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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CRF 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 06/30/2026 has been entered.
Status
In response to the amendment filed on 06/30/2026, claims 1, 16, and 23 have been amended, claim 4 is cancelled, and new claim 25 is added. Claims 3, 11, 14, and 15 were previously cancelled. Claims 1, 2, 5-10, 12, 13, and 16-25 are pending and under examination.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 1, line 17, the term may be amended as “[[the]]a boiling point”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1, 2, 5-10, 13, 24, and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pruiett et al. (US 2021/0169294, hereinafter Pruiett), in view of Thorne et al. (US 2014/0331445, hereinafter Thorne), Cao et al. (CN 113413098A, hereinafter Cao), and Garrett et al. (US 2017/0055798, hereinafter Garrett).
Regarding claim 1, Pruiett discloses a surface cleaning apparatus (fig. 1 surface cleaning apparatus 10) comprising:
(a) a surface cleaning head (fig. 1, base 16) having a front end, a rear end positioned rearward of the front end, a surface cleaning head axis extending between the front and rear ends and a width in a direction transverse to the surface cleaning head axis (see annotated Pruiett fig. 10 below);
(b) a rotatably mounted cleaning brush positioned at a front end of the surface cleaning head, the rotatably mounted cleaning brush is associated with a brush opening (fig. 12 and ¶ 0103, a brushroll 92 [corresponds to the recited cleaning brush] is rotatably mounted in an opening 122 at a front end of the base 16 [corresponds to the recited surface cleaning head]);
(c) a drying member positioned on a rearward side of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush wherein, in operation, the drying member squeezes water from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush as the rotatably mounted cleaning brush rotates (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 below, a rear wiper 140 [corresponds to the recited drying member] is positioned on a rearward of the brushroll 92; ¶ 0113, an interference edge of the rear wiper 140 scrapes excess liquid off the brushroll 92);
(d) a water collection container (fig. 13, collection chamber 152) external to the rotatably mounted cleaning brush and positioned rearward of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush (annotated Pruiett fig. 13 below and ¶ 0122, a collection chamber 152 [corresponds to the recited water collection container] is positioned rearward of the brushroll 92);
(e) a cleaning fluid reservoir which, in operation, provides a cleaning fluid to a cleaning fluid applicator (fig, 5, annotated Pruiett fig. 13 below, ¶ 0081 and 0132, a supply tank 24 [corresponds to the recited cleaning fluid reservoir] of a steam unit 12 provides steam to a brush chamber 124 through a steam manifold 170 [corresponds to the recited cleaning fluid applicator]); and
(g) an upright section that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head (¶ 0092, a wand 14 [corresponds to the recited upright section] is pivotally connected to the base 16), when the surface cleaning head is positioned on a floor, the rotatably mounted brush has a height to be disposed within the front end of the surface cleaning head, and wherein a flow path from the drying member to an inlet of the water collection container is unobstructed (fig. 12, a height of the brushroll 92 is about a height of the base 16; fig. 13, the water flows to an inlet of the collection chamber 152 from the rear wiper 140 without obstruction), but does not disclose explicitly the upright section is moveable between an upright storage position and an inclined surface cleaning position.
Thorne teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the upright section is moveable between an upright storage position and an inclined surface cleaning position (fig. 3 and ¶ 0027, an upright section 110 includes a lower support member 270 which is pivotally mounted to a base member between an upright storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett to provide the upright section moveable between the storage position and the cleaning position as taught by Thorne so that a user can maneuver the cleaning apparatus easily during cleaning operation.
Pruiett as modified by Thorne does not disclose (f) a heater positioned internal of the surface cleaning head operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the cleaning fluid applicator.
Cao teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, a heater positioned internal of the surface cleaning head operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the cleaning fluid applicator (Cao English translation, p. 9:12-16 and figs. 1-3, a cleaning head device 210 [corresponds to the recited surface cleaning head] is provided with liquid heating device 213 [corresponds to the recited heater]. A pump device pumps cleaning liquid to the liquid heating device 213 for heating it and then covey it to an applicator, therefore, the cleaning liquid is pre-heated prior to operation).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne to provide the heater as taught by Cao because heated liquid would have better cleaning effect.
