DETAILED ACTION
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 first and second compressed air inlets, with the air bubble injector in fluid communication with the first compressed air inlet must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). Figures 5 and 6 show two air inlet coupled to two air bubble injectors; however, the first air bubble injector of figures 5 and 6 is different than the claimed first air bubble injector, which inject air bubbles upstream and downstream into the pipe. 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.
Claim Objections
Claim 8 is objected to because of the following informalities: “the compressed air flow” is believed to be in error for --compressed air flow--; and “the water and surfactant input flow” is believed to be in error for --a water and surfactant input flow--. Appropriate correction is required.
Applicant is advised that should claims 3 and 9 be found allowable, claims 5 and 11 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
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 1-12 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.
The terms “faster fire extinguishment”, “high bubble density”, and “prolonged drain time” in claims 1 and 8 are relative terms which renders the claim indefinite. The terms “faster”, “high”, and “prolonged” are not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The claims recite providing faster fire extinguishment; however, they do not recite at what rate it is faster than, or compared to what other fire extinguishing device the device is faster than, rendering the claims vague and indefinite.
Claims 2-7 and 9-12 are rejected based upon their dependency upon claims 1 and 8.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: prior art fails to teach, in combination with the other limitations of the independent claims, a rearward vortex generating ramp configured to deflect the rearward bubbles outward as a rearward vortex into the water and surfactant input flow, the rearward vortex generating ramp in fluid communication with the compressed air input port and the central air manifold to permit a flow of compressed air from the compressed air input port to the central air manifold; a forward vortex generating ramp configured to deflect the forward bubbles outward as a forward vortex of bubbles into the water and surfactant input flow; and a flow deflector, attached to the forward vortex generating ramp, the flow deflector having a surface configured to reduce fluid drag as the water and surfactant input flow impinge upon the air bubble injector.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN M SUTHERLAND whose telephone number is (571)270-1902. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur 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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/STEVEN M SUTHERLAND/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752