Unit 130, See Figures 2 & 3, See page 5), by a flow switching unit, (See pages 6-7, “the feed valve…opens when the hot water tap…is switched to the ON state…and closes when the hot water tap is switched to the OFF state”); generating pre-heated water by heating the purified water to a first pre-heating temperature by the heating unit, (See page 9 & page 11’ “rapidly heating purified water…to a high temperature desired by the user”); a pre-heating tank; storing the pre-heated water as reserve water by the pre-heating tank, (Preheating Tank 120, See Figures 2 & 3, See page 5); determining, by a control unit, whether the hot water is input; supplying the water to the heating unit by the flow switching unit when the hot water is input, (See page 8, “the control unit…performs the function…turning the feed valve (161) on/off using the water level information” and “a thermistor for controlling the temperature…into the housing”); generating the hot water by heating the reserve water to a target temperature by the heating unit, (See page 8, “the control unit…performs the function…turning the feed valve (161) on/off using the water level information” and “a thermistor for controlling the temperature…into the housing”); and discharging the generated hot water to an extraction valve by the flow switching unit, (Hot Water Tap 150, See Figure 3, See page 10, Park), wherein the flow switching unit switches a direction of a flow in a second direction, in which the reserve water flows from the pre-heating tank to the heating unit, (See pages 6-7, “the feed valve…opens when the hot water tap…is switched to the ON state…and closes when the hot water tap is switched to the OFF state”).
Park does not disclose supplying the pre-heated water to the pre-heating tank by the flow switching unit or supplying the reserve water to the heating unit, or switching the direction of flow between the heating unit and the pre-heating tank between a first direction, in which the pre-heated water flows from the heating unit to the pre-heating tank.
Liu discloses supplying the pre-heated water to the pre-heating tank by the flow switching unit or supplying the reserve water to the heating unit, (Return Pipe 60 carries hot water back to Heater 11 from Supply Line 20 and Filter 24, and then Heater 11 recirculates via Supply Line 20 and solenoids 31 for each Module 40 open to receive heated water, See Figure 1 & 5, See paragraph [0045], Liu), and switching the direction of flow between the heating unit and the pre-heating tank between a first direction, in which the pre-heated water flows from the heating unit to the pre-heating tank, (Return Pipe 60 carries hot water back to Heater 11 from Supply Line 20 and Filter 24, and then Heater 11 recirculates via Supply Line 20 and solenoids 31 for each Module 40 open to receive heated water, See Figure 1 & 5, See paragraph [0045], Liu). Additional features of this embodiment are included as part of the overall combination.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the hot water supply device of Park by incorporating supplying the pre-heated water to the pre-heating tank by the flow switching unit or supplying the reserve water to the heating unit and switching the direction of flow between the heating unit and the pre-heating tank between a first direction, in which the pre-heated water flows from the heating unit to the pre-heating tank as in Liu in order to “more effectively maintain hot water at a predetermined temperature” and “greatly improve efficiency”, (See paragraph [0013], Liu).
Additional Disclosures Included:
Claim 16: The method of claim 15, wherein the step of storing further comprises the steps of: determining, by the control unit, whether a temperature of the reserve water is less than or equal to a first pre-heating temperature or whether a preset time has elapsed, (See paragraphs [0044] & [0045], Liu; and See page 8, “the control unit…performs the function…turning the feed valve (161) on/off using the water level information” and “a thermistor for controlling the temperature…into the housing”, Park); regenerating the pre-heated water by heating the purified water to the first pre-heating temperature by the heating unit, (See paragraph [0045], Liu), when the temperature of the reserve water is less than or equal to the first pre-heating temperature or a preset time has elapsed as a result of the determining, (See paragraph [0063], Liu); resupplying the pre-heated water that is regenerated to the pre-heating tank by the flow switching unit, (See paragraph [0064] & [0065], Liu); and discharging the reserve water stored in the pre-heating tank to outside of the pre-heating tank by the flow switching unit, (Drain Valve 88, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0067], Liu).
Claim(s) 4, 5 & 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., KR 20090040807A, (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages), in view of Liu, (US 2016/0213193), in further view of Kreutzman, (US 2013/0266295).