Pruiett as modified by Thorne and Cao does not disclose the cleaning fluid is heated to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the cleaning fluid.
Garrett teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the cleaning fluid is heated to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the cleaning fluid (¶ 0042 and claim 2, a heating unit of a cleaning apparatus heats floor cleaning liquid in a liquid reservoir to a temperature less than the boiling temperature of the floor cleaning liquid).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne and Cao to pre-heat the cleaning liquid to the temperature lower than the boiling point of the cleaning liquid as taught by Garrett in order to avoid the cleaning liquid producing steam (Garrett ¶ 0042).
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Annotated Pruiett Figure 10
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Annotated Pruiett Figure 13
Regarding claim 2, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the rotatably mounted cleaning brush comprises fibers (Pruiett ¶ 0099, the brushroll 92 can comprise nylon fiber).
Regarding claim 5, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, further comprising a ramp wherein, in operation, water removed from the brush travels along the ramp (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above and fig. 14, water travels from the brushroll 92 along the ramp 146).
Regarding claim 6, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the water collection container has a front wall and a ramp extends outwardly from the inlet of the water collection container (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above).
Regarding claim 7, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, further comprising a ramp wherein, in operation, water separated from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush by the drying member travels along the ramp prior to falling to a lower end of the water collection container (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above and fig. 14, water separated from the brushroll 92 by the rear wiper 140 [corresponds to the recited drying member] travels along the ramp 146 before falling to the collection chamber 152).
Regarding claim 8, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the drying member is made of plastic (Pruiett ¶ 0114, the rear wiper 140 [corresponds to the recited drying member] can be formed of rigid thermoplastic material).
Regarding claim 9, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning head has an absence of a suction motor (Pruiett ¶ 0108, the base 16 does not have a suction motor. Instead, the rotating brushroll 92 can function like a fan that pressurizes a brush chamber and generates an air current).
Regarding claim 10, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the upright section is removably mounted to the surface cleaning head (Pruiett, fig. 25 and ¶ 0163, the wand 14 [corresponds to the recited upright section] is removable from the base 16 [corresponds to the recited surface cleaning head]).
Regarding claim 13, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the drying member remains in position when the water collection container is removed from the surface cleaning head (Pruiett figs. 13 and 20, the collection bin 94 of the collection chamber 152 can be removed from the base 16, but a position of the rear wiper 140 [corresponds to the recited drying member] is not affected by the removal of the collection bin).
Regarding claim 24, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the water collection container (Pruiett, fig. 13, collection chamber 152) is removably positionable in the surface cleaning head, wherein, when positioned in the surface cleaning head, the water collection container has a width to be disposed within the surface cleaning head, a depth in a direction of the surface cleaning head axis, an inlet at an upper end of the water collection container and a lower collection surface that is positioned below the inlet whereby the water collection container collects by gravity water removed from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush (annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above, fig. 20, and ¶ 0122, a collection chamber 152 [corresponds to the recited water collection container] is positioned rearward of the brushroll 92. The collection chamber 152, which is disposed within the base 16, can be a collection bin 94 to be removable from the base 16 as seen in fig. 20. The water is collected into the collection chamber 152 after being scraped off the brushroll 92 as seen in fig. 14. See fig. 13 for the width, the depth, the inlet, and the lower collection surface of the water collection container).
Regarding claim 25, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, wherein the heater is operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the surface cleaning apparatus and while the surface cleaning apparatus is electrically connected to household mains (Garrett, ¶ 0042, 0044 and claim 5, the heating unit comprises an electrical cord adapter enabling the heating unit to be electrically connected to a wall outlet. The cleaning liquid is heated to a preset temperature, and LED units indicate whether the cleaning liquid has reached a desired temperature. The floor cleaner can be used after the power cord is disconnected from a power source. Therefore, Garrett teaches the cleaning liquid can be pre-heated to a preset temperature by connecting the heating unit to household mains, and the cleaning apparatus can be operated after disconnecting the power cord from the household mains).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett to pre-heat the cleaning fluid by connecting it to the household mains as taught by Garrett. It would help the heating unit to heat the cleaning liquid quickly so that a user does not have to wait too long to begin cleaning operation.
