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 .
Applicant is advised that should claim 10 be found allowable, claim 11 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(2) as being anticipated by Pierxynski (9,861,901)
As to claim 1, Pierxynski (9,861,901) discloses an inflatable structure with integrated carrier comprising:
“an inflatable structure, wherein the inflatable structure has an inflated mode and a deflated mode, wherein the inflatable structure has an inflatable base” is met by Bounce house 50 and floor 52 shown in figure 5;
“an inflation module connected to the inflatable structure, wherein the inflation module has a fan blower powered by a fan motor, wherein the inflation module further includes an air intake, wherein the fan blower draws air from the air intake and inflates the inflatable structure” is met by Bounce house 50 and floor 52 shown in figure 5;
“a storage housing, wherein the storage housing is formed in the inflation module, wherein the storage housing receives the inflatable structure when the inflatable structure is in a deflated mode” is met by cover 30 and related elements.
Regarding claim 2, “wherein the fan blower is mounted at the air intake” is shown in figure 3.
As to claim 3 “further including connection straps, wherein the connection straps are mounted on the storage housing and are configured to connect the storage housing to the inflatable base” is met by straps 26 shown in figure 2 and found throughout the specification.
Regarding claim 4. “connection straps, wherein the connection straps are mounted on the storage housing and wherein the connection straps are configured to close the storage housing and retain the inflatable structure within the storage housing” is met by straps 26 shown in figure 2 and found throughout the specification.
As to claim 5 “an attached mode, wherein the inflation module attaches to the inflatable structure at the inflatable base, after the inflatable structure is removed from the inflation module” is shown in figures 5 and 4.
Regarding claim 6, “the inflation module has an attached mode, wherein the inflation module attaches to the inflatable structure at the inflatable base in the attached mode” is shown in figures 5 and 4.
As to claim 7, “an air inlet conduit, wherein the fan blower is configured to inflate the air inlet conduit, wherein the air inlet conduit is inflatable” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
As to claim 8, “the inflation module has a detached mode, wherein the inflation module detaches from the inflatable structure, only being connected at a conduit” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
Regarding claim 9, “the fan blower is mounted at the air intake” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
Regarding claim 10, “connection straps are mounted on the storage housing and are configured to connect the storage housing to the inflatable base” is met by straps 26 shown in figure 2 and found throughout the specification.
As to claim 11, “connection straps, wherein the connection straps are mounted on the storage housing and are configured to connect the storage housing to the inflatable base” is met by straps 26 shown in figure 2 and found throughout the specification.
As to claim 12, “an attached mode, wherein the inflation module attaches to the inflatable structure at the inflatable base” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
As to 13, “the inflation module has an attached mode, wherein the inflation module attaches to the inflatable structure at the inflatable base in the attached mode” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
Regarding claim 14, Pierxynski (9,861,901) discloses an inflatable structure with integrated carrier.
“a. an inflatable structure, wherein the inflatable structure has an inflated mode and a deflated mode, wherein the inflatable structure has an inflatable base” is met by Bounce house 50 and floor 52 shown in figure 5;
“b. an inflation module connected to the inflatable structure, wherein the inflation module has a fan blower powered by a fan motor, wherein the inflation module further includes an air intake, wherein the fan blower draws air from the air intake and inflates the inflatable structure” is met by Bounce house 50 and floor 52 shown in figure 5;
“c. a storage housing, wherein the storage housing is formed in the inflation module, wherein the storage housing receives the inflatable structure when the inflatable structure is in a deflated mode: is met by ” is met by cover 30 and related elements; and
“d. an air collector, wherein the air collector is formed around the fan blower, wherein the air collector is configured to muffle the sound of the fan motor, wherein a sound attenuation cover is mounted to the air collector, wherein the air collector has a concave shape which receives the fan motor” is met by the outer cover and other components related to blower 40.
As to claim 15, “wherein the fan blower is mounted at the air intake” is shown in figures 5 and 4.
Regarding claim 16, “connection straps, wherein the connection straps are mounted on the storage housing and are configured to connect the storage housing to the inflatable base” is met by straps 26 shown in figure 2 and found throughout the specification.
As to claim 17, “connection straps, wherein the connection straps are mounted on the storage housing and wherein the connection straps are configured to close the storage housing and retain the inflatable structure within the storage housing” is met by straps 26 shown in figure 2 and found throughout the specification.
As to claim 18, “an attached mode, wherein the inflation module attaches to the inflatable structure at the inflatable base, after the inflatable structure is removed from the inflation module” is shown in multiple figures like figure 2.
Regarding claim 19, “inflation module has an attached mode, wherein the inflation module attaches to the inflatable structure at the inflatable base in the attached mode” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
As to claim 20, “air inlet conduit, wherein the fan blower is configured to inflate the air inlet conduit, wherein the air inlet conduit is inflatable” is shown in figures 4, 5 and 8.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN J FLYNN whose telephone number is (571)272-1915. The examiner can normally be reached 6:30-4 M-F.
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/NATHAN J FLYNN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2421