DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 11-20 in the reply filed on 9/24/2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-10 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.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 9/24/2025.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 7/13/2023 have been considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre-AIA 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) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for a patent.
Claims 10-15 and 20 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Flocchini (U.S Patent 4,498,419).
Regarding claim 10, Flocchini teaches a method for selectively conducting at least a first fluid and a second fluid using a safety valve (valve A, figs 1-3) (abstract) having at least a first port (20), a second port (bottom of valve A, outflow conduit 24), and a third port (32/36), the method comprising: with a piston (valve head member 44) in a first position (fig 5; col 4 lines 53-58), conducting the first fluid between the first port and the second port (claim 1 and col 4 lines 53-58); and with the piston in a second position (fig 6; col 4 line 65 – col 5 line 5 and col 5 lines 29-42), conducting the second fluid between the third port and the first port (claim 1, col 4 line 65 – col 5 line 5 and col 5 lines 29-42).
Regarding claim 11, Flocchini teaches further comprising moving the piston to the first position in response to a force provided by a spring (70) (fig 4; col 4 lines 29-43).
Regarding claim 12, Flocchini teaches further comprising moving the piston to the second position in response to applying compressed air (col 4 line 65 – col 5 line 28).
Regarding claim 13, Flocchini teaches with the piston in the first position (fig 5; claim 1 and col 4 lines 53-58), preventing the second fluid from passing between the third port and the first port (claim 1 and col 4 lines 53-58).
Regarding claim 14, Flocchini teaches with the piston in the second position (fig 6; claim 1, col 4 line 65 – col 5 line 5 and col 5 lines 29-42), preventing the first fluid from passing between the first port and the second port (claim 1, col 4 line 65 – col 5 line 5 and col 5 lines 29-42).
Regarding claim 15, Flocchini teaches wherein preventing the first fluid from passing between the first port and the second port is carried out by a first seal (42A) and a second seal (42B) spaced apart from each other (col 3 lines 61-68 and col 5 lines 6-28), and wherein the method further comprises venting a region within the safety valve between the first seal and the second seal to an environment of the safety valve (col 5 lines 6-28).
Regarding claim 20, Flocchini teaches further comprising: receiving, by the first port, the first fluid from a milker unit (80) (col 3 lines 49-56); providing, by the second port, the first fluid to a milk collecting tank (30) (col 3 lines 57-60); receiving, by the third port (36), the second fluid from a backflush supply (81) (col 5 lines 43-55); and providing, by the first port (20/37), the second fluid to the milker unit (col 5 lines 43-55).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16-19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest prior art of record is Flocchini (U.S Patent 4,498,419).
17. Flocchini teaches the limitations of claim 1 and wherein the safety valve further includes a fourth port and a fifth port as recited in claim 16. However, Flocchini fails to teach wherein the method further comprises: with a second piston in a first position, enabling a third fluid to pass between the fourth port and the fifth port; and with the second piston in a second position, disabling the third fluid from passing between the fourth port and the fifth port as recited in claim 16.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PRADHUMAN PARIHAR whose telephone number is (571)270-1633. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10am-6pm EST.
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/P.P/Examiner, Art Unit 1714
/KAJ K OLSEN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1714