DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 18/718,709 - PIPELINE STRUCTURE AND POOL BODY, filed on 6/11/24. Claims 1-12 are pending.
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 1-12 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.
The terms “hard” and “soft” in claims 1-12 are relative terms which render the claims indefinite. The term “hard” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The term “soft” has some degree of a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree with regard to the inner soft pool body as the body material is described as PVC, net clamping PVC, or PVC leather (¶ [0063]). However, the specification then further details that the soft pool body includes “hard PVC strips” as the connecting portion (22) (¶ [0094]). Therefore it is not possible to determine the level of hardness or softness included as a range of either term as the specific degree of rigidity of either has not been disclosed. The soft pool body appears to include “hard” elements, so the specific hardness cannot be determined and renders the “soft” limitation indefinite. The term “hard pipelines” further is indefinite as it has not been identified by a specific pipe material or a range of hardness.
Regarding claim 1, “the adjacent multi-way” limitation lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. As written claim 12 depends from claim 1 as it includes the features of claim 1, but does not further limit claim1. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-10 and 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang et al. (US 5,809,648).
Regarding Claim 1 Huang shows a pipeline structure of a pool body (2), characterized in that the pool body comprises a hard pool body (2a) accommodation cavity (between 2a and 2b) and a soft pool body (2b) accommodated in the hard pool body accommodation cavity (Fig. 1), and an annular cavity is formed between the soft pool body and the hard pool body accommodation cavity (Fig. 1); and the pipeline structure (12, 20, 22, 30) comprises pipeline branch pipes (12, 20, 22, 30), wherein at least some of the pipeline branch pipes are accommodated in the annular cavity (Fig. 1), and the pipeline branch pipes comprise a plurality of multi-way hard pipes (20, 22, 30) and hoses (12; ¶ [0050]), the adjacent multi-way hard pipes (30) being connected by means of the hoses (12; Figs. 1-4) , and a plurality of nozzles (11, 30c) being provided on the multi-way hard pipes.
Regarding Claim 2 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the multi-way hard pipe is a four-way hard pipe (portion shown connecting vertical 22).
Regarding Claim 3 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 2, characterized in that two nozzles (30c; Fig. 1) are provided on each four-way hard pipe.
Regarding Claim 4 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claims 1, characterized in that the pipeline branch pipe is a water inlet branch pipe (20; water inlet for nozzles 30c).
Regarding Claim 5 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claims 1, characterized in that an end of the hard pipe (Fig. 2; where 12 connects to 30c) connected to the hose is provided with an external thread structure surrounding the hard pipe (see at 30b), the external thread structure is connected to the hard pipe through a limit stop (see flange at 32), and the limit stop, the external thread structure and the hard pipe enclose an open-ended waterproof cavity (Fig. 2); and an outer periphery of the 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 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 hose with an end of the hard pipe in the insertion direction (Figs. 2 & 5).
Regarding Claim 6 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the end of the hard pipe is provided with a tapered surface, and the tapered press ring and the tapered surface clamping the hose in the insertion direction (Figs. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 7 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 6, characterized in that 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 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking nut is capable of moving the tapered press ring in the insertion direction toward the hard pipe during threaded connection with the external thread structure so that the tapered press ring clamps the hose with the end of the hard pipe in the insertion direction (Figs. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 9 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 8, characterized in that after the locking nut is fully connected to the external threaded structure, the tapered press ring and the end of the hard pipe jointly clamp the hose (Figs. 2 & 5; ¶ [0048-0052]).
Regarding Claim 10 Huang shows the pipeline structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle (11) is connected to the multi-way hard pipe by the hose (Fig. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 12 Huang shows a pipeline structure of a pool body (2), characterized in that the pool body comprises a hard pool body (2a) accommodation cavity (between 2a and 2b) and a soft pool body (2b) accommodated in the hard pool body accommodation cavity (Fig. 1), and an annular cavity is formed between the soft pool body and the hard pool body accommodation cavity (Fig. 1), at least a portion of the pipeline structure according to claims 1, being disposed within the annular cavity (see claim 1 above).
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) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang et al. (US 5,809,648) in view of Kera (US 4,966,717).
Regarding Claim 11 Huang shows the pipeline structure 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.
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.
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.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 1/30/2026