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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/05/2023, 04/09/2025 and 06/06/2025. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 1-16 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.
Regarding claim 1, claim recites “sufficient” in line 15 of the claim. It is not clear what value of the pressure, the applicant is considering to be sufficient as claimed. Claim further recites “at least for a short time” in line 20 of the claim. It is not clear how much time, the applicant is considering to be short time as claimed. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claim 6, claim recites “a bleed” in line 2 of the claim. It is not clear if the applicant is referring to a bleed line or a bleed outlet. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the atmosphere" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 15, claim recites “sufficient” in line 16 of the claim. It is not clear what value of the pressure, the applicant is considering to be sufficient as claimed. Claim further recites “at least for a short time” in line 21 of the claim. It is not clear how much time, the applicant is considering to be short time as claimed. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claim 16, claim recites “sufficient” in line 19 of the claim. It is not clear what value of the pressure, the applicant is considering to be sufficient as claimed. Claim further recites “at least for a short time” in line 24 of the claim. It is not clear how much time, the applicant is considering to be short time as claimed. Appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 15 and 16 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.
Claims 2-14 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claim 1, the closest prior arts do not disclose or suggest an electro-pneumatic hand brake system comprising: a bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve having a control input provided before the inlet of the bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve inlet, and a self-retaining switching valve outlet, wherein: a) said self-retaining switching valve is moveable against a force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at said control input; b) said self-retaining switching valve outlet is connected to said inlet of the bistable solenoid valve; c) said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is also connected to a signal line via which a signal pressure is feedable to said control input as a control pressure at least for a short time; d) said self-retaining switching valve in said flow-through position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet to said self-retaining switching valve inlet; and, e) said self-retaining switching valve in said blocking position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet with a self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet as recited in the claim.
Regarding claim 15, the closest prior arts do not disclose or suggest an electronic braking system comprising: an electro-pneumatic hand brake system including a pneumatic relay valve having a relay valve outlet, a bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve having a control input provided before the inlet of the bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve inlet, and a self-retaining switching valve outlet, wherein: a) said self-retaining switching valve is moveable against a force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at said control input; b) said self-retaining switching valve outlet is connected to said inlet of the bistable solenoid valve; c) said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is also connected to a signal line via which a signal pressure is feedable to said control input as a control pressure at least for a short time; d) said self-retaining switching valve in said flow-through position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet to said self-retaining switching valve inlet; and, e) said self-retaining switching valve in said blocking position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet with a self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet as recited in the claim.
Regarding claim 16, the closest prior arts do not disclose or suggest a vehicle comprising: a pneumatic brake installation, spring-loaded brakes, an electronic braking system having an electro-pneumatic hand brake system, a bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve having a control input provided before the inlet of the bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve inlet, and a self-retaining switching valve outlet, wherein: a) said self-retaining switching valve is moveable against a force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at said control input; b) said self-retaining switching valve outlet is connected to said inlet of the bistable solenoid valve; c) said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is also connected to a signal line via which a signal pressure is feedable to said control input as a control pressure at least for a short time; d) said self-retaining switching valve in said flow-through position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet to said self-retaining switching valve inlet; and, e) said self-retaining switching valve in said blocking position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet with a self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet as recited in the claim.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHBUBUR RASHID whose telephone number is (571)272-7218. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9am to 10pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ROBERT SICONOLFI can be reached at 5712727124. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MAHBUBUR RASHID/Examiner, Art Unit 3616
/Robert A. Siconolfi/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3616