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 Objections
Claims 12, 19, and 20 are objected to because of the following informalities: in line 11 of claim 12, it appears the “(“ should be deleted; in line 6 of claim 19, it appears “(and” should be replaced with --and--; in line 3 of claim 20, it appears “rotate” should be changed to --rotating--. Appropriate correction is required.
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 12-22 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.
Regarding claims 12-22, the claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Claim 12 is rejected as being indefinite because the limitation “and the like” in lines 1-2 is unclear. It is not clear what Applicant considers to fall under the umbrella “and the like”. This phrase “and the like” describes the substances which the equipment must be able to combine and diffuse, but it is unclear in what way these substances must be like “fragrances or aromas”.
Claim 12 is also rejected as being indefinite because the limitation “of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas, comprising:” in lines 2-3 appears to be redundant, and will not be interpreted to be further limiting.
Claim 12 is further rejected as being indefinite because the specific arrangement required for the recited invention is unclear for the following reasons,
in lines 3-4, it is unclear what further has the “flexible hoses and capsules”;
in line 4, it is unclear whether each hose and each capsule must have a flexible one-way valve, or if just every hose or every capsule must have a flexible one-way valve, or something else entirely;
in line 5, it is unclear what element further has the “projections”;
in lines 7-8, it is unclear if the drive gear must be interconnected with the drive gearings on two-way axles, or if the drive gearings must be interconnected with the two-way axles;
in line 8, it is unclear which “two-way axles” must be connected on a “U-shaped support”, all of them, or just a subset, or just two of them;
in lines 8-9, it is unclear what must be “connected in a mobile structure”;
in line 10, it is unclear what recited element must further have “position sensors”;
in line 12, it is unclear whether each rotating drum must have a respective motor;
in line 13, it is unclear what is required by the limitation “besides having hollow housings”;
in line 15, it is unclear whether the communication must be between the “rotation sensors” or between a rotation sensor and electro-magnets;
in line 17, it is unclear what element is further “comprised of a rear air supply device”.
Further, the limitation “whose equipment wherein said equipment” in lines 5-6 renders claim 12 indefinite because it is unclear what is considered “whose equipment” and “said equipment”, and further how these recitations relate to the claimed invention of “An equipment” of line 1.
Claim 12 is further rejected as being indefinite because it is unclear if the limitation in line 11 “by the mobile structure (receiving a triangular module of rotating drums” is intended to be a recited use, a functional limitation, or a structural limitation.
Further, claim 12 recites the limitations "the rear wall" in line 13, “the communication” in line 15, “rotation sensors” in line 15, “electro-magnets” in line 16, “the front wall” in line 18, and “the fragrances” in line 19. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Further, lines 14-16 recite limitations that appear to be incomplete. The limitations “by the triangular module…” and “by the communication…” imply that an action or function has occurred or will occur, but none appears to be stated.
Further regarding claim 12, the limitation of “a U-shaped support” in line 17 renders the claim indefinite because “a U-shaped support” was already positively recited in line 8. As a result, it is unclear if line 17 requires a second “U-shaped support”, or if it is referring to the “U-shaped support” that was already recited. For the purposes of examination, the former interpretation will be assumed; this appears to be consistent with the disclosure.
Further, lines 19-20 recite a limitation that appears to be incomplete. The limitation “by the fragrances inflated…” imply that an action or function has occurred or will occur, but none appears to be stated.
Finally, claim 12 is rejected as being indefinite because it is unclear if the limitation in lines 19-20 “by the fragrances inflated being dispersed by a prior air supply device and diffused in angled dispersing nozzles” is intended to be a recited use, a functional limitation, or a structural limitation.
Claims 13-22 are rejected as being indefinite for depending from indefinite claim 12.
Regarding claim 13, the limitations of “an electric motor on a bearing” in line 3, “a drive gear” in lines 3-4, “drive gearings” in line 4, “two-way axles” in line 5, and “a mobile structure” in line 6 renders the claim indefinite because each of these elements were already positively recited in claim 12, from which claim 13 depends. As a result, it is unclear if claim 13 requires additional and distinct ones of each of these elements, or if it is referring to the those that were already recited. For the purposes of examination, the latter interpretation will be assumed; this appears to be consistent with the disclosure.
