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 Objections
Claim 1 objected to because of the following informalities:
“there is a an anti-frosting gas channel” should be “there is an anti-frosting gas channel”
“solid of revolutions” should be “solid of revolution”
“narrows and then widens towards point” should be “narrows and then widens towards a point”
“gas cleaning channel” should be “cleaning gas flow channel”
“anti-frosting agent flow channel” should be “anti-frosting gas flow channel”
“cleaning gas channel” should be “cleaning gas flow channel”
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
Due to numerous grammatical and inconsistencies within the claims, believed to be as a result of translation, certain limitations of claim 1 were required to be interpreted with additional corrective limitations so as to perform a search and apply prior art. It is noted that as a result of such an interpretation, claim 3 obsolete.
The following interpretation of limitations was required in order for meaningful examination to be conducted, and will be interpreted as such for the purposes of applying prior art.
is a head with clamps connections, mounted in from a front, [Wingdings font/0xE0] is a head with a first clamp for connection an anti-frosting gas and a second clamp for connection to a cleaning gas, mounted to the head
connected to the body detachably connecting to an extension, which at the opposite end is detachable connected to a dispensing nozzle [Wingdings font/0xE0] and a body, wherein the head is connected to the body, the body being detachable connected an extension, an opposite end of the extension is detachably connected to a dispensing nozzle
there is a an anti-frosting gas flow channel connected to the clamp of the anti-frosting gas connection, while a sleeve constituting the internal assembly located axially in the body creates a cleaning gas flow channel [Wingdings font/0xE0] there is an anti-frosting gas flow channel connected to the first clamp, wherein the internal assembly comprises a sleeve located axially in the body which creates a cleaning gas flow channel and is connected to the second clamp
in a cylindrical part, the sleeve is shaped in the form of a bulb, inside which an openwork baffle is installed transversely, [Wingdings font/0xE0] the sleeve has a cylindrically shaped part and a bulb shaped part, an openwork baffle is installed transversely within the bulb shaped part
while the same recess [Wingdings font/0xE0] a recess
in an initial section, in the form of a sleeve, and then widening to sides into a form of a flattened solid with diagonally diverging sidewalls open at an end [Wingdings font/0xE0] wherein the dispensing nozzle in an initial section has a form of a sleeve whose sides widen to form a flattened solid with diagonally diverging sidewalls open at an end
wherein a sleeve of the dispensing nozzle being a section of the cleaning gas channel [Wingdings font/0xE0] wherein an internal sleeve disposed within the dispensing nozzle and constitutes a continuation of the cleaning gas flow channel
flared walls thereof run parallel to walls of the anti-frosting agent flow channel[Wingdings font/0xE0] flared walls of the internal sleeve run parallel to the diverging side walls of the anti-frosting gas flow channel
and together with angularly bent walls form a closed circuit of a cleaning gas channel surrounded by an area of the anti-frosting gas flow channel [Wingdings font/0xE0] and walls of the anti-frosting gas flow channel surround the cleaning gas flow channel to form a closed circuit in an area of the dispensing nozzle
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.
Claims 1-7 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 "the body" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the opposite end" in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear as to what opposite end applicant is referring to, the extension, or the body?
Claim 1 recites the limitation "connected to the clamp" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear which of the “clamps” recited earlier said channel is connected to.
In claim 1 applicant states “in a cylindrical part, the sleeve is shaped in the form of a bulb, inside which an openwork baffle is installed transversely” this limitation is unclear. Firstly, what does it mean for a cylindrical part to be shaped in the form of a bulb. Does the sleeve have a cylindrical part or a bulb shaped part. It appears that the sleeve has a cylindrical part and a bulb shaped part (see Fig.10 of the instant application).
Claim 1 recites the limitation "a sleeve of the body" in line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear whether a sleeve refers to the previously recited sleeve or a different sleeve. Clarification and correction are required.
Claim 1 recites “the same recess”, the phrasing of the limitation appears to indicate that the recess of the body is also the recess of the dispensing nozzle. However, based on the disclosure (see Figs.3-8 of the instant application) it appears that the dispensing nozzle has its own recess that is not the same recess of the body. Rather, it is believed that applicant meant the dispensing nozzle has a recess.
In claim 2, applicant uses the phrase “element of equipment”. It is unclear as to the metes and bounds of such a phrase. Even with the assistance of the disclosure, examiner is unsure as to meaning of the phrase and the limitation it adds. For examination purposes the claim will be understood as “The lance according to claim 1, comprising a protective cover mounted on the body and pressed against the flange with a nut”.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "a flange" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites “and adhering thereof at both ends”, it is unclear what is adhering. It appears the limitation is incomplete and missing certain limitations. Correction and clarification are required.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the wall" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 requires revision as it is unclear what the claim means after the statement of diagonally cut walls. The grammatical state of the claim renders examiner unable to interpret the claim in any meaningful manner. Clarification and correction are required
Claim 5 recites the limitation "an openwork baffle" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For examination purposes it will be understood as “the openwork baffle”.
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.
The remaining claims are rejected for their dependence on a previously rejected claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
The indication of allowable subject matter is contingent on the interpretation of certain indefinite limitations as discussed earlier above. Should applicant amend the claim in a manner inconsistent with the interpretation above, the indication of allowable subject matter may be rescinded.
