Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 03/16/2026 has been entered.
Claims 1-2, 5, 7 and 9-16 are pending. Claims 1-2, 5, 10-12 and 14 are amended. Claims 3-4, 6 and 8 are cancelled.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the connectors comprising secondary tabs having respective indentations and the respective indentations provided in the pipe must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from claim 5. No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-2, 5, 7 and 9-16 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, in lines 10-15, it is unclear how the “each of the clip-type connectors” can comprise “at least one aperture in the pipe proximate one of the secondary apertures.”
In line 15, it is unclear if the “at least one aperture” is one of the “two apertures” of line 3.
For the purpose of this examination, the claim has been interpreted to mean, in lines 9-15:
--wherein the external connecting pipes are connected to the secondary apertures through a plurality of quick-coupling clip-type connectors, and
wherein at least one respective third aperture on the pipe is proximate to a respective secondary aperture of the plurality of secondary apertures, and
at least one tab on the click-type connector is fitted into a respective third aperture of the at least one respective third aperture.--.
Regarding claim 5, it is unclear what “secondary tabs” of the connectors, and what corresponding “respective indentations on the pipe” the claim is referring to. The drawings show connectors (8) comprising a single tab (20), but do not show any connector (8) comprising a secondary tab having respective indentations, let alone any pipe (2) comprising indentations that engage with any secondary tab of the connectors (8). See also the Drawing objection, above.
For the purpose of this examination, the claim has been interpreted to mean:
--wherein the pipe comprises secondary tabs having respective indentations configured to engage with respective indentations provided on the connectors.--.
Regarding claim 14, the claim recites the limitation “said secondary tabs” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
In line 7, it is unclear what “the apertures” the claim is referring to.
For the purpose of this examination, the claim has been interpreted to mean, in lines 4 and 7, respectively:
--the pipe comprises secondary tabs,--, and
--wherein the at least one respective third aperture comprises a plurality of third apertures, and wherein the plurality of third apertures and the secondary tabs are provided along the edges of the flat face.--.
Regarding claims 2, 7, 9-13 and 15-16, the claims are rejected by virtue of their dependency on claim 1.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS. — Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Specifically, claim 2 is not requiring the limitation “a plurality of quick-coupling clip-type connectors” of claim 1, since claim 2 calls for the quick-coupling connectors comprising snap-type couplings.
Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 5, 7 and 9-16, as best understood, 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.
Response to Arguments
The rejection of claims 3-5, 10-12 and 14, under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), as set forth in the Office Action mailed 09/15/2025 second paragraph, are withdrawn in light of the amendments.
Applicant's arguments filed 03/16/2026 have been fully considered but they do not apply to the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GUSTAVO A HINCAPIE SERNA whose telephone number is (571)272-6018. The examiner can normally be reached 9am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Len Tran can be reached at 571-272-1184. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GUSTAVO A HINCAPIE SERNA/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/JENNA M MARONEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763