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 .
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 2-4,8-10 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 2 is confusing because claim 2 line 4 calls for “a second drainpipe”; however, there was never a “first drainpipe” previously recited.
Claim 2 is confusing because claim 2 line 5 calls for “a third drainpipe”; however, there was never a “first drainpipe” previously recited.
Claim 3 line 2 calls for “a source of wash fluid”; claim 1 line 15 calls for “a first wash fluid”; it is unclear if and how they are related.
Claim 4 line 2 calls for “a source of wash fluid”; claim 1 line 16 calls for “a second wash fluid”; it is unclear if and how they are related.
Claim 8 is confusing because claim 8 line 4 calls for “a second drainpipe”; however, there was never a “first drainpipe” previously recited.
Claim 8 is confusing because claim 8 line 5 calls for “a third drainpipe”; however, there was never a “first drainpipe” previously recited.
Claim 9 line 2 calls for “a source of wash fluid”; claim 7 line 17 calls for “a first wash fluid”; it is unclear if and how they are related.
Claim 10 line 2 calls for “a source of wash fluid”; claim 7 line 18 calls for “a second wash fluid”; it is unclear if and how they are related.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1,5-7,11 are allowed.
Claims 2-4,8-10 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record either alone or in combination fails to teach a drainpipe comprising an elongated member, said elongated member comprising:
(a) a first conduit disposed on an upper portion of said elongated member, said first
conduit comprising at least one first orifice disposed on a bottom surface of said first conduit;
(b) a pair of second conduits disposed on two sides of said first conduit, each
second conduit of said pair of second conduits comprising at least one second
orifice configured to fluidly connect a lumen of each said second conduit to an
environment outside of said elongated member; and
(c) a third conduit disposed on a lower portion of said elongated member, said third
conduit comprising two sides and at least one third orifice disposed on each of
said two sides of said third conduit, said at least one third orifice configured to
receive fluid from the environment outside of said elongated member and said
first conduit is configured to be fluidly connected with said third conduit through
said at least one first orifice,
wherein a first wash fluid is receivable at said first conduit and dischargeable
through said at least one first orifice into said third conduit and a second wash fluid
is receivable at one or more second conduit of said pair of second conduits and
dischargeable through said at least one second orifice to the outside environment
before entering said third conduit through said at least one third orifice.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUNIL SINGH whose telephone number is (571)272-7051. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 8-3, F 9-8 and 2nd Sat 11-7.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amber Anderson can be reached at 571 270 5281. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SUNIL SINGH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3678
SS
2/4/2026