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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 07/10/2026 has been entered.
Claims 1-16 are currently being examined.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 9 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 1 and 9: in line 8 of claim 1 and in line 9 of claim 9, “at least two nozzle chips” should read as -- at least two or more nozzle chips --.
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.
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 1-16 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.
Claims 1 and 9 each recite “wherein each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a drainage part disposed along a spray area” which is unclear whether this means each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a respective drainage part disposed along a respective spray area or this means each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a common drainage part disposed along a common spray area which renders claims 1 and 9 as indefinite. For current examination purposes, the recitation is interpreted as each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a common drainage part disposed along a common spray area.
Claims dependent from claims rejected above are rejected as being indefinite for the same reasons as the base claims.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Surineedi et al. 20220041139 in view of Dodson 20140103147.
Regarding independent claim 1, as best understood, Surineedi teaches a nozzle system (Fig. 3) comprising:
a nozzle housing (36, 38 in Figs. 5-6) having fluid flowing thereinto (air, which is a first fluid, from air cleaning system 62 described in [0049] and [0053] is fluidly connected to 36, 38 of nozzle housing as air flows between 36, 38 and along 88 as shown in Figs. 4-5, and liquid washer fluid, a second fluid and described in [0054], from liquid cleaning system 76 is fluidly connected to 104, 16, 88 and 90 which are within 36, 38 as shown in Figs. 4-6);
a nozzle cover (16 including 88 and 90 as shown in Figs. 5-6 and described in [0059]) located at an upper end (labeled in annotated Fig. 5) of the nozzle housing (16, 88 and 90 are located at upper end of nozzle housing in annotated Fig. 5) and configured to form a flow path for the fluid flowing into the nozzle housing (as shown in annotated Fig. 5 a flow path for first fluid air is formed along 88, and a flow path for second fluid liquid washer fluid flowing into 104 is formed in 92 between 88 and 90 and second fluid flow path extends circumferentially within 92 as shown in Fig. 6);
at least two or more nozzle chips (nozzle chip is interpreted as spray nozzle portion; at least two nozzle chips 20 shown in Figs. 9 and 10) configured to face a sensor part (as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 and described in [0035], nozzle chips 20 face sensor part 14), wherein each of the at least two or more nozzle chips is coupled to a corresponding opening (one opening is labeled in annotated Fig. 8 and there is a corresponding opening in 90 for each 20 in Fig. 9) located in the nozzle cover (each corresponding opening is in 90 of nozzle cover as shown in annotated Fig. 8),
wherein each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a drainage part disposed along a spray area (see 112(b): interpreted as each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a common drainage part disposed along a common spray area: two nozzle chips 20 are shown spraying a common spray area labeled in annotated Fig. 9 and each nozzle chip of the two nozzle chips 20 includes a common drainage part labeled in annotated Fig. 9 disposed along the common spray area; fluid which is sprayed from each of the two nozzle chips onto the common spray area flows downward after contacting sensor part 14 into the common drainage part disposed along the common spray area; drainage part is disposed along common spray area below 54 where fluid drains through gap 74 to drainage channel 46 shown in Fig. 10 and per [0075] drainage channel 46 can help drain fluid that flows through the gap 74 into the chamber 68), and
wherein the at least two or more nozzle chips comprise two or more discharge ports (each 20 has discharge ports 22, 24 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9) having different spray angles (22 and 24 have different spray angles as shown in Figs. 8 and 9), wherein the fluid is sprayed to an area of the sensor part at each of the spray angles through each of the discharge ports (as shown in Figs. 8-9 and described in [0034-0035] and [0070-0071], each of 22, 24 sprays at different angles and each sprays a different area of sensor part 14).
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Surineedi is silent regarding each of the at least two or more nozzle chips is detachably coupled to the corresponding opening in the nozzle cover.
Dodson teaches a nozzle chip (100 Figs. 1-7) which is detachably coupled to a corresponding opening in a suitable fixture (per [0072-0073] nozzle chip 100 includes threading 106 and circular sealing groove 108 adapted to receive an O-ring for sealing which allows installation and removal of, i.e., detachably coupling, of 100 in a corresponding threaded opening in a suitable fixture such as 800 shown in Figs. 57D-57E which is configured to receive nozzle chip 100 in a corresponding opening). The threading may be configured to mate with threading in a fluid spray system allowing the nozzle chip to be removable for servicing and replacement per [0143].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Surineedi to have each of the at least two or more nozzle chips be detachably coupled to the corresponding opening in the nozzle cover as taught by Dodson to allow the nozzle chips to be removable for servicing and replacement.
