DETAILED ACTION
Response to Amendment
No claim amendment was filed. Claims 1 – 16, dated 12/22/2025, are pending in the application.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1 – 5 and 7 –16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Suzuki, Takamitsu (US 2016/0230752 – herein after Suzuki) in view of Halimi, Henry (US 2017/0261394 – herein after Halimi).
In reference to claim 1, Suzuki teaches a system (10; see figs. 1-2 and ¶48) for handling fluids comprising:
a manifold (54+36) comprising ducts (56+ passage downstream of port 52 – herein after 56+52) for the fluids to be handled;
a pump (14) comprising a piston chamber (86/42) which is filled with a medium (M; see ¶70); and
a bendable membrane (40, see ¶53) forming a fluid-filled membrane chamber (chamber 44 with fluid “L”, see ¶55) arranged between the ducts (56+52) of the manifold (54+36) and the piston chamber (86/42) filled with the medium for transferring pressure changes in the piston chamber filled with the medium to the ducts of the manifold (as evident from disclosure in ¶76); and
a separate housing (46; end plate member 46 constitutes separate housing ) comprising a sensor (32/32a) which is attached to the piston chamber (86/42) filled with the medium (see ¶72).
Suzuki remains silent on the system, wherein the housing of the sensor is filled with a gel so that the sensor is not in contact with the medium in the piston chamber.
However, Halimi teaches a pressure sensor (28, see fig. 4 and ¶36), wherein a housing (12, see fig. 4) of the sensor is filled with a gel (40) so that the sensor is not in contact with a fluid [see ¶37: “The viscous gel 40 is configured to prevent the fluid flow from contacting the pressure sensor or the first temperature sensor”].
It would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the pressure sensor in the system of Suzuki for filling the housing of the pressure sensor with a gel as taught by Halimi because the viscous gel provides a cost-effective, durable barrier that protects sensitive electronics from fluid damage while accurately transmitting pressure and preventing erosion through the creation of a stagnation zone, as recognized by Halimi (see ¶8, ¶44, ¶48).
In reference to claim 2, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein (see fig. 1) the pump comprises a piston (74, see ¶63) which is arranged in the piston chamber filled with the medium for moving the medium by increasing or minimising a volume in the piston chamber filled with the medium by a movement of the piston inwards or outwards of the piston chamber (see ¶65-¶66).
In reference to claim 3, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein (see fig. 1) the piston of the pump is surrounded by bellows (82, see ¶56).
In reference to claim 4, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein (see fig. 1) the bellows (82) are made of stainless-steel (see ¶69).
In reference to claim 5, Suzuki teaches the system, comprising (see fig. 1) a stepper motor (30, see ¶62) for moving a piston (74, see ¶63) of the pump.
In reference to claim 7, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein a valve (16, see fig. 1 and ¶49) is arranged between a duct (52/56) of the manifold (54+36) which is arranged adjacent to the bendable membrane (40) and further ducts (ducts connected to ports 60, 62 of the valve in view of disclosure in ¶60) which are connected to a supply (“coating liquid supply source”) and a disposal (“coating liquid dispenser”) for the fluid to be handled.
In reference to claim 8, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein the valve (16) is a 3/2-way valve (as evident from disclosure: valve 16 is three-way valve; 3/2-way valve is a specific type of three-way valve which has three ports and two possible positions for flow control; the valve 16 has “three ports 58, 60, 62” and two positions, wherein in one position fluid is provided to the pump chamber while in another position fluid is discharged from the pump chamber; thus, valve 16 is a 3/2-way valve).
In reference to claim 9, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein (see ¶72) the sensor (32/32a) is fluidly connected through a hole (88) to the piston chamber filled with the medium (M).
In reference to claim 10, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein the medium (M) in the piston chamber is an oil (see ¶55).
In reference to claim 11, Suzuki, as modified, teaches the system, wherein the housing of the sensor and the interface (border) to the piston chamber is filled with the medium [see Suzuki’s fig. 1 and Halimi’s fig. 4: in the modified system, the housing of the modified sensor (for instance, see space 20 in Halimi’s fig. 4) and the interface to the piston chamber (for instance, see passageway 22 or end 22b in Halimi’s fig. 4) is filled with the medium (M, in Suzuki)].
