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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention Group I (Claims 1-11) in the reply filed on January 15th, 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 12-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Invention Group, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on January 15th, 2026.
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.
Claims 1 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Tang discloses a showerhead (100, Figs. 1-2) for controlling a flow of water from a water source into an active shower area (170, shown in Fig. 13, Paragraph 0008), the showerhead (100, Figs. 1-2) comprising:
a water inlet assembly (92, Fig. 1) coupling the showerhead (100, Figs. 1-2) to the water source (not explicitly shown, but water 90 enters the showerhead 100 through inlet pipe 92 from a source of water, Paragraph 0037);
a housing (101, 102, Figs. 1-4);
a plurality of nozzles (110, Figs. 1-2, 5) for directing the water exiting the showerhead toward the active shower area (170, water exits through nozzles/openings 110 and forms a parabolic water stream 180, shown in Fig. 13, Paragraphs 0037, 0049);
a sensor (108, Figs. 1-3, 5-7, 13) directed at the active shower area (170, shown in Fig. 13) to detect the presence of a user in the active shower area (170, sensor 108 emits a IR beam 150 and detects reflected beam signals under the showerhead 100, which turns the water on when a certain threshold of reflected IR energy is met or exceeded, detecting a user or object, Fig. 13, Paragraphs 0037, 0043); and
a valve (120, Figs. 6-7) configurable between open and closed positions in which the open position allows for the flow of water through the showerhead toward the active shower area and the closed position inhibits the flow of water through the showerhead (valve 120 receives electrical signals from sensor 108 to turn on the valve to open, letting the flow of water 90 flow through, or turn off to close the valve, preventing flow of water 90 to flow through, Paragraph 0038); and
a controller (not explicitly shown, but valve 120 can be electronically controlled using a solenoid, Paragraph 0038) to receive a signal from the sensor (108, Figs. 1-3, 5-7, 13) and move the valve (120, Figs. 6-7) to and between the open and closed positions in response to the signal to thereby conserve water when the user is absent from the active shower area (solenoid of valve 120 receives an electrical signal from the sensor 108 and to turn on or off the flow of water 90, and when a user or object steps away from the showerhead device 100, the IR beam reverts to an uninterrupted state and the sensor 108 sends a signal to the solenoid to turn the flow of water off, to prevent auto-triggering or unintended persistence of sensor 108 in the on position and a continuous flow of water, Paragraphs 0038, 0043).
In regards to claim 10, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. Tang further discloses a battery (130, Figs. 6-7) for storing electrical power for operation of the showerhead (battery pack 130 includes batteries that provide power to showerhead 100, Paragraph 0038).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 2, 9, and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1), embodiment of Figs. 1-13, in view of Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1), embodiment of Figs. 14-23.
Regarding claim 2, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. However, Tang does not disclose the controller further comprises a printed circuit board in one embodiment. In the embodiment of Figs. 14-23, Tang teaches a showerhead (200, Figs. 14-15) comprising the controller (250, Fig. 15) further comprises a printed circuit board (238, Fig. 15).
Tang is considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because it is in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the controller taught in the embodiment of Figs. 14-23 of Tang to the embodiment of Figs. 1-13 of Tang, to have the controller further comprises a printed circuit board. Doing so allows for various sensors to be assembled on to a single microcontroller and printed circuit board unit (Paragraph 0007).
In regards to claim 9, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. However, Tang does not disclose a generator to produce electrical power for operation of the showerhead in one embodiment. In the embodiment of Figs. 14-23, Tang teaches a showerhead (200, Figs. 14-15) comprising a generator (240, Fig. 15) to produce electrical power for operation of the showerhead (200, generator 240 provides ample power to enable showerhead device operation, Figs. 14-15, Paragraph 0059).
Tang is considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because it is in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the generator taught in the embodiment of Figs. 14-23 of Tang to the embodiment of Figs. 1-13 of Tang, to have a generator to produce electrical power for operation of the showerhead. Doing so eliminates the need to replace batteries, making it convenient and more eco-friendly (Paragraph 0059).
Regarding claim 11, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. However, Tang does not disclose a turbine to produce electrical power for operation of the showerhead in one embodiment. In the embodiment of Figs. 14-23, Tang teaches a showerhead (200, Figs. 14-15) comprising a turbine (240, generator can be a turbine system, Fig. 15, Paragraph 0059) to produce electrical power for operation of the showerhead (200, generator 240 provides ample power to enable showerhead device operation, Figs. 14-15, Paragraph 0059).
Tang is considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because it is in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the turbine taught in the embodiment of Figs. 14-23 of Tang to the embodiment of Figs. 1-13 of Tang, to have a turbine to produce electrical power for operation of the showerhead. Doing so eliminates the need to replace batteries, making it convenient and more eco-friendly (Paragraph 0059).
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1), in view of Leonhard et al. (US 20220250098 A1).