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pruiett in view of Thorne, Cao, and Garrett, as applied to claim 1 above, and in further view of Yang (EP 3524120A2).
Regarding claim 12, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 1, but does not disclose the drying member is a rotatable roller.
Yang teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the drying member is a rotatable roller (fig. 4 and ¶ 0016, a sewage pressing member 40 is used for pressing the sewage out of a flexible roller 10; ¶ 0020, the sewage pressing member 40 may be a water pressing roller 42).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett to provide the drying member as a rotatable roller as taught by Yang. A use of the water pressing roller would not affect the normal rotation of the cleaning brush, but it can squeeze out the sewage effectively (Yang ¶ 0021).
Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pruiett in view of Thorne, Cao, and Garrett, as applied to claim 1 above, and in further view of McRorie et al. (US 2020/0060488, hereinafter McRorie).
Regarding claim 21, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejections of claim 1, but does not disclose the drying member is a squeegee.
McRorie teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the drying member is a squeegee (fig. 17 and ¶ 0079, a floor cleaner comprises a brushroll 162 and a squeegee 226, positioned at rearward side of the brushroll, is configured to wipe liquid from the brushroll 162).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the drying member of Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett to be the squeegee as taught by McRorie. The squeegee improves cleaning performance by drying the wet brushroll and minimizing fluid and debris travel back to the surface (McRorie ¶ 0076).
Claim 23 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pruiett in view of Thorne, Cao, and Garrett, as applied to claim 1 above, and in further view of Kohler et al. (WO 2018162092A1, hereinafter Kohler).
Regarding claim 23, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejections of claim 1, but does not disclose a debrider positioned on a rearward side of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush wherein the debrider removes solid debris from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush.
Kohler teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, a debrider positioned on a rearward side of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush wherein the debrider removes solid debris from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush (Kohler English translation, p. 13:10-25 and fig. 1, a floor cleaning device 10 comprises a cleaning roller 46 [corresponds to the recited cleaning brush], a stripping element 80 [corresponds to the recited drying member], and a sweeping threshold 78 [corresponds to the recited debrider]. The sweeping threshold 78 is positioned at rearward side of the roller 46. The sweeping threshold 78 contacts the roller 46 as shown in fig. 7. Dirt particles are conveyed from the roller 46 into a container 62 via the sweeping threshold 78).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Cao, and Garrett to provide the debrider as taught by Kohler in order to remove debris out of the cleaning brush so that the debris do not go back to a floor surface.
Claims 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pruiett et al. (US 2021/0169294, hereinafter Pruiett), in view of Thorne et al. (US 2014/0331445, hereinafter Thorne), Kohler et al. (WO 2018162092A1, hereinafter Kohler), Cao et al. (CN 113413098A, hereinafter Cao), and Garrett et al. (US 2017/0055798, hereinafter Garrett).
Regarding claim 16, Pruiett discloses a surface cleaning apparatus (fig. 1 surface cleaning apparatus 10) comprising:
(a) a surface cleaning head (fig. 1, base 16) having a front end, a rear end positioned rearward of the front end, a surface cleaning head axis extending between the front and rear ends and a width in a direction transverse to the surface cleaning head axis (see annotated Pruiett fig. 10 above);
(b) a rotatably mounted cleaning brush positioned at a front end of the surface cleaning head, the rotatably mounted cleaning brush is associated with a brush opening (fig. 12 and ¶ 0103, a brushroll 92 [corresponds to the recited cleaning brush] is rotatably mounted in an opening 122 at a front end of the base 16 [corresponds to the recited surface cleaning head]);
(c) a drying member positioned on a rearward side of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush wherein, in operation, the drying member squeezes water from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush as the rotatably mounted cleaning brush rotates (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above, a rear wiper 140 [corresponds to the recited drying member] is positioned on a rearward of the brushroll 92; ¶ 0113, an interference edge of the rear wiper 140 scrapes excess liquid off the brushroll 92);
(e) a water collection container (fig. 13, collection chamber 152) positioned immediately rearwardly of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above) and removably positionable in the surface cleaning head, wherein, when positioned in the surface cleaning head, the water collection container has a width to be disposed within the surface cleaning head, a depth in a direction of the surface cleaning head axis, an inlet at an upper end of the water collection container and a lower collection surface that is positioned below the inlet whereby the water collection container collects by gravity water removed from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush (annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above, fig. 20, and ¶ 0122, a collection chamber 152 [corresponds to the recited water collection container] is positioned rearward of the brushroll 92. The collection chamber 152, which is disposed within the base 16, can be a collection bin 94 to be removable from the base 16 as seen in fig. 20. The water is collected into the collection chamber 152 after being scraped off the brushroll 92 as seen in fig. 14);
(f) a cleaning fluid reservoir which, in operation, provides a cleaning fluid to a cleaning fluid applicator (fig, 5, annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above, ¶ 0081 and 0132, a supply tank 24 [corresponds to the recited cleaning fluid reservoir] of a steam unit 12 provides steam to a brush chamber 124 through a steam manifold 170 [corresponds to the recited cleaning fluid applicator]); and
(h) an upright section that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head (¶ 0092, a wand 14 [corresponds to the recited upright section] is pivotally connected to the base 16), but does not disclose explicitly the upright section is moveable between an upright storage position and an inclined surface cleaning position.