Regarding independent claim 9, as best understood, Surineedi teaches a nozzle system (Fig. 3) comprising:
a nozzle housing (36, 38 in Figs. 5-6) comprising an inlet part (as shown in Fig. 4, 38 has an inlet part at the connection with filter 66 to fluidly connect them as described in [0049], and as shown in annotated Fig. 5, 38 has at least one inlet part which is an opening to allow passage of 104, a plurality of 104 shown in Fig. 6, which are fluidly connected with reservoir 78 shown in Fig. 4 as described in [0060]), and configured to allow fluid to flow thereinto (air, which is a first fluid, from air cleaning system 62 described in [0049] and [0053] is fluidly connected to 36, 38 of nozzle housing as air flows between 36, 38 and along 88 as shown in Figs. 4-5, and liquid washer fluid, a second fluid contained in reservoir 78 and described in [0054], from liquid cleaning system 76 is fluidly connected to 104, 16, 88 and 90 which are within 36, 38 as shown in Figs. 4-6);
a nozzle cover (16 including 88 and 90 as shown in Figs. 5-6 and described in [0059]) located at an upper end (labeled in annotated Fig. 5 above) of the nozzle housing (16, 88 and 90 are located at upper end of nozzle housing in annotated Fig. 5 above) to cover the upper end (16 including 88 and 90 cover upper end of 36, 38 near sensor part 14 in annotated Fig. 5 above) and configured to form a flow path of the fluid (as shown in annotated Fig. 5 above a flow path for first fluid air is formed along 88, and a flow path for second fluid liquid washer fluid flowing into 104 is formed in 92 between 88 and 90 and second fluid flow path extends circumferentially within 92 as shown in Fig. 6), wherein the nozzle cover comprises openings (an opening is labeled in annotated Fig. 8 above and there is a respective opening in 90 of the nozzle cover for each nozzle chip 20 shown in Figs. 3 and 6) in an area thereof facing a sensor part (similar to as shown in instant application Fig. 2 which indicates opening 210, at which nozzle chip 300 is connected, is in area of nozzle cover 200 facing upward toward sensor part 20 in Fig. 1, in annotated Fig. 8 of Surineedi opening in 90, which is part of the nozzle cover, openings at which nozzle chips 20 are connected are in area of 90 facing upward toward sensor part 14);
at least two or more nozzle chips (nozzle chip is interpreted as spray nozzle portion; at least two nozzle chips 20 shown in Figs. 9 and 10) configured to face a sensor part (as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 and described in [0035], nozzle chips 20 face sensor part 14), wherein each of the at least two or more nozzle chips is coupled to a corresponding one of the openings (one opening is labeled in annotated Fig. 8 and there is a corresponding opening in 90 for each 20 in Fig. 6) located in the nozzle cover (each corresponding opening is in 90 of nozzle cover as shown in annotated Fig. 8),
wherein each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a drainage part disposed along a spray area (see 112(b): interpreted as each nozzle chip of the at least two nozzle chips includes a common drainage part disposed along a common spray area: two nozzle chips 20 are shown spraying a common spray area labeled in annotated Fig. 9 and each nozzle chip of the two nozzle chips 20 includes a common drainage part labeled in annotated Fig. 9 disposed along the common spray area; fluid which is sprayed from each of the two nozzle chips onto the common spray area flows downward after contacting sensor part 14 into the common drainage part disposed along the common spray area; drainage part is disposed along common spray area below 54 where fluid drains through gap 74 to drainage channel 46 shown in Fig. 10 and per [0075] drainage channel 46 can help drain fluid that flows through the gap 74 into the chamber 68), and
wherein each of the at least two or more nozzle chips comprise two or more discharge ports (each 20 has discharge ports 22, 24 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9) having different spray angles (22 and 24 have different spray angles as shown in Figs. 8 and 9), wherein the fluid is sprayed to an area of the sensor part at each of the spray angles through each of the discharge ports (as shown in Figs. 8-9 and described in [0034-0035] and [0070-0071], each of 22, 24 sprays at different angles and each sprays a different area of sensor part 14).
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Surineedi is silent regarding each of the at least two or more nozzle chips is detachably coupled to the corresponding one of the openings.
Dodson teaches a nozzle chip (100 Figs. 1-7) which is detachably coupled to a corresponding opening in a suitable fixture (per [0072-0073] nozzle chip 100 includes threading 106 and circular sealing groove 108 adapted to receive an O-ring for sealing which allows installation and removal of, i.e., detachably coupling, of 100 in a corresponding threaded opening in a suitable fixture such as 800 shown in Figs. 57D-57E which is configured to receive nozzle chip 100 in a corresponding opening). The threading may be configured to mate with threading in a fluid spray system allowing the nozzle chip to be removable for servicing and replacement per [0143].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Surineedi to have each of the at least two or more nozzle chips is detachably coupled to the corresponding one of the openings as taught by Dodson to allow the nozzle chips to be removable for servicing and replacement.
Regarding claims 2 and 10, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches the two or more discharge ports comprise:
a first discharge port (22 Figs. 8-9) configured to spray the fluid to the sensor part (22 sprays sensor part 14 in Fig. 9); and
a second discharge port (24 Figs. 8-9) configured to have a vertical spray angle lower than a vertical spray angle of the first discharge port (in light of vertical spray angles shown in instant application Fig. 4C, as shown in Fig. 8 of Surineedi, vertical spray angle of 24 is lower than vertical spray angle of 22).