Regarding Claims 4 & 5, modified Park discloses the hot water supply device of claim 1, further comprising: a heater for the pre-heating tank, (Heater 81 in Module 40, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0063], Liu; and “a heater for heating the working fluid” in Preheating Tank 120, See Figure 3, Park), wherein the control unit controls the heater to heat the pre-heating tank in order to maintain the reserve water at the first pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0063], Liu), but does not disclose the heater is provided along an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank.
Kreutzman discloses a hot water supply device, (See Abstract, Kreutzman), where the heater is provided along an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank, (See paragraph [0078], Kreutzman).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the water treatment device of modified Park by incorporating that the heater is provided along an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank as in Kreutzman so it “allows for applying heat to a storage tank…without requiring the heating element being disposed within the interior of the storage tank” and “use of such a jacket type heating element…allows for applying heat over a large area of the surface of the tank…and thereby improves application of heat to water within the tank”, (See paragraph [0079], Kreutzman).
Additional Disclosures Included:
Claim 5: The hot water supply device of claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the heater to heat the pre-heating tank at regular time intervals or heat the pre-heating tank when a temperature of the reserve water is less than the first pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0063], Liu).
Regarding Claim 17, modified Park discloses the method of claim 15, wherein the step of storing further comprises the step of: heating the pre-heating tank by a heater, (Heater 81 in Module 40, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0063], Liu; and “a heater for heating the working fluid” in Preheating Tank 120, See Figure 3, Park), such that the reserve water maintains the first pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0063], Liu), but does not disclose the heater is provided along an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank.
Kreutzman discloses a hot water supply device or method, (See Abstract, Kreutzman), where the heater is provided along an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank, (See paragraph [0078], Kreutzman).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the method of modified Park by incorporating that the heater is provided along an outer periphery of the pre-heating tank as in Kreutzman so it “allows for applying heat to a storage tank…without requiring the heating element being disposed within the interior of the storage tank” and “use of such a jacket type heating element…allows for applying heat over a large area of the surface of the tank…and thereby improves application of heat to water within the tank”, (See paragraph [0079], Kreutzman).
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., KR 20090040807A, (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages) in view of Liu, (US 2016/0213193), in further view of Kaiser, (US 2010/0326641).
Regarding Claim 7, modified Park discloses the hot water supply device of claim 1, but does not disclose wherein the pre-heating tank is provided with a first opening and a second opening at upper ends, and wherein a capillary tube which extends toward a bottom of the pre-heating tank is provided in the second opening.
Kaiser discloses wherein the pre-heating tank is provided with a first opening and a second opening at upper ends, and wherein a capillary tube which extends toward a bottom of the pre-heating tank is provided in the second opening, (Inlet 820 and Outlet 860 at top of Module 800, in which they have elongated tubes extending within Vessel of Module 800, defined by Coils 830, See Figure 6, and See paragraph [0064] & [0068], Kaiser).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the method of modified Park by incorporating wherein the pre-heating tank is provided with a first opening and a second opening at upper ends, and wherein a capillary tube which extends toward a bottom of the pre-heating tank is provided in the second opening as in Kaiser so it “maximizes their overall surface area” which “allows greater thermal contact”, (See paragraph [0068], Kaiser), and “effectuate heat exchange”, (See paragraph [0064], Kaiser).
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., KR 20090040807A, (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages), in view of Liu, (US 2016/0213193), in further view of Kaiser, (US 2010/0326641), in further view of Bernardo et al., (“Bernardo”, US 2015/0184870).
Regarding Claim 8, modified Park discloses the hot water supply device of claim 7, wherein in the pre-heating mode, the control unit controls the flow switching unit such that the pre-heated water flows into the pre-heating tank through the first opening, and the reserve water is discharged to outside of the pre-heating tank through the capillary tube and the second opening, (Inlet 820 and Outlet 860 at top of Module 800, in which they have elongated tubes extending within Vessel of Module 800, defined by Coils 830, See Figure 6, and See paragraph [0064] & [0068], Kaiser), but does not disclose in the hot water dispensing mode, the control unit controls the flow switching unit such that the purified water flows into the pre- heating tank through the capillary tube and the second opening, and the reserve water is discharged toward the heating unit through the first opening.