Thorne teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the upright section is moveable between an upright storage position and an inclined surface cleaning position (fig. 3 and ¶ 0027, an upright section 110 includes a lower support member 270 which is pivotally mounted to a base member between an upright storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett to provide the upright section moveable between the storage position and the cleaning position as taught by Thorne so that a user can maneuver the cleaning apparatus easily during cleaning operation.
Pruiett as modified by Thorne does not disclose (d) a debrider positioned on a rearward side of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush, wherein the debrider removes solid debris from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush as the rotatably mounted cleaning brush rotates.
Kohler teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, a debrider positioned on a rearward side of the rotatably mounted cleaning brush, wherein the debrider removes solid debris from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush as the rotatably mounted cleaning brush rotates (Kohler English translation, p. 13:10-25 and fig. 1, a floor cleaning device 10 comprises a cleaning roller 46 [corresponds to the recited cleaning brush], a stripping element 80 [corresponds to the recited drying member], and a sweeping threshold 78 [corresponds to the recited debrider]. The sweeping threshold 78 is positioned at rearward side of the roller 46. The sweeping threshold 78 contacts the roller 46 as shown in fig. 7. Dirt particles are conveyed from the roller 46 into a container 62 via the sweeping threshold 78).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne to provide the debrider as taught by Kohler in order to remove debris out of the cleaning brush so that the debris do not go back to a floor surface.
Pruiett as modified by Thorne and Kohler does not disclose (g) a heater positioned internal of the surface cleaning head operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the cleaning fluid applicator.
Cao teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, a heater positioned internal of the surface cleaning head operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the cleaning fluid applicator (Cao English translation, p. 9:12-16 and figs. 1-3, a cleaning head device 210 [corresponds to the recited surface cleaning head] is provided with liquid heating device 213 [corresponds to the recited heater]. A pump device pumps cleaning liquid to the liquid heating device 213 for heating it and then covey it to an applicator, therefore, the cleaning liquid is pre-heated prior to operation).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne and Kohler to provide the heater as taught by Cao because heated liquid would have better cleaning effect.
Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, and Cao does not disclose the heater is operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the surface cleaning apparatus, and while the surface cleaning apparatus is electrically connected to household mains.
Garrett teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the heater is operable to pre-heat the cleaning fluid prior to operation of the surface cleaning apparatus, and while the surface cleaning apparatus is electrically connected to household mains (¶ 0042, 0044 and claim 5, the heating unit comprises an electrical cord adapter enabling the heating unit to be electrically connected to a wall outlet. The cleaning liquid is heated to a preset temperature, and LED units indicate whether the cleaning liquid has reached a desired temperature. The floor cleaner can be used after the power cord is disconnected from a power source. Therefore, Garrett teaches the cleaning liquid can be pre-heated to a preset temperature by connecting the heating unit to household mains, and the cleaning apparatus can be operated after disconnecting the power cord from the household mains).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the surface cleaning apparatus of Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, and Cao to pre-heat the cleaning fluid by connecting it to the household mains as taught by Garrett. It would help the heating unit to heat the cleaning liquid quickly so that a user does not have to wait too long to begin cleaning operation.
