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 § 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.
(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)(1) as being anticipated by Hellkamp (US 9,930,957 B2).
Regarding claim 1, Hellkamp teaches a dental apparatus that enables a user to controllably dispense one or more fluids during normal operation (abstract), comprising:
- a first component, wherein the first component includes a body (1) having a fluid reservoir (4);
- a second component, wherein the second component includes a displaceable plug (see annotated Fig. below and Col. 2 l. 45-53; the duckbill valve displaces when pressure is applied to the reservoir and plugs the channel as to prevent leakage of liquid when no pressure is applied to the reservoir);
- a third component and a fourth component (3; head 3B and arcuate arms 3A), wherein the third and fourth components collectively include a plug reservoir (see annotated Fig. below; the plug reservoir being the volume inside check valve 5A) and a fluid delivery channel (6; see Fig. 2A).
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 attached to this office action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LINA FARAJ whose telephone number is (571)272-4580. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eric Rosen can be reached at (571) 270-7855. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LINA FARAJ/ Examiner, Art Unit 3772
/THOMAS C BARRETT/ SPE, Art Unit 3799