With respect to claim 3, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. Tang further discloses the sensor (108, Figs. 1-3, 5-7, 13) positioned on a face (front face of showerhead 100, shown in Figs. 1-2, 5, 13) of the showerhead (100, Figs. 1-2) confronting the active shower area (170, shown in Fig. 13). However, Tang does not disclose the sensor further comprises a motion sensor positioned on a face of the showerhead confronting the active shower area. Leonhard teaches a showerhead (106, Figs. 4-5) comprising the sensor (412, Fig. 4) further comprises a motion sensor (412 is a motion-sensing sensor, Paragraph 0047) positioned on a face (front face of showerhead 106, shown in Figs. 4-5) of the showerhead (106, Figs. 4-5) confronting the active shower area (area where water is spraying, shown in Fig. 5).
Tang and Leonhard are considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the motion sensor taught in Leonhard’s showerhead to Tang’s showerhead, to have the sensor further comprises a motion sensor positioned on a face of the showerhead confronting the active shower area. Doing so provides easier touchless user control of the showerhead (Leonhard, Paragraph 0018).
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1), in view of Strushensky et al. (US 20190234054 A1).
With respect to claim 4, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. However, Tang does not disclose a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the water, and a temperature indicator to display the temperature of the water to the user. Strushensky teaches a showerhead (22, Fig. 1) comprising a temperature sensor (36, Fig. 6) to detect a temperature of the water (Paragraph 0022); and
a temperature indicator (38, Fig. 1) to display the temperature of the water to the user (Paragraph 0022).
Tang and Strushensky are considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the temperature sensor and the temperature indicator taught in Strushensky’s showerhead to Tang’s showerhead, to have a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the water, and a temperature indicator to display the temperature of the water to the user. Doing so provides the user remote control and indication of the temperature of the water (Strushensky, Paragraph 0020, 0022).
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1), in view of Strushensky et al. (US 20190234054 A1) as applied to claim 4 above, and further in view of Weaver et al. (US 20180306430 A1).
With respect to claim 5, Tang, as modified by Strushensky, discloses the showerhead of claim 4. However, Tang and Strushensky do not teach the temperature indicator further comprises at least one color changing light emitting diode to indicate the temperature of the water to the user. Weaver teaches a spray head (100, Fig. 1) comprising the temperature indicator (174, Fig. 3) further comprises at least one color changing light emitting diode to indicate the temperature of the water to the user (light emitters 174 comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit visible light of different colors and generate a first color for a first temperature detected by the temperature sensor and a second color for a second temperature detected by temperature sensor, Paragraphs 0031, 0036-0037).
Tang, Strushensky, and Weaver are considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of smart spray heads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the temperature indicator taught in Weaver’s spray head to Tang’s showerhead, as modified by Strushensky above, to have the temperature indicator further comprises at least one color changing light emitting diode to indicate the temperature of the water to the user. Doing so provides a visual indication of a status or condition of the fluid coming out of the showerhead (Weaver, Paragraph 0003).
Claims 6-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1) in view of Klicpera (US 20110031331 A1).
Regarding claim 6, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. Tang further discloses the valve (120, Figs. 6-7) is electrically activated (not explicitly shown, but valve 120 can be electronically controlled using a solenoid, Paragraph 0038). However, Tang does not disclose the valve further comprises an electrically activated ball valve. Klicpera teaches a showerhead (10, Fig. 1) comprising the valve further comprises an electrically activated ball valve (not explicitly shown, but the water shut off means can comprise a typical ball valve that is electrically connected to a CPU or microprocessor, Paragraph 0043).
Tang and Klicpera are considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the valve taught in Klicpera’s showerhead to Tang’s showerhead, to have the valve further comprises an electrically activated ball valve. Doing so prevents water from exiting the showerhead (Klicpera, Paragraph 0043).
With respect to claim 7, Tang, as modified by Klicpera, discloses the showerhead of claim 6. Tang further discloses a solenoid to actuate the electrically activated valve for movement to and between the open and closed positions (solenoid of valve 120 receives an electrical signal from the sensor 108 and to turn on or off the flow of water 90, Paragraphs 0038, 0043), and as modified by Klicpera above regarding claim 7, would result in a solenoid to actuate the electrically activated ball valve for movement to and between the open and closed positions.
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tang et al. (US 20190262849 A1) in view of Beckman (US 20230173121 A1).
In regards to claim 8, Tang discloses the showerhead of claim 1. However, Tang does not disclose an antennae operably coupled to the controller for receiving communications from a user device. Beckman teaches a showerhead (401, Fig. 1) comprising an antennae (483, Fig. 4) operably coupled to the controller (433, shown in Fig. 4) for receiving communications from a user device (not explicitly shown, but control system may be wirelessly connected with a network capable of delivering a GUI to a user, such as a smartphone or PDA, via a wireless antenna 483, Paragraph 0041).
Tang and Beckman are considered to be analogous art to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of smart showerheads. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the antenna taught in Beckman’s showerhead to Tang’s showerhead, to have an antennae operably coupled to the controller for receiving communications from a user device. Doing so provides the user easier control over various commands of the showerhead (Beckman, Paragraphs 0040-0041).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Anna T Ho whose telephone number is (571)272-2587. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, First Friday of Pay Period off.
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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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/ANNA THI HO/Examiner, Art Unit 3752
/ARTHUR O. HALL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3752