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 .
Response to Amendment
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The response filed on August 24, 2026 is acknowledged.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant elected with traverse Group I in the reply filed on February 27, 2026.
The requirement was still deemed proper and was therefore made FINAL in the Office action mailed on March 24, 2026.
Claims 12-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on February 27, 2027.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-6, and 8-11 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 1 recites the limitation “using a wired connection with the sprinkler or a wireless connection with the sprinkler” in lines 10-11. The preamble is directed to a system. Yet the limitation appears to be directed to a method of using. The claim appears to cross two statutory classed of invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “determine, based on the input signal, a speed and a direction of an airflow” in line 6. Not all detectors are capable of detecting airflow speed and direction. The claim fails to recite structure to accomplish the function of determining a speed and a direction of an airflow. The structure recited in the claim is not commensurate in scope with the function recited in the claim. For example, a smoke detector that is only capable of sensing the presence of smoke at the smoke detector is incapable of generating an input signal that can be used by the controller to determine a speed and a direction of an airflow. It would appear that the detector would have to include an anemometer and a hazard sensor such as a smoke sensor or a heat sensor.
Claim 8 recites the limitation “a plurality of detectors comprises the detector” in line 2. It is uncertain whether a detector in the prior art would satisfy “a plurality of detectors.” Applicant has defined “a plurality of detectors” as (comprising) “the detector.”
Claim 9 recites the limitation “an electronically activated sprinkler system” in line 2. It appears to be double inclusion of the “sprinkler” recited in claim 1.
Claim 9 recites the limitation “a plurality of sprinklers that comprises the detector” in line 3. Does the “detector” satisfy the requirement for “a plurality of sprinklers?”
Claim 9 recites the limitation “a fire” in lines 3-4. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “active hazard event” recited in claim 1.
Claim 10 recites the limitation “a plurality of detectors that comprises the detector” in line 2. Does the “detector” satisfy the requirement for “a plurality of detectors?”
Claim 10 recites the limitation “a plurality of sprinklers comprises the sprinkler” in line 4. Does the “sprinkler” satisfy the requirement for “a plurality of sprinklers?”
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed August 24, 206 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant asserts that the amended claims moot the indefinite rejections. Applicant’s assertion is not convincing for the reasons set forth 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 CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur O 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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/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK
