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 II comprising claims 13 – 18 in the reply filed on 2/20/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 1 – 12 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 2/20/2026.
Claim Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 9, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “flow sensor” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… including a flow sensor configured for determining … .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 14, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “to” to positively recite the functionality of the “peristaltic mixing pump” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… activating the peristaltic mixing pump configured to mix … .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 1, a comma should be inserted after the claim dependency (i.e., claim 15 should read: The method of clam 14, wherein … .) Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 1, a comma should be inserted after the claim dependency. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 5, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “intake tube” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… providing an intake tube configured for receiving the fluid… .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 7, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “drain tube” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… a drain tube configured for draining … .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 17 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 1, a comma should be inserted after the claim dependency. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 1, a comma should be inserted after the claim dependency. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 2, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “computing system” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… a computing system configured for controlling operation … .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 4, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “transceiver” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… providing a transceiver configured for sending … .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 6, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “external control button” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… providing at least one external control button configured for operating … .” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 8, the term “configured” should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality of the “battery” (i.e., the phraseology should read: “… a battery configured for supplying power … .” 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 13 – 18 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 13 recites the limitation "the cylindrical portion" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the two threaded ends" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the mixture" in line 18. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the mixture" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the mixture" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the mixture" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13 – 18 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 13, the cited prior art neither teaches nor fairly suggests a method for using an in-line T-segment attachment for use with a fluid monitoring device for testing a fluid, said method further comprising the steps of:
installing the in-line T-segment attachment in a pipe having the fluid to be tested, wherein a segment of the pipe is removed to create a gap having a first pipe end and a second pipe end, wherein a first threaded end of in-line T-segment attachment is coupled to the first pipe end, and wherein a second threaded end of the in-line T-segment attachment is coupled to the second pipe end;
attaching the fluid monitoring device to the access port; and
controlling operation of the fluid monitoring device coupled to the access port, wherein the fluid monitoring device receives fluid from the access port when testing the fluid.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Shields et al. (US 2023/0102493 A1) is the published application of related application no. 17/751,183. Moore (US 5,874,680) and Hilgendorf et al. (US 6,203,502 B1) teach various in-line T-fitting apparatus with monitoring apparatus.
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BRIAN J. SINES
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 1796
/BRIAN J. SINES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1796
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