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 .
Drawings
The drawings were received on 06/03/2026. These drawings are accepted.
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 Trautman (U.S. Patent 2,504,470).
In regards to claims 1, 12, 16, 20, 21, 22 Trautman discloses a connection module for a fluid, comprising: a body (1) with a first opening (FO) and a second opening (3) connected to each other by a channel (4, 29) so that the fluid can flow between the first opening (FO) and the second opening (3) through the channel (4, 29); a first valve (19) placed inside the channel (4, 29) to control the flow of the fluid, the first opening (FO) being configured to receive the first valve (19); wherein the channel (4, 29) has a first arm (4) and a second arm (29), the second arm (29) arranged at an angle to the first arm (4), the first valve (19) located between the first arm (4) and the second arm (29); wherein the connection module further comprises a fixing element (6) at the first opening (FO) configured to be introduced through the first opening (FO) and retain the first valve (19), wherein the fixing element (6) is configured to enable flow of the fluid there through and is configured to connect an external fluid line to the body (1); wherein the fixing element (6) includes a collar portion (CP) that projects axially and is inserted through the first opening (FO) into the channel (4, 29), and wherein the collar portion (CP) includes an end face (EF) that directly abuts and retains the first valve (19) within the channel (4, 29); and wherein the fixing element (6) 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; and wherein the first valve (19) extends through the second aperture (SA).
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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 (19) is a check valve.
In regards to claims 5, 17, the fixing element (6) is a connection block capable of receiving an air conditioning line.
In regards to claim 7, the fixing element (6) is a tube attached at the first opening (FO) so that the fluid can flow between the tube and the second opening (3).
In regards to claim 8, the tube includes a tube collar (TC) adjacent to the body (1).
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 (FA) of the fixing element (6) connection block directly to the first valve (19).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 2 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot in light of the new grounds of rejection as outlined above.
Trautman discloses applicant’s invention as now claimed as discussed above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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
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