DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 18/681,857 - ELECTROMAGNETIC POOL RELATED PLATFORM BATTERY CHARGING, filed on 2/6/24. Claims 1, 7, 12-16, 19-31 are pending. Claims 2-6, 8-11, 17-18 and 32-33 have been canceled.
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 § 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.
Claim(s) 1 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Renken (US Pub. 2021/0399579) in view of Igarashi (JP 2002251901 A).
Regarding Claim 1 Renken shows a method for charging a pool related platform (PRP) (200), the method comprises: positioning a first wireless charging element (WCE) (194) of the PRP within a charging range of a second WCE (195) of a charging unit (197) temporary PRP location that is outside an interior of a pool structural element. However, Renken suggests a second WCE (180) outside an interior of a pool structural element (pool wall shown between 180 and 190). Turning now to Igarashi. Igarashi shows a first WCE (6; Fig. 1) and a second WCE (5) that is movable and is located at a temporary location (May be fixed by, for example, sticking using an adhesive tape or the like). Therefore because Renken suggests the second WCE outside of the pool structural element and Igarashi discloses a second WCE outside of the structural element (water tank) and is moveable and may be located at a temporary location, it, therefore, would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken to include the second WCE as moveable to a temporary location on the pool structural element outside of the pool structural element as shown by Igarashi and Renken for the purpose of induction type power charging that does not require wires in the water environment.
Regarding Claim 7 Renken shows the method according to claim 1 wherein the positioning comprises aligning the first WCE with the second WCE (Fig. 8b; ¶ [0035]; and as combined Fig. 1; Igarashi).
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Renken (US Pub. 2021/0399579) in view of Igarashi (JP 2002251901 A) in further view of Witelson (US Pub. 2017/0043966).
Regarding Claim 12 Renken shows the method according to claim 1 wherein the charging unit is detachably coupled, detachably coupled device via adhesive and fails to show by suction caps. However, Witelson details in a similar PRP device attachment via suction cups is interchangeable with adhesive (¶ [0318]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken as combined to include suction cups for coupling to the pool structural element for the purpose of using an interchangeable attachment method with adhesive as shown by Witelson.
Claim(s) 13-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Renken (US Pub. 2021/0399579) in view of Igarashi (JP 2002251901 A) in further view of Chien (US Pub. 2019/0242562).
Regarding Claim 13 Renken shows the method according to claim 1 wherein the charging unit is detachably coupled,
Regarding Claim 14 Renken shows the method according to claim 1 wherein the charging unit is positioned would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken as combined to include a holder element for coupling the WCE to the pool structural element as holder elements is readily available and known for detachably coupling as shown by Chien.
Regarding Claim 15 Renken shows the method according to claim 1 wherein the second WCE is positioned, at least in part, .
Claim(s) 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Renken (US Pub. 2021/0399579) in view of Igarashi (JP 2002251901 A) in further view of Averianov (US Pub. 2021/0022490).
Regarding Claim 16 Renken shows the method according to claim 1 but fails to show wherein the second WCE is positioned, at least in part, within a stand-alone holder element that comprises adjustable legs. However, Averianov shows wherein a second WCE is positioned, at least in part, within a stand-alone holder element that comprises adjustable legs (a table on which wireless chargers are disposed , the table being supported by adjustable legs, ¶ [0039; 0054]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken as combined to include positioning the second WCE at least in part within a stand-alone holder element with adjustable legs for the purpose of being able to increase or decrease the height of the second WCE as shown by Averianov for accurate fit with a particular pool structure as shown by
Claim(s) 19-25 and 28-31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Renken (US Pub. 2021/0399579) in view of Igarashi (JP 2002251901 A) in further view of Witelson et al (US Pub. 2019/0284827).
