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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 26 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 6 appears to need to have the refrigerant circuit in plural because there are two water generators. Appropriate correction is required.
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 12-14, 18-19, 21-28, and 31 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 12 recites the limitation "the condenser outlet" in line 32. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Please note there are two separate condenser outlets claimed.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the condenser" in lines 39-40. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Please note there are two separate condensers claimed.
Claim 22 recites the limitation "the condenser" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 22 recites the limitation "the evaporator" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 26 recites the limitation "the first evaporator" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 26 recites the limitation "the second evaporator" in line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 31 recites the limitation "the pump" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
By virtue of dependency, claims 13-14, 18-19, 21, 23-28, and 31 are also rejected.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the limitations
set forth in independent Claims 1, 12, 22, and 26 are not disclosed nor taught by the prior art. Examiner finds the amendment and arguments made by applicant in the amendment/remarks filed 03/02/2026 to be persuasive and overcome the prior art of record.
REASONS FOR ALLOWABILITY
The closest prior art of record is Forsberg et al. (US 2005/0139552 A1), Merritt (US 2010/0083676 A1), Galante et al. (US 2010/0186433 A1), Feng et al. (US 2017/0211851 A1), Reidy (5,203,989), Ikezaki et al. (US 2003/0010483 A1), Tolbert et al. (US 2014/0065000 A1), Merkys et al. (US 2005/0161202 A1), and Conry (5,070,704).
The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance:
The prior art does not anticipate nor render obvious the combination set forth in the independent claims 1, 12, 22, and 26. The aforementioned references teach an atmospheric generator, a refrigerant circuit, a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, an expansion valve, a water treatment system, a container, and a controller.
However, the references relied upon fail to specifically teach the limitations of:
In Claim 1: the references fail to teach or make obvious the specific limitations regarding the configuration of the subcooling system and the subcooling heat exchanger to the refrigerant circuit.
In Claim 12: the references fail to teach or make obvious the specific limitations regarding the configuration of the subcooling system and the subcooling heat exchanger to the refrigerant circuits.
In Claim 22: the references fail to teach or make obvious the specific limitations regarding the configuration of the subcooling system and the subcooling heat exchanger to the refrigerant circuit.
In Claim 26: the references fail to teach or make obvious the specific limitations regarding the configuration of the subcooling system and the subcooling heat exchangers to the refrigerant circuits of the atmospheric water generators.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Ehrlich (4,255,937).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIRSTIN U OSWALD whose telephone number is (571)270-3557. The examiner can normally be reached 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. M-F.
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/KIRSTIN U OSWALD/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/ERIC S RUPPERT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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