Claim 14 is rejected as being indefinite because the limitation “wherein the two-way axles pass by the rear wall of the mobile structure is supported on threaded flange bearings” does not appear to be grammatically correct. As a result, the claimed arrangement is unclear. Are the two-way axles supported on threaded flange bearings, or is the mobile structure supported on threaded flange bearings?
Claim 14 recites the limitations "the centered ends" in line 3 and “the front wall of the casing” in lines 5-6. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 15 is rejected as being indefinite because it is unclear if the limitation “their hollow housings” are the same as the “hollow housings” previously recited in line 13 of claim 12 or if they a distinct hollow housings. The hollow housings of claim 12 are described as being for the “capsules”, and the hollow housings of claim 15 are for the “projections”.
Regarding claim 16, the limitations of “electro-magnets” in line 3, “rotation sensors” in lines 4, and “a rotation sensor” in line 5 renders the claim indefinite because each of these elements were already positively recited in claim 12, from which claim 16 depends. As a result, it is unclear if claim 16 requires additional and distinct ones of each of these elements, or if it is referring to the those that were already recited. For the purposes of examination, the latter interpretation will be assumed; this appears to be consistent with the disclosure.
Additionally, regarding claim 16, it is unclear if “a rotation sensor” in line 5 of claim 16 is one of the “rotation sensors” of line 4, or if it is an additional and distinct rotation sensor.
Finally, it is unclear what element further has “a rotation sensor” (see line 5). Do each of the rotating drums, or is it “the equipment”, or is it something else entirely?
Claim 17 is rejected as being indefinite because the grammatical and idiomatic errors make the claimed arrangement unclear. Specifically, the limitations “by the rear air supply device receiving…” and “by the forked joining element, in turn, being connected…” appear to be incomplete since these limitations imply a result, but none appears to be stated. Further, the limitation “encase into forked joining element” is unclear as to what is required. Finally, it is unclear what element is “being fastened on supporting elements…”.
Claim 17 further recites the limitation "the lower base" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 18, the limitation of “a rear air supply device” in lines 2-3 renders the claim indefinite because “a rear air supply device” was already positively recited in line 17 of claim 12, from which claim 18 depends. As a result, it is unclear if claim 18 requires a second “rear air supply device”, or if it is referring to the “rear air supply device” that was already recited. For the purposes of examination, the latter interpretation will be assumed; this appears to be consistent with the disclosure.
Further, claim 18 is rejected as being indefinite because it is unclear which elements are “being fastened opposite angled dispersing nozzles”.
Claim 19 recites the limitations "the front end" in line 4, “the rear end” in line 4, “the connector ducts” in line 7 and also line 8, “triangularly configured dispersing holes of the rear air supply” in line 7, “triangularly configured dispersing holes of the air supply device anterior” in lines 8-9, and “the air supply device anterior” in line 9. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitations "the communication with…the motors" in lines 3-4, “the capsules with the fragrances selected by the user” in line 5, “the connector ducts” in lines 5-6 and line 7, “triangularly configured dispersing holes of the rear air supply” in lines 6-7, “triangularly configured dispersing holes of the air supply device anterior” in lines 7-8, and “the air supply device anterior” in line 8. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 21 recites the limitations “the connector ducts” in line 3, “triangularly configured dispersing holes of the rear air supply” in lines 3-4, and “the rear ends” in line 4. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Further, in lines 5-6 of claim 21 it is unclear what must be “included in the hollow housings of the top left rotating drum, the top right rotating drum and the bottom rotating drum” or how this relates either structurally or functionally to the remainder of the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitations “the connector ducts” in line 3, “triangularly configured dispersing holes of the air supply device anterior” in line 4, “the air supply device anterior” in line 4, “the front ends” in line 5, “the capsules selected” in line 5, and “the smell of the mixture of the fragrances chosen by the user” in line 6. There are insufficient antecedent bases for these limitations in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 12, Fantuzzi et al. (US 2016/0263265) discloses an equipment for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising: of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas (par. 2; fig. 9), comprising: a casing (fig. 9, 10) equipped with an electric motor (154), further having capsules (112) endowed with flexible one-way valves (118/122, see par. 49), whose equipment wherein said equipment has in the casing a linear drive system (par. 53; fig. 12), formed by a transmission mechanism (156/158) having two-way axles (146), connected in a mobile structure (par. 52; fig. 13) endowed with a sliding element (122), which travels a linear guide (148); by the mobile structure receiving a triangular module (130, see fig. 11) of rotating drums (114), formed by a top left rotating drum, a top right rotating drum and a bottom rotating drum (see fig. 11), besides having hollow housings for receiving capsules (120) storing multiple fragrances (par. 49); further, by the triangular module of rotating drums being aligned and synchronized, so that the capsules can receive inflated air from an air supply system (110, see par. 49), comprised of a rear air supply device (110) integrated to a U-shaped support (124) anchored on the mobile structure (fig. 12) by guide axles (128, see fig. 10), which pass through the rear wall and are fastened on the front wall of said mobile structure (fig. 10); further, by the fragrances inflated in the capsules being dispersed by a prior air supply device and diffused in angled dispersing nozzles (127).
