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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, Species A1 (figure 1A), Species B1 (figure 2A), and Species C1 (figure 3A) in the reply filed on January 15, 2026 is acknowledged.
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.
Claims 1-3, 5-13, 17, 20-25 and 28 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 1 recites the limitation “a distal end” in line 5. The claim fails to recite/provide a reference to determine “distal.”
In claim 1, lines 5-6, the recitation “the mix bore open through a first axial end of the mix chamber body” is grammatically incorrect.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “a first axis end” in line 6. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “distal end” recited in line 4.
Regarding claim 17, the limitation “a plural component sprayer” recited in claim 1 appears to be a double inclusion of the “plural component sprayer” recited in claim 17, line 1.
Claim 20 recites the limitation “a first axial end” in line 3. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “first axial end” recited in claim 1.
Claim 25 recites the limitation “at least one surface” in line 2. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “exterior surface” recited in claim 1.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-3, 5-13, 17, 20, 21, 25 and 28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Pellin et al. (12,533,690).
Reference characters also include equivalent elements in alternative embodiments.
Pelline et al. disclose a mixer configured for a plural component sprayer, the mixer comprising:
a mix chamber body 48;
a mix bore 62 extending along an axis A through the mix chamber body, wherein an outlet orifice 28 is formed at a distal end (downstream end) of the mix bore, the mix bore open through a first axial end (lower end of mix chamber 48 in figure 3A) of the mix chamber body;
a first inlet bore 58 extending through the mix chamber body to the mix bore;
a second inlet bore 60 extending through the mix chamber body to the mix bore; and
a seal head 52 disposed at a second axial end (upper end of mix chamber 48 in figure 3A) of the mixer opposite the first axial end, wherein the seal head has an exterior surface (surface having groove 54) that converges towards the axis;
wherein the first inlet bore and the second inlet bore extend through the seal head (see figure 3A);
wherein the seal head is conical (shaped like a cone; see figure 6A);
wherein a seal groove 54, 56 is formed on the seal head, the seal groove extending into the exterior surface and configured to receive a chamber seal (not positively recited; first seal and/or second seal, col. 6, ll. 62-63);
wherein the seal groove extends annularly about the axis (grooves 54, 56 are annular and about axis A, see figure 3A);
wherein a first seal shoulder (groove wall of groove 54, 56 at the upstream end in figure 3A) is formed at a first axial end of the seal groove and a second seal shoulder (groove wall of groove 54, 56 at the downstream end in figure 3A) is formed at a second axial end of the seal groove, the second seal shoulder projecting further radially (perpendicular to axis A) from a base (base wall of groove 54, 56) of the seal groove than the first seal shoulder;
further comprising:
a retaining head (downstream end of mix chamber 48 within air cap 36) disposed at a first axial end of the mixer, the mix bore extending through the retaining head;
further comprising a projection 262 extending outward from the mix chamber body, the projection configured to prevent rotation of the mixer about the axis;
further comprising:
a neck 180a, 180b, 280 extending between and connecting the retaining head and the mix chamber body, the retaining head extending further outward from the axis than the neck;
wherein the mix chamber body extends radially outward relative to the neck and the retaining head at an end of the neck opposite the retaining head (see figures 5A and 6A);
wherein the first inlet bore has a first diameter, the mix bore has a second diameter, and the second diameter is larger than the first diameter (shown in figure 3A);
wherein the retaining head includes exterior threading (annular grooves at extension 152, i.e., between first portion 172 and second portion 174; between second portion 174 and boss 176);
an air cap 36;
the retaining head includes first threads and the air cap includes second threads (annular groove on the internal surface of cap 36);
a chamber seal (first seal and/or second seal, col. 6, ll. 62-63).
Conclusion
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.
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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.
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/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK