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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 09/01/2026, has been entered.
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 3-5, 7-8, 10-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Rockwell et al. (U.S. Patent 2,412,428), hereinafter “Rockwell”.
In regards to claims 1, 12, 16, 20-22, Rockwell discloses a connection module for a fluid, comprising: a body (5) with a first opening (opening at 6) and a second opening (opening at 7) connected to each other by a channel so that the fluid can flow between the first opening (opening at 6) and the second opening (opening at 7 through the channel; a first valve (16) placed inside the channel to control the flow of the fluid, the first opening (opening at 6) being configured to receive the first valve (16); wherein the channel has a first arm (1A) and a second arm (2A), the second arm (2A) arranged at an angle to the first arm (1A), the first valve (16) located between the first arm (1A) and the second arm (2A); wherein the connection module further comprises a fixing element (9, 10) at the first opening (opening at 6) configured to be introduced through the first opening (opening at 6) and retain the first valve (16), wherein the fixing element (9, 10) is configured to enable flow of the fluid there through and is configured to connect an external fluid line to the body (5); wherein the fixing element (9, 10) includes a collar portion (CP) that projects axially and is inserted through the first opening (opening at 6) into the channel, and wherein the collar portion (CP) includes an end face (EF) that directly abuts and retains the first valve (16) within the channel; wherein the fixing element (9) includes a first aperture (FA), a second aperture (SA), and an inner channel connecting the first aperture (FA) and the second aperture (SA), the second aperture (SA) being located on the end face (EF) of the collar portion (CP); wherein the first valve (16) extends through the second aperture (SA);and wherein the channel includes a first section (1S) with a first diameter and a second section (2S) with a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, the channel including a step (S) in-between the first section (1S) and the second section (14) arranged so that the first valve (16) rests at an end of the first section (1S) adjacent to the step (S) and an end of the second section (14).
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The office interprets first valve 16 as being inclusive of the poppet (P) and sheath (S) in which the poppet (P) reciprocates. The office believes this position is reasonable because the poppet (P) would be unable to maintain correct positioning within the first arm (1A) without utilization of the sheath (S).
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Regarding " wherein the fixing element is brazed to the body " as recited in claims 3 and 14, the patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product in the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (see MPEP 2113).
In regards to claim 4 and 15, the first valve (16) is a check valve.
In regards to claims 5, 17, the fixing element (9, 10) is a connection block capable of receiving an air conditioning line.
In regards to claim 7, the fixing element (9, 10) is a tube attached at the first opening (opening at 6) so that the fluid can flow between the tube and the second opening (opening at 7).
In regards to claim 8, the tube includes a tube collar (TC) adjacent to the body (5).
In regards to claim 10, 18, the angle is between 15 and 165 degrees.
In regards to claim 11, 19, the angle is 90 degrees.
In regards to claim 13, the connection block includes an inner fluid passage extending axially therethrough, the inner fluid passage defining a fluid path from an inlet of the fixing element (9, 10) connection block directly to the first valve (16).
Response to Arguments
Applicants’ arguments have been considered but are moot considering the new grounds of rejection as outlined above.
As discussed above, it is the office’s position that Rockwell discloses applicants’ invention as currently claimed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to R.K. Arundale whose telephone number is 571-270-3453. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (9:30AM-6:00PM EST).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors can be reached by phone. Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881, and Craig Schneider can be reached at 571-272-3607. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROBERT K ARUNDALE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