Regarding Claim 19 Renken shows a pool related platform (PRP) (200) comprising: a controller (126), a drive unit (128), a rechargeable battery (120),
Renken fails to show the second WCE is movable and is located at a temporary PRP location that is outside an interior of a pool structural element. However, Renken suggests a second WCE (180) outside an interior of a pool structural element (pool wall shown between 180 and 190). Turning now to Igarashi. Igarashi shows a first WCE (6; Fig. 1) and a second WCE (5) that is movable and is located at a temporary location (May be fixed by, for example, sticking using an adhesive tape or the like). Therefore because Renken suggests the second WCE outside of the pool structural element and Igarashi discloses a second WCE outside of the structural element (water tank) and is moveable and may be located at a temporary location, it, therefore, would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken to include the second WCE as moveable to a temporary location on the pool structural element outside of the pool structural element as shown by Igarashi and Renken for the purpose of induction type power charging that does not require wires in the water environment.
Renken fails to show the one or more sensors. However, Witelson shows a PRP with one or more sensors (¶ [0031, 0036, 0037, 0048, 0057, 0083, 0089, 0090, 0093, 0101-0106, 0107; Claim 20]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken to include one or more sensors for orientation of the robot and for communication with the charging station as shown by Witelson.
Regarding Claim 20 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 19 comprising a first WCE movement mechanism (192) that is configured to move the first WCE in relation to another part of the PRP.
Regarding Claim 21 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 20 wherein the first WCE movement mechanism is configured to push the first WCE against an interior of the pool structural element (via magnets; ¶ [0006, 0007, 0032, 0033] the magnetic coupling pushes against the interior of the pool structure element when magnetically coupled to the second WCE).
Regarding Claim 22 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 21 wherein the first WCE movement mechanism is configured to push the first WCE based on an indication of the temporary PRP location (as combined; via magnets; ; ¶ [0006, 0007, 0032, 0033] the magnetic coupling pushes against the interior of the pool structure element when magnetically coupled to the second WCE).
Regarding Claim 23 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 20 wherein the first WCE movement mechanism is configured to align the first WCE with the second WCE (Fig. 8b).
Regarding Claim 24 Renken as combined shows the PRP according to claim 23 comprising one or more alignment sensors and wherein an alignment of the first WCE with the second WCE is a sensor- based alignment (Witelson ¶ [0083; 0101-0103]).
Regarding Claim 25 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 20 wherein the controller is configured to control the drive unit to move towards the temporary PRP location based on an indication of the temporary PRP location (¶ [0038]).
Regarding Claim 28 Renken as combined shows the PRP according to claim 19 wherein the PRP comprises a communication module that is in communication with the first WCE, wherein the communication module (506; ¶ [0057]; Witelson) is configured to communicate, via the first WCE, with the second WCE.
Regarding Claim 29 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 19 wherein the first WCE faces a bottom of a housing of the PRP (Fig. 8b).
Regarding Claim 30 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 19 wherein the first WCE is parallel to a sidewall of the PRP (via tether 192).
Regarding Claim 31 Renken shows the PRP according to claim 19 wherein the first WCE extends outside a housing of the PRP (Fig. 8b, via tether 192).
Claim(s) 26 and 27 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Renken (US Pub. 2021/0399579) in view of Igarashi (JP 2002251901 A) in view of Witelson et al (US Pub. 2019/0284827) in further view of Witelson et al. (US Pub. 2015/0275537) (hereinafter Witelson ‘537).
Regarding Claim 26 Renken as combined shows the PRP according to claim 25 but fails to show wherein the indication of the temporary PRP location is wirelessly transmitted temporary PRP location information that provides an explicit indication of the PRP location. However, Witelson ‘537 shows wherein the indication of the temporary PRP location is wirelessly transmitted temporary PRP location information that provided an explicit indication of the PRP location (¶ [0176] via radiation sources). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Renken as combined to include indication of the temporary PRP location is wirelessly transmitted temporary PRP location information that provides an explicit indication of the PRP location as shown by Witelson ‘537 for the purpose of proper connection of the first WCE to the second WCE.
Regarding Claim 27 Renken as combined shows the PRP according to claim 25 wherein the indication of the temporary PRP location is wirelessly transmitted radiation that is transmitted from the charging unit (as combined ¶ 0176]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Potucek et al. (US Pub. 2017/0073990) shows a PRP with a charging unit; Nakamura (US Pub. 2014/0111021) shows the general state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
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, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached at 571-270-3735. 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.
/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 4/8/2026
Prosecution Insights