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claims 2-7 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. It is noted that claim 4 requires revision such that it can be comprehended.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art of record if Fu (US20160332175A1).
As it pertains to claim 1, Fu discloses a lance suitable for a cleaning kit for medium-voltage power devices, having an external assembly (refs 2, 12, & 14), and an internal assembly (refs 31 & 1423) placed therein, wherein the external assembly comprises a head (ref 1), a first clamp (ref 11) for connection to an anti-frosting gas, mounted in it from the front, and a body (ref 14), wherein the head is connected to the body, said body being detachably [0021] connected to an extension (ref 2 or ref 31), said connection extension being at its opposite end detachably (see Fig.2) connected to a dispensing nozzle (ref 34), wherein inside the external assembly there is a gas channel connected to the clamp (i.e., internal of ref 31 & ref 14), wherein the internal assembly comprises a first sleeve (ref 31 or ref 1423) located axially in the body (ref 4), wherein the head has a form of solid of revolution having a complex shape (e.g., see Fig.2), while from the side of the connection with the extension, on the inner surface of a sleeve of the body, there is a threading (ref 1411) matching a threading on the outer surface of the tip of the extension (ref 211), creating a tight coupling of the extension with the body. Alternatively, such a feature is merely a rearrangement in the manner of threaded connection between the pieces, and one of ordinary skill in the art could easily provide the extension with external threading and the sleeve with internal threading that mates with one another with no anticipation of unexpected results.
Fu does not disclose: in a cylindrical part, the sleeve is shaped in a form of a bulb, inside which an openwork baffle is installed transversely, secured from outside with a "press- fit" mounted outer wall of the extension; wherein the body, at an end from outside, has a recess over which a ring is mounted, secured with a flange, while the same recess is located on an outer wall of the dispensing nozzle, in an initial section, in form of a sleeve, and then widening to sides into a form of a flattened solid with diagonally diverging side walls, open at an end, wherein a sleeve of the dispensing nozzle being a section of the gas cleaning channel, narrows and then widens towards point, and flared walls thereof run parallel to walls of the anti-frosting agent flow channel and together with angularly bent walls and form a closed circuit of a cleaning gas channel surrounded by an area of the anti-frosting agent flow channel.
Son (US20230173516A1) discloses a multi-part spraying device (Fig.3) having separate channels, a body with a sleeve therein, and an extension portion (see Figs.3-7).
Penderson (US6176437B1) showcases that body may be provided with two clamps for receiving two different fluids (see Figs.4-6).
Kim (US20090101183A1) showcases a nozzle structure having multiple outlets surrounding a central outlet (Fig.6).
Hilaire (US20190159645A1) showcases a lance for sanitization (abstract) have a steam outlet (ref 31) and an air suction or ejection outlet (ref 21).
Hensel (US2551538A) showcases a nozzle structure utilizing an internal fluid line disposed within an external fluid line having a different fluid therein (Figs.1-4).
Kang (US20240375140A1) showcases a spray gun with a second fluid (air) outlet surrounding a first fluid (paint) outlet (Figs.1 & 3-9).
Karren (US20220233045A1) showcases a cleaning wand/lance having fluid dispensing and suction sections (Figs.2A-9).
Badger (US3587967A) showcases a nozzle structure containing multiple sleeves and air flow paths formed via a space between a sleeve and a body of the spraying device (see Fig.2).
Ciavarella (US20220401970A1) showcases a sprayer having an air flow outlet surrounding a liquid outlet for improved droplet transfer (see Figs.3-4 & 5-6).
Wolfgram (US20130200173A1) showcases a lance structure having an extension (ref 46) between the nozzle (ref 30) and the body (ref 20).
Huffman (US20030066905A1) showcases a spray gun structure utilizing a heating jacket having a circulating heating fluid in order to maintain an air temperature as a desired level (Figs.1-4).
King (US11554391B1) showcases an air wand with a tubular body and sleeve disposed therein prior to an extension portion having a nozzle (see Figs.4-6).
Linkletter (US6698672B1) showcases an extensible wand structure having a sleeve disposed within a body (Fig.2) utilizing a threaded connection (Figs.3-6).
Lehmann (US20130341917A1) discloses a quick connect coupling system for use with wands (see all figures & [0013]).
Denlinger (WO2019040786A2) showcases a lance structure with an internal sleeve element (Figs.1-4) for distribution of a liquid and gaseous mixture [0010].
Schulte (CN102202742B) showcases a spray device structure having an externally surrounding air flow circuit (see Fig.5 ref 21) and an internal fluid spraying element (Fig.5 ref 24). The air is utilized for decelerating liquid droplet velocity.
Kloiber (WO2013060794A1) showcases a spray nozzle assembly having an internal sleeve provided axially within a body (Fig.1) and utilizing a gaseous fluid for cleaning (abstract).
The references of record fail to teach or suggest all limitations of the invention of claim 1, along with corresponding rationale to combine said teachings in a manner to render the invention of claim 1 obvious. Thus, claim 1 and its dependents are considered to contain allowable subject matter. However, it is restated that numerous issues with the claims are required to be corrected in order for the indication of allowable subject matter to hold. It is also reiterated that the dependent claims also require revision.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OMAIR CHAUDHRI whose telephone number is (571)272-4773. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:00am to 5:00pm EST.
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/OMAIR CHAUDHRI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711