Regarding claims 3 and 11, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches the first discharge port is spaced farther apart from the sensor part than the second discharge port (as shown in Figs. 5, and 8-9, 22 is spaced farther apart from 14 than is 24).
Regarding claims 4 and 12, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches the second discharge port is located at a front end of the first discharge port (in light of instant application Fig. 4A where 320 is in front of 310, in annotated Fig. 8 of Surineedi 24 is in front of 22, i.e., is at front end of 22), and comprises an inclined portion (portion of wall 110 between 22 and 24 with inclined lower surface 118 of 22 and inclined upper surface 116 of 24 in Fig. 8; [0073] describes each of 22 and 24 having an upper surface 116 and a lower surface 118) configured to form the vertical spray angle of the first discharge port (lower surface 118 of 22 is inclined and is at top of inclined portion and is configured to form the vertical spray angle of 22 as shown in annotated Fig. 8).
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Regarding claims 5 and 13, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches the drainage part is disposed along a side (lower side of spray area below 54 in annotated Fig. 9) of the spray area of, and fluidly connected to, the first discharge port (drainage part is fluidly connected to first discharge port 22 as at least a portion of fluid sprayed from first discharge port 22 flows into drainage part and through gap 74 to drainage channel 46), wherein the drainage part is disposed along at least one side surface (drainage part is disposed along an upper side surface labeled in annotated Fig. 5 below 54) of opposite side surfaces (drainage part is also disposed along a lower side surface labeled in annotated Fig. 5 below 54 which is opposite the upper side surface) of the second discharge port (upper side surface is above second discharge port 24 and lower side surface is below second discharge port 24 in annotated Fig. 5).
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Regarding claims 6 and 14, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches a horizontal area of the fluid sprayed through the second discharge port is wider than a horizontal area of the fluid sprayed through the first discharge port (as shown in Fig. 9 and as described in [0071], spray angle β2 of the second opening 24 may be larger, i.e., wider horizontally, than the spray angle β1 of the first opening 22, such that a horizontal area of the liquid washer fluid sprayed through 24 is wider than a horizontal area of the liquid washer fluid sprayed through 22, similar to as shown in instant application Fig. 4C and described in instant specification [0072]).
Regarding claims 7 and 15, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches each of the first discharge port and the second discharge port is configured to have a height equal to or lower than a height of an end of the nozzle cover (as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, each of 22 and 24 have a vertical height lower than a vertical height of top end of 88 at 70 of the nozzle cover).
Regarding claims 8 and 16, Surineedi in view of Dodson teaches all that is claimed above and Surineedi further teaches each of the nozzle housing and the nozzle cover is configured to have an arc shape (as shown in Figs. 2-3 and 5-6, nozzle housing 36,38 and nozzle cover 16, 88 and 90 are each configured to have an arc shape where they extend around sensor part 14).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 9 have been considered but are moot because the current 103 rejection relies on a different interpretation of prior art of record Surineedi with respect to “a drainage part” and “a spray area” necessitated by the amendments to claims 1 and 9, and as discussed above in the 112(b) rejections of claims 1 and 9, the new limitations added to each claim are unclear.
Examiner understands and agrees with Applicant that there are structural differences between the nozzle chip of Surineedi and the nozzle chip of Applicant’s invention but the current claim language does not clearly tie claimed features such as a drainage part and a spray area to the structure of each nozzle chip. Examiner suggests having a future amendment with limitations that clearly define each nozzle chip, such as: “each nozzle chip has a nozzle chip body which comprises…” and then have limitations that claim structural features of the nozzle chip body of Applicant’s invention as shown in Figures 3 and 4A-4B of Applicant’s invention which are different than structural features of a nozzle chip body of Surineedi. Having reference directions clearly defined in the claims would also be helpful. For example, instant specification [0002] refers to “a circular sensor part” such that Examiner suggests claiming a circular sensor part having a longitudinal axis, a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis in the body of each of claims 1 and 9 and clarifying positions and directional extent of other claimed structural features in relation to the reference axis and associated directions.
In addition, as shown in the current 103 rejections above, the recitation “a spray area” may be interpreted as “an area of the sensor part” in the recitation of “the fluid is sprayed to an area of the sensor part” as currently claimed, and “a spray area” needs to be more clearly described in future amendments to distinguish it as a structural feature of the nozzle chip body versus an area of the sensor being sprayed. For example, instant specification [0070]-[0072] refer to a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion when describing each respective spray area of a first discharge port 310 and a second discharge port 320 of a nozzle chip which could be used instead of or along with a more clearly claimed “spray area”.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALYSON JOAN HARRINGTON whose telephone number is (571)272-2359. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9 am - 5 pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Phutthiwat Wongwian can be reached at (571) 270-5426. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/A.J.H./Examiner, Art Unit 3741
/GERALD L SUNG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3741
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