In reference to claim 12, Suzuki teaches the system, comprising a circuit board (controller 18, see ¶75).
In reference to claim 13, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein the sensor (32) is connected electrically to the circuit board (see ¶76 and fig. 2).
In reference to claim 14, Suzuki teaches the system, wherein the circuit board (18) comprises (see ¶75-¶76) a data processing unit (formed by “input/output unit, a storage unit, and a computation unit”) for processing data received from the sensor (32).
In reference to claim 15, Suzuki teaches a method for monitoring a system according to claim 1, comprising steps of (see ¶89-¶107):
measuring parameters in the piston chamber filled with the medium with the sensor [see ¶73: “Further, responsive to a command from the controller 18 (or at regular intervals), the pressure sensor 32 transmits the detected pressure (detection value) of the indirect medium M as a detection signal P to the controller 18”];
providing the measured parameters to a data processing unit (formed by “input/output unit, a storage unit, and a computation unit”, see ¶75) on a circuit board (18, see ¶75); and
determining whether the measured parameter has expected values [values corresponding “various judgement methods” carried out by the controller 18, see ¶93-¶102 for instance; there are various methods disclosed by Suzuki to determine an abnormality of the diaphragm 40, wherein each of these methods involve obtained values from the sensor, comparing them to corresponding “threshold value” (th1-th8; stored beforehand in the storage unit), and determining whether the obtained values are below or above the corresponding threshold value in order to determine whether there is an abnormality of the diaphragm].
In reference to claim 16, Suzuki teaches the method, further comprising a step of preparing measurement data in analysis runs with known fluids to obtain a set of data with values to be expected [“analysis run” = operational run of one pump cycle comprising suction and discharge phase; in view of figs. 6-7, plural such operational runs happen over a period time; in each of these operational runs, “measurement data” is prepared with known fluids (i.e. fluid M present in chamber 42/86 and fluid L present in chamber 44) in the system to obtain a set of data with values to be expected (i.e. pressure values related to bellows interior to be expected during operation of the system)].
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Suzuki in view of Halimi and Sakuma Shoichi (JPH 11300780A – herein after Sakuma).
Suzuki teaches the system, comprising a piston (in Suzuki: see tubular elongated member of assembly 74 that is within the bellows 82, see ¶63 and fig. 1; in Yajima: 34, see ¶49) of the pump.
Suzuki remains silent on the system, wherein the piston of the pump has at least partially a D-shaped circumference.
However, Sakuma teaches a system for handling fluid that comprises a piston (17) having at least partially D-shaped circumference (axial groove 174 has D-shaped cross section; see ¶16 of translation).
In Suzuki, the piston interacts with incompressible medium. In such systems, ambient air may enter into the incompressible medium during suction stroke of the piston (this is further discussed in Yajima, see ¶9 or ¶91). Thus, it would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the piston of Suzuki for providing it at least partially a D-shaped circumference as taught by Sakuma for the purpose of allowing air to flow through this flat groove downstream of the piston, as recognized by Sakuma (see ¶22 of translation), thus reducing piston’s sliding resistance.
Response to Arguments
The arguments filed May 21, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not found to be persuasive.
Arguments with respect to “no mention of a sensor casing in Suzuki”: The applicant argues Suzuki has no “casing”. However, end plate member 46 constitutes a separate housing for the sensor 32. Arguments with respect to Halimi: Applicant argues that Halimi teaches a single housing 12 and lacks a separate sensor housing. However, this argument addresses Halimi individually and fails to account for the modified system as a whole resulting from the proposed modification. The modified Suzuki’s sensor assembly that includes a gel (as per Halimi), is attached to the pump body 22 of Suzuki. The resulting combination structurally meets every limitation of claim 1, including a “separate housing…comprising a sensor” attached to the pump chamber.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 CHIRAG JARIWALA whose telephone number is (571)272-0467. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 AM-5 PM.
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, ESSAMA OMGBA can be reached at 469-295-9278. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CHIRAG JARIWALA/Examiner, Art Unit 3746
/ESSAMA OMGBA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3746
Prosecution Insights