Regarding claim 17, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 16, wherein the cleaning fluid applicator is positioned forward of the water collection container (see annotated Pruiett fig. 13 above, a steam manifold 170 [corresponds to the recited cleaning fluid applicator] is positioned forward of the collection chamber 152).
Regarding claim 18, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 16, wherein the surface cleaning head has an absence of a suction motor (Pruiett ¶ 0108, as discussed in claim 9 above, the base 16 does not have a suction motor. Instead, the rotating brushroll 92 can function like a fan that pressurizes a brush chamber and generates an air current).
Regarding claim 19, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 16, wherein, when the surface cleaning head is positioned on a floor, the rotatably mounted brush has a height that is essentially the height of the front end of the surface cleaning head (Pruiett, fig. 12, as discussed in claim 1 above, a height of the brushroll 92 is about a height of the base 16).
Regarding claim 20, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejection of claim 17, wherein a flow path from the drying member to the inlet of the water collection container is unobstructed (Pruiett, fig. 13, as discussed in claim 1 above, the water flows to an inlet of the collection chamber 152 from the rear wiper 140 without obstruction).
Claim 22 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pruiett in view of Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett, as applied to claim 16 above, and in further view of McRorie.
Regarding claim 22, Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett teaches the surface cleaning apparatus as in the rejections of claim 16 above, but does not disclose the drying member is a squeegee.
McRorie teaches, in an analogous surface cleaning apparatus field of endeavor, the drying member is a squeegee (fig. 17 and ¶ 0079, as discussed in claim 21, a floor cleaner comprises a brushroll 162 and a squeegee 226, positioned at rearward side of the brushroll, is configured to wipe liquid from the brushroll 162).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the drying member of Pruiett as modified by Thorne, Kohler, Cao, and Garrett to be the squeegee as taught by McRorie. The squeegee improves cleaning performance by drying the wet brushroll and minimizing fluid and debris travel back to the surface (McRorie ¶ 0076).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the rejections of claims 1 and 16 under 35 U.S.C. §103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Garrett.
Applicant argues Pruiett, Thorne, Cao, and Kohler do not teach or suggest the amended claim limitations that a heater pre-heats cleaning fluid to a temperature lower than the boiling temperature of the cleaning fluid and the new claim limitations that the heater pre-heats the cleaning fluid while a surface cleaning apparatus is electrically connected to household mains.
Examiner acknowledges Cao teaches a heater positioned internal of a surface cleaning head pre-heats cleaning fluid and then a pump device coveys the cleaning fluid to a cleaning part (Cao English translation, p. 9:12-16), but Cao does not teach about the temperature of the cleaning fluid, nor whether the pre-heating is done while a cleaner is electrically connected to household mains.
However, Garrett teaches a heating unit of a floor cleaning apparatus heats cleaning liquid to a preset temperature wherein the preset temperature is below the boiling temperature of the cleaning liquid (¶ 0042). The floor cleaning apparatus also has LED units for indicating whether the cleaning liquid has reached a desired temperature (¶ 0042). It allows the floor cleaning apparatus being used when the cleaning liquid is at the preset temperature.
Garrett also teaches the heating unit heats the cleaning liquid while it is electrically connected to a wall outlet (claim 5). Garrett further teaches the floor cleaning apparatus includes a rechargeable battery for operating the heating unit and dispensing the cleaning liquid when a power cord is not connected to a wall socket (¶ 0044). Therefore, Garrett teaches the cleaning liquid can be pre-heated while the cleaning apparatus is electrically connected to the household mains, and the floor cleaning apparatus can be used for cleaning the floor after disconnecting it from the household mains.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Miner et al. (US 7,228,589) discloses a floor cleaning apparatus comprising a heater used to pre-heat cleaning fluid to a temperature less than boiling temperature prior to delivery of the cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUKWOO JAMES CHANG whose telephone number is (571)272-7402. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00a-5:00p.
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/SUKWOO JAMES CHANG/Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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