DETAILED ACTION
This is the Final Office Action for application number 18/718,709 - POOL BODY AND POOL BODY, filed on 6/11/24. Claims 1-11 and 13-16 are pending. Claim 12 has been cancelled. This Final Office Action is in response to applicant’s reply dated 4/13/26. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Applicant's amendment necessitated any new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.
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) 1-10 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bergstrom (US 6,349,427) in view of Huang et al. (US Pub. 2019/0032351).
Regarding Claim 1 Bergstrom shows a pool body with a pool body (Figs. 1& 2), wherein the pool body comprises an outer frame that does not include an airbag (Figs. 1-2; horizontal and vertical frame members; note, col. 2, lines 2-67 and col. 3, lines 0-16) a pool body accommodation cavity (between 78 and the frame) and a pool body (37, 77) accommodated in the hard pool body accommodation cavity (Fig. 4), and an annular cavity formed between the pool body and the pool body accommodation cavity (shown at 48; Fig. 4); and the pool body (as can be seen in Figs. 1-2) comprises pipeline branch pipes (at least near 18), wherein at least some of the pipeline branch pipes are accommodated in the annular cavity (Figs. 1-2), but Bergstrom fails to specifically show the pipeline branch pipes comprise a plurality of multi-way pipes and hoses, adjacent multi-way pipes being connected by the hoses, and a plurality of nozzles being provided on the multi-way pipes.
However, Huang show the pipeline branch pipes comprise a plurality of multi-way pipes (20, 22, 30) and hoses (12; ¶ [0050]), adjacent multi-way pipes (30) being connected by the hoses (12; Figs. 1-4), and a plurality of nozzles being provided on the multi-way pipes (11, 30c). 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 Bergstrom to include the multi-way pipes and hose and plurality of nozzles provided on the multi-way pipes for the purpose of efficient use of material and space as shown by Huang.
Regarding Claim 2 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 1, wherein each of the multi-way pipes is a four-way pipe (portion shown connecting vertical 22).
Regarding Claim 3 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 2, wherein two nozzles (30c; Fig. 1) are provided on each four-way pipe.
Regarding Claim 4 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claims 1, wherein at least one of the pipeline branch pipes is a water inlet branch pipe (20; water inlet for nozzles 30c).
Regarding Claim 5 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claims 1, wherein an end of at least one of the multi-way pipes (Fig. 2; where 12 connects to 30c) connected to at least one of the hoses is provided with an external thread structure surrounding the at least one multi-way pipe (see at 30b), the external thread structure is connected to the at least one multi-way pipe through a limit stop (see flange at 32), and the limit stop, the external thread structure and the at least one multi-way pipe enclose an open-ended waterproof cavity (Fig. 2); and an outer periphery of the at least one hose is sleeved with a tapered press ring (as is conventionally known see dark shaded area near 30b; Fig. 2; shown near 112 and 1130 ; Fig. 5) and a locking nut (Fig. 2), the at least one hose is inserted into the waterproof cavity, the locking nut is threadably connected with the external thread structure, in an insertion direction of the hose, the tapered press ring is located between an end of the external thread structure and the locking nut, and the tapered press ring clamps the at least one hose with an end of the hard pipe in the insertion direction (Figs. 2 & 5).
Regarding Claim 6 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 5, wherein the end of the at least one multi-way pipe is provided with a tapered surface, and the tapered press ring and the tapered surface clamps the hose in the insertion direction (Figs. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 7 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 6, wherein in a direction opposite to the insertion direction, the tapered surface protrudes from the external thread structure for the tapered press ring to sleeve (Fig. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 8 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 5, wherein the locking nut is capable of moving the tapered press ring in the insertion direction toward the at least one multi-way pipe during threaded connection with the external thread structure so that the tapered press ring clamps the at least one hose with the end of the at least one multi-way pipe in the insertion direction (Figs. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 9 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 8, wherein after the locking nut is fully connected to the external threaded structure, the tapered press ring and the end of the at least one multi-way pipe jointly clamp the hose (Figs. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 10 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nozzles (11) is connected to the multi-way at least one multi-way pipes by at least one of the hose (Fig. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 15 Bergstrom shows the pool body according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame is made of wood (note, col. 3, lines 20-22).
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bergstrom (US 6,349,427) in view of Huang et al. (US Pub. 2019/0032351) in view of Kera (US 4,966,717).
Regarding Claim 11 Bergstrom as combined shows the pool body according to claims 1, but fails to show that the hose is a TPU pipe or a silicone pipe. However, TPU hose is well-known (conventionally) known and available for use as is shown by Kera (note, col. 3, lines 59-64). 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 Huang to use TPU for the purpose of having flexibility and readily available hose as shown by Kera.
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bergstrom (US 6,349,427) in view of Huang et al. (US Pub. 2019/0032351) in view of Getz (US Pub. 2009/0100588).
Regarding Claim 13 Bergstrom shows the pool body according to claim 1, but fails to show wherein the outer frame is made of plastic wood. However, Getz shows a pool frame that is made of plastic wood (¶ [0048]). 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 Bergstrom to include plastic wood for the purpose of using a durable and strong material for the frame as shown by Getz.
Claim(s) 14 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bergstrom (US 6,349,427) in view of Huang et al. (US Pub. 2019/0032351) in view of Liu (US Pub. 2015/0315804).
Regarding Claims 14 and 16 Bergstrom shows the pool body according to claim 13 and 15 respectively, but fails to show wherein the pool body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, net clamping PVC, and PVC leather. However, Liu shows using PVC for a pool body (¶ [0027]). 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 Bergstrom to include PVC pool body for the purpose of using a well-known and readily available material for the poo body as shown by Liu.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 4/13/26 have been fully considered but are moot in light of the new ground of rejection above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Leung (US 12,241,273) shows pool hose; Lau (US 6,357,059) shows a similar pool with a cavity and piping in the cavity.
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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
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 on Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached on 571-270-3735. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 5/14/2026
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