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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
[0025]: “the outer surface of the diverter block the diverter block are vertically” — remove duplicated term.
[0061]: “the of the secondary fluid passageway” — insert missing word.
[0061]: “low fluid flow velocities within the within the secondary and tertiary fluid” — remove duplicated phrase.
[0063]: “passageways 120 130” — insert comma between reference numerals.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 2 objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “the first nominal cross-sectional area” should be corrected to read “the first nominal passageway cross-sectional area” to maintain consistency.
Claim 19 objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “the diverter block” is repeated and should be deleted.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim 6 and 15 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 6 recites the limitation “the chamber cross-sectional area is parallel to the tertiary nominal passageway cross-sectional area.” The claim is indefinite because cross-sectional areas are not ordinarily described as being parallel to one another. Applicant should amend the claim to clarify that the cross-sections or the planes in which the cross-sectional areas are measured are parallel.
Claim 15 recites the limitation “the secondary inlet end intersects the primary fluid passageway at the bend.” The claim is indefinite because it is unclear whether “at the bend” is intended to identify a position distinct from, overlapping with, or encompassed by “upstream of the bend” as recited in Claim 14. The specification describes “upstream of the bend” and “at the bend” as different positions relative to the same bend (¶[0020]–¶[0021], ¶[0066]). Thus, the scope of Claim 15 is unclear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1, 3-5, 7-14, 16-18, and 20 are allowed.
Claim 2 and 19 are objected for informalities.
Claim 6 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b).
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The claimed invention provides a fluid delivery system in which a portion of fluid flowing through a primary fluid passageway is diverted through a filter having a secondary fluid passageway, and the filter further includes a tertiary fluid passageway within the filter that branches from the secondary fluid passageway and has a blind end.
A search of the prior art has been conducted, and no disclosure or suggestion has been found that teaches or renders obvious the claimed fluid delivery system, particularly in regard to the blind end of the tertiary fluid passageway. The closest prior art identified in the search is LI et al. (CN 116480868 A, hereinafter LI).
LI discloses a pipe bend plug mechanism for water treatment ([n0001]). FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a main flow path through the bend and a separate flow path through the separator structure. In particular, the cyclone separator 200 is disposed within the inner nesting cylinder 300 and includes the separation inner cylinder 230, cavities communicating with the guide plate 302, separation elongated holes 231, separation grooves 220, and outer cyclone blades 210 (¶¶[0040]–[0041]). During operation, water from the bend 400 is guided by the guide plate 302 into the separator structure, larger solid impurities are guided into the settling chamber 110, and water enters the inner separator 230 through the separation elongated holes 231 and is discharged through the connecting seat 301 and the liquid outlet end 320 (¶¶[0054]–[0055]).
Accordingly, bend 400 can reasonably be mapped to the primary fluid passageway, the separator flow path can reasonably be mapped to the secondary fluid passageway having an inlet end where fluid is diverted from the bend 400 into the separator structure and an outlet end at the liquid outlet end 320, and the passages on the cyclone separator 200 formed by the separation swirl grooves 220 between the outer cyclone blades 210 can reasonably be mapped to the tertiary fluid passageway.
However, settling chamber 110 cannot be reasonably mapped as the claimed blind end because settling chamber 110 is disclosed as a collector chamber for separated impurities and includes the sand removal hatch 112, rather than a closed terminal end of a tertiary fluid passageway. The claimed invention requires a tertiary fluid passageway within the filter having a blind end. LI does not clearly disclose or suggest this specific internal trap structure.
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FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 of LI et al.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAK L. CHIU whose telephone number is (703)756-1059. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00am - 6:00pm (CST).
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/TAK L. CHIU/Examiner, Art Unit 1777
/KRISHNAN S MENON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1777
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