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 .
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.
The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Claims 1-19 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.
Independent claims 1, 11 and 19 all set forth “a plurality of first containers” and “a plurality of connecting pipes”. However, throughout the claims, these features are referenced back to as “a first container”, “the first container”, “a connecting pipe” or “the connecting pipe”. This is unclear and confusing, please clarify.
Claims 9 and 17: the term “waist-shaped hole” is unclear and vague.
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.
Claims 1-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Brewer (US Pat. No. 4,686,773).
Regarding independent claim 1, Brewer discloses a leveling mechanism as shown in FIG 1 used for leveling a target device 12. The leveling mechanism includes a plurality of first containers 18, 26 and a plurality of connecting pipes 36. The method as claimed is described in the Summary of the Invention of Brewer (col. 1, l. 55-col. 2, l.2). However, Brewer does not disclose a second container for introducing the observation liquid into the connecting pipes as claimed. A container is an old and well-known device used for storing a liquid for later use. Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to use a second container for the purpose of introducing liquid into the connecting pipes and first containers of Brewer in the manner as disclosed in the Summary of the Invention of Brewer (col. 1, ll. 65-68).
Claims 2-18 include various components (quick connectors, connection seats, plate bodies, a first container and second container with the same specifications, etc.) that are functionally-equivalent to the components taught by Brewer. It is old and well-known to use functionally equivalent components with a known apparatus for the purpose of achieving the same results. Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify the Brewer device in the manner as claimed based on manufacturer and/or end-user preferences.
Regarding independent claim 19, Brewer discloses the invention substantially as claimed as applied to claim 1, above. However, Brewer does not disclose that the leveling method is used specifically with a liquid cooling device. Brewer does disclose that the device may be used with other devices that need to be leveled (see col. 1, ll. 5-10 of Brewer). It is old and well-known to use a leveling device with a liquid cooling tank for the purpose of ensuring proper operation of the tank. Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to use the level of Brewer for the purpose of ensuring that a cooling tank is in the proper orientation.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to G. BRADLEY BENNETT whose telephone number is 571.272.2237. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH, 8:00-6:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Peter Macchiarolo can be reached at 571.272.2375. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571.273.8300.
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/GEORGE B BENNETT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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25 FEB 2026