Bernardo discloses in the hot water dispensing mode, the control unit controls the flow switching unit such that the purified water flows into the pre-heating tank through the capillary tube and the second opening, and the reserve water is discharged toward the heating unit through the first opening, (See Figure 3 versus Figure 4, or See Figure 5 versus Figure 6 in which flow direction switches for each of Conduits 301/302 or Conduits 401/402).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the method of modified Park by incorporating in the hot water dispensing mode, the control unit controls the flow switching unit such that the purified water flows into the pre- heating tank through the capillary tube and the second opening, and the reserve water is discharged toward the heating unit through the first opening as in Bernardo such that “the hot water latest entered into the tank is taken out and the system is operated as “last-in-first-out” when the system is switched to discharge mode”, (See paragraph [0063], Bernardo), and “significantly increases the collector efficiency since the heat losses to the environment are greatly reduced”, (See paragraph [0065], Bernardo).
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., KR 20090040807A, (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages), in view of Liu, (US 2016/0213193), in further view of Herweck et al., (“Herweck”, US 2020/0011567).
Regarding Claim 12, modified Park discloses a water treatment device, comprising: the hot water supply device according to claim 1, (See rejection of claim 1 above); and a housing in which the hot water supply device is embedded, (Heating Unit 130, Preheating Tank 120 etc. inside Housing of Heating Device 100, See Figures 2 & 3, Park), wherein the pre-heating tank is one of a plurality of pre-heating tanks provided at a plurality of locations, (Multiple Modules 40 provided in various locations, See Figure 1, paragraph [0044], Liu), but does not disclose where moisture is generated in the housing.
Herweck discloses where moisture is generated in the housing, (See paragraph [0133], Herweck).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the water treatment device of modified Park by incorporating where moisture is generated in the housing as in Herweck because “the thermal change in air temperature interacts with the thermal energy storage components…and, by processes including sublimation and condensation, creates complex moisture surfaces inside the container”, (See paragraph [0133], Herweck).
Claim(s) 13 & 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., KR 20090040807A, (“Park”, “Machine Translation of KR 20090040807A”, published 2009, 19 total pages), in view of Liu, (US 2016/0213193), in further view of Alsadah, (US 2018/0119990), in further view of Herweck et al., (“Herweck”, US 2020/0011567)
Regarding Claims 13 & 14, modified Park discloses the water treatment device of claim 12, wherein the control unit controls the heating unit to heat the purified water to a second pre-heating temperature that is higher than the first pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0076], Liu; one temperature is higher than another temperature), in order to remove vapor that is generated around the pre-heating tank by heat emitted from the pre- heating tank, (Steam released by Preheating Tank 120 directed to Overheating Damper 140, See Figure 3, See last paragraph, Park)
Modified Park does not disclose wherein the pre-heating tank is made of a thermally conductive material, and that the vapor is turned to moisture.
Alsadah discloses wherein the pre-heating tank is made of a thermally conductive material, (See paragraph [0045], Alsadah).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the water treatment device of modified Park by incorporating wherein the pre-heating tank is made of a thermally conductive material as in Alsadah in order “to help stabilize different desired temperatures of water inside the insulated water tank”, (See paragraph [0045], Alsadah).
Herweck discloses that the vapor is turned to moisture, (See paragraph [0133], Herweck).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have modified the water treatment device of modified Park by incorporating that the vapor is turned to moisture as in Herweck because “the thermal change in air temperature interacts with the thermal energy storage components…and, by processes including sublimation and condensation, creates complex moisture surfaces inside the container”, (See paragraph [0133], Herweck).
Additional Disclosures Included:
Claim 14: The water treatment device of claim 13, wherein when a temperature of the reserve water stored in any one of the plurality of pre-heating tanks is less than or equal to the first pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0063], Liu; may be equal to the first predetermined temperature), the control unit controls the heating unit to generate the pre-heated water by heating the purified water to the second pre-heating temperature, (See paragraph [0063], Liu), and the control unit controls the flow switching unit such that the pre-heated water generated in the heating unit flows into the corresponding pre-heating tank, (Return Pipe 60 carries hot water back to Heater 11 from Supply Line 20 and Filter 24, and then Heater 11 recirculates via Supply Line 20 and solenoids 31 for each Module 40 open to receive heated water, See Figure 1 & 5, See paragraph [0045], Liu), and the reserve water stored in the corresponding pre-heating tank is discharged to outside of the pre-heating tank, (Drain Valve 88, See Figure 5, See paragraph [0067], Liu).
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 JONATHAN M PEO whose telephone number is (571)272-9891. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9AM-5PM.
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/JONATHAN M PEO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1779