Fantuzzi does not disclose that the electric motor is supported on a bearing; further having flexible hoses; the flexible one-way valves also comprise elastomeric headers and converging flexible vanes, further having projections; the transmission mechanism comprised of a drive gear and drive gearings interconnected on the two-way axles, and further wherein the two-way axles are connected on a U-shaped support; the linear guide further having position sensors that delimit the forward and backward movement of the linear drive system; each of the rotating drums being rotated by motors fastened on the rear wall of the mobile structure; and further, the triangular module of rotating drums being aligned and synchronized, by the communication of rotation sensors, rotation sensor and electro-magnets, so that the capsules can receive inflated air from an air supply system.
Regarding claim 12, Thompson et al. (US 2004/0241053) discloses an equipment (43) for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising: of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas (par. 2; fig. 1), comprising: a casing (1/2) equipped with an electric motor (142), further having capsules (42), whose equipment wherein said equipment has in the casing a linear drive system (par. 62-64; figs. 7, 13, and 15-18), formed by a transmission mechanism comprised of a drive gear (22) and drive gearings (22-30) interconnected on two-way axles (fig. 7 – axle of motor 35A), wherein the two-way axles are connected in a mobile structure (fig. 7), further having position sensors (96/52/53) that delimit the forward and backward movement of the linear drive system (par. 67, 70); further, by the communication of rotation sensors, so that the capsules can receive inflated air from an air supply system (70), comprised of a rear air supply device integrated to a U-shaped support (fig. 7 – the unlabeled molded plastic supports for the blower wheel and motor) anchored on the mobile structure by guide axles (fig. 7) ; further, by the fragrances inflated in the capsules being dispersed by a prior air supply device and diffused in angled dispersing nozzles (par. 66).
Regarding claim 12, Killon et al. (US 2024/0350693) discloses an equipment (50) for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising: of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas (par. 61; fig. 1), comprising: a casing (130) equipped with an electric motor (629), further having capsules (371/372/373/374), whose equipment wherein said equipment has in the casing a linear drive system (par. 76; fig. 8), formed by a transmission mechanism comprised of a drive gear (631) and drive gearings (630) interconnected on two-way axles (fig. 8; par. 76), wherein the two-way axles are connected on a U-shaped support (fig. 4), connected in a mobile structure (600), further having position sensors (643/682) that delimit the forward and backward movement of the linear drive system (par. 76); further, by the communication of rotation sensors, so that the capsules can receive inflated air from an air supply system (660), comprised of a rear air supply device integrated to a U-shaped support (fig. 4) anchored on the mobile structure by guide axles (fig. 9) ; further, by the fragrances inflated in the capsules being dispersed by a prior air supply device and diffused in angled dispersing nozzles (par. 87).
Regarding claim 12, Field et al. (US 2018/0280557) discloses an equipment (100) for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising: of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas (par. 1; fig. 1A), comprising many of the claimed elements.
Regarding claim 12, Gasper et al. (US 2013/0068788) discloses an equipment (100) for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising: of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas (par. 5; fig. 1), comprising many of the claimed elements.
Regarding claim 12, Catlin et al. (US 2021/0394589) discloses an equipment (“C”) for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising: of an equipment for combining and demonstrating multiple fragrances or aromas (par. 99; fig. 2, 3), comprising many of the claimed elements.
The prior art does not disclose an equipment for combining and diffusing multiple fragrances or aromas, and the like, comprising flexible one-way valves comprising elastomeric headers and converging flexible vanes, and further having projections in combination with each of the other recited elements of claim 12.
Further, although each of the other elements are taught individually in the prior art, no single piece of prior art teaches them all, and no teaching or motivation was found that would have made it obvious to combine the references.
Conclusion
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/CODY J LIEUWEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752