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 .
Response to Amendment
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The response filed on July 22, 2026 is acknowledged.
Regarding the replacement drawings filed on July 22, 2026, the only changes appear to be in figure 7. Figure 7 now shows two added/new leader lines/arrows, one under reference character 11 and another under reference character 12. The two new leader lines/arrows are unlabeled.
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 “wall” recited in claim 1; and the “pipe fittings…are assembled through welding” recited in claim 14 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). 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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 15 and 16 (recited in amended paragraph 0043). 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. 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
Claims 1, 5, 8-11 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “a fixed support arm, a swing support arm and a tee joint…a switching valve” in lines 1-2 and 10. The specification discloses a fixed support arm 1, a swing support arm 2, a tee joint 3 and a switching valve 34. The fixed support arm 1 has a water inlet channel 11 and a water passing channel 12 communicating with a water path in the swing support arm 2 (first path). There is an alternate flow path (second path) from a first joint 13 of the fixed support arm 1 through a filter 5 and an extension pipe 6 to a water inlet joint 31 of the tee joint 3 (that includes a switching valve 34) through a second water outlet joint 33 through a water passing pipe 4 to a second joint 14 of the fixed support arm 1. It appears that water flow will always opt to flow through the first path, i.e., the path of least resistance. The second path appears to be superfluous. The specification fails to disclose why or how the water will flow through the second path rather than the first path.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the water inlet channel and the water passing channel are not in fluid communication” in lines 9-10. The disclosure as originally filed fails to disclose that the water inlet channel is not in fluid communication with the water passing channel. The specification fails to provide written description that the water inlet channel is not in fluid communication with the water passing channel. This exclusionary limitation is not supported by the disclosure, as originally filed, and therefore, the exclusionary limitation constitutes new matter. This rejection encompasses both a lack of written description and new matter.
Claims 1, 5, 8-11 and 14 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “a wall” in line 4. The preamble is directed to a “filtering shower support arm.” The “wall” cannot be reasonable considered part of the filtering shower support arm. The specification discloses, in paragraph 0036, that the filtering shower support arm 1 is fixedly installed on a wall. Therefore, the filtering shower support arm 1 and the wall are two separate and distinct elements. The preamble is directed to a subcombination of a filtering shower support arm. Yet, the body of the claim is directed to a combination of a filtering shower support arm and a wall, i.e., part of the shower stall. The scope defined by the body of the claim exceeds that of the preamble.
Claim 1 recites “one of the following three connection modes…or” in lines 13-14 and in line 18. Claim 1 appears to be a Markush type claim. A Markush listing is normally closed ended, i.e., a group consisting of A, B and C. MPEP 2117.
Claim 14 recites the limitation “pipe fittings” in line 1. Based on the replacement drawing filed on July 22, 2026, where figure 7 includes two new leader lines/arrows, it appears that the “pipe fittings” are a double inclusion of the fixed support arm 1.
Claim 8 recites the limitation “connection mode (b)” in line 2. It appears to be a double inclusion of the connection mode (b) recited in claim 1, i.e., the recitation “connection mode (b)” requires an article preceding it.
Claim 10 recites the limitation “connection mode (b)” in line 3. It appears to be a double inclusion of the connection mode (b) recited in claim 1, i.e., the recitation “connection mode (b)” requires an article preceding it.
Claim 11 recites the limitation “connection mode (a)” in line 2. It appears to be a double inclusion of the connection mode (a) recited in claim 1, i.e., the recitation “connection mode (a)” requires an article preceding it.
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 idiomatic errors.
Applicant should not misconstrue any lack of art rejection as an indication of allowable subject matter.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed July 22, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that the “first path” does not exist. The specification does not disclose that water inlet channel 11 does not communicate with the water passing channel 12.
Remainder of Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 5, 8-11 and 14 have been considered but are moot based on the new grounds of rejections.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur O Hall can be reached at (571) 270-1814. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK
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