DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 18/350,007 - URINE BASED NUTRIENT-RECOVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS, filed on 7/11/23. Claims 1-23 are pending.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 4 and 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856).
Regarding Claim 1 McIntyre shows a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]).
Regarding Claim 2 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 wherein the lower side of the body curves away from a center of the cavity (Fig. 7 at least from left and right towards the side walls).
Regarding Claim 4 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 wherein the cover has one or more raised edges (36).
Regarding Claim 5 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 wherein the urine diversion device is in fluid communication with a tubular member via the lower side aperture (Fig. 13, ¶ [0031-0032]; plumbing as is conventionally known).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Yang (US 11,457,778).
Regarding Claim 3 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 but fails to show wherein the bezel has one or more recesses on an exterior surface. However, Yang shows a urinal device (Fig. 3) with one or more recesses (211) on an exterior surface of a bezel (at 29). Yang shows using the hand slot for user convenience for grasping the urinal pan (3) and rotating the pan downwards for use (note, col. 5, lines 5-17). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more recesses in the bezel exterior surface for the convenience of the user rotating the cover as shown by Yang.
Claim(s) 6, 7, 9-12, 14-16 and 18-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825).
Regarding Claim 6 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 5 but fails to show wherein the urine diversion device is in fluid communication with a storage tank. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 7 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 6 further comprising a valve (96) positioned between the urine diversion device and the storage tank.
Regarding Claim 9 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 but fails to show further comprising at least one of a volume indicator light and speaker. Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara. Birbara further shows using an alarm (speaker) when the fluid in the reservoir is approaching the capacity of the reservoir/tank (¶ [0057]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a volume indicator such as an sound alarm (speaker) for alerting the user that the reservoir has reached capacity as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 10 McIntyre as combined with Birbara shows the urine diversion device of claim 9 further comprising a communication interface operable to communicate a volume (¶ [0057]; sensor float 161 and circuit board 188).
Regarding Claim 11 McIntyre shows a urine diversion system (Figs. 1-14) comprising: a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]). But McIntyre fails to show and a storage tank in communication with the body. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 12 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 wherein the lower side of the body curves away from a center of the cavity (Fig. 7 at least from left and right towards the side walls).
Regarding Claim 14 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 wherein the cover has one or more raised edges (36).
Regarding Claim 15 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 wherein the urine diversion device is in fluid communication with a tubular member via the lower side aperture (Fig. 13, ¶ [0031-0032]; plumbing as is conventionally known).
Regarding Claim 16 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 15 further comprising a valve (96) positioned between the urine diversion device and the storage tank.
Regarding Claim 18 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 but fails to further comprise at least one of a volume indicator light and speaker. However, Birbara shows using an alarm (speaker) when the fluid in the reservoir is approaching the capacity of the reservoir/tank (¶ [0057]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a volume indicator such as an sound alarm (speaker) for alerting the user that the reservoir has reached capacity as shown by Birbara.
Regarding Claim 19 McIntyre as combined with Birbara shows the urine diversion device of claim 18 further comprising a communication interface operable to communicate a volume (¶ [0057]; sensor float 161 and circuit board 188).
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Lor (US 11,306,471).
Regarding Claim 8 McIntyre shows the urine diversion device of claim 1 but fails to show wherein the body and the cover have magnets. However, Lor shows using magnets for opening and closing the cover (note, col. 6, lines 58-59). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include magnets for the cove and body for closure of the cover to the body as shown by Lor.
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Yang (US 11,457,778).
Regarding Claim 13 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 1 but fails to show wherein the bezel has one or more recesses on an exterior surface. However, Yang shows a urinal device (Fig. 3) with one or more recesses (211) on an exterior surface of a bezel (at 29). Yang shows using the hand slot for user convenience for grasping the urinal pan (3) and rotating the pan downwards for use (note, col. 5, lines 5-17). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include one or more recesses in the bezel exterior surface for the convenience of the user rotating the cover as shown by Yang.
Claim(s) 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Lor (US 11,306,471).
Regarding Claim 17 McIntyre shows the urine diversion system of claim 11 but fails to show wherein the body and the cover have magnets. However, Lor shows using magnets for opening and closing the cover (note, col. 6, lines 58-59). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include magnets for the cove and body for closure of the cover to the body as shown by Lor.
Claim(s) 20-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McIntyre (US Pub. 2016/0060856) in view of Birbara et al. (US Pub. 2012/0066825) in view of Bansal et al. (US 2019/0352892).
Regarding Claim 20 McIntyre shows a method of processing urine comprising: providing a urine diversion device (10) comprising: a body (12) having a rear surface (20), two side surfaces (22, 24), a top surface (inside top shown at 104; Fig. 7) and a lower surface engaging the rear surface (16; Fig. 7), an open side (tray 14 covers the opening when pivoted up), and a lower side aperture (at 18) positioned in the lower surface of the body wherein the body defines a cavity (Fig. 7); a bezel (shown at 12; integral to body as well as 110; Fig. 11) positioned around an opening in the body (Figs. Figs 1-7 and 11); a cover (14, 114) operable to pivotally engage the body (at 38, 40) wherein the cover is positionable within a recess of the bezel when the cover is in a closed configuration (Fig. 2); and a drain cover (18; Fig. 13) having a plurality of apertures (¶ [0032]) operable to engage the aperture in the lower side of the body (¶ [0032]). But McIntyre fails to show and a storage tank in communication with the body. However, conventionally some plumbing systems include a septic storage tank in fluid communication with conventional plumbing. Additionally, Birbara shows a urinal device with a storage tank (130). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a storage tank for the purpose of not needing a conventional plumbing outlet as shown by Birbara. McIntyre fails to show collecting urine from the storage tank; and pasteurizing collected urine. However, Bansal shows collecting urine from the storage tank and pasteurizing collected urine (¶ [0025]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include collecting the urine form the storage tank and pasteurizing the collected urine for application as fertilizer as shown by Bansal (¶ [0025]).
Regarding Claims 21-23 McIntyre shows method of claim 20 but fails to show the step of communicating a volume of the storage tank and the step of issuing at least one of an audible and visual alarm and communicating the volume of the storage tank to the central location. However, Birbara shows the step of issuing an audible alarm (speaker) when the fluid in the reservoir is approaching the capacity of the reservoir/tank (¶ [0057]). Birbara shows a communication interface operable to communicate a volume (¶ [0057]; sensor float 161 and circuit board 188) and the step of communicating the volume of the storage tank (via the sensor float 161) to a central location (circuit board 188; which then sounds the alarm). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify McIntyre to include a volume indicator such as an sound alarm (speaker) and a central location for communicating the volume of fluid in the storage tank and for alerting the user that the reservoir has reached capacity as shown by Birbara.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Beeson et al. (US Pub. 2010/0275352) shows a urine collection system with a valve; Brooks (US 8,904,570) shows a similar urine collection device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 2/27/2026