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 .
Response to Amendment
This office action is in response to the amendment filed 06/17/2026. As directed by the amendment: claim 6 is amended. Applicant’s amendments to the claims have overcome the previous 112(b) rejection.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's request for reconsideration of the finality of the rejection of the last Office action is persuasive and, therefore, the finality of that action is withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 06/17/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-6 under 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Specifically that element 5 includes both elements 50 and 51 and therefore suction cover 51 is part of the manifold 5. However, upon further consideration, a new interpretation is made in view of Torimoto et al. (U.S. 2023/0193904).
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) 1-6, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Torimoto et al. (U.S. 2023/0193904).
Regarding claim 1, Torimoto discloses:
A cooling module comprising:
a pump (4, 51) configured to pressure-feed a fluid (see paragraphs 0054-0055)
a manifold (50, 22, 24) having an outer wall (24) on which an attachment surface for the pump (4, 51) is provided and including a fluid flow path (101a to 54) therein through which the fluid pressure-fed by the pump (4, 51) flows (see paragraphs 0027, 0036, and 0054)
wherein a discharge port (54) of the pump (4, 51) that is located inside the manifold (50, 22, 24) is separate from the outer wall (24) of the manifold 50, 22, 24 (see Figure 1)
Regarding claim 2, Torimoto discloses:
wherein the manifold (50, 22, 24) includes a flow path connection chamber (42) between the discharge port (54) and the fluid flow path 101a-54 (see Figure 1; see paragraph 0050)
Regarding claim 3, Torimoto discloses:
wherein an area of a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path connection chamber (42) along an axis of the discharge port (54) is larger than a flow path cross-sectional area of a suction port (101a) through which the fluid is sucked into the pump 4, 51 (see Figure 1)
Regarding claim 4, Torimoto discloses:
wherein the suction port (101a) is further provided inside the manifold 50, 22, 24 (see Figure 1)
Regarding claim 5, Torimoto discloses:
A cooling module comprising:
a pump (4, 51) configured to pressure-feed a fluid
a manifold (50, 22, 24) having an outer wall (24) on which an attachment surface for the pump (4, 51) is provided and including a fluid flow path (101a to 54) therein through which the fluid pressure-fed by the pump (4, 51) flows
wherein a discharge port (54) of the pump (4, 51) is provided inside the manifold 50, 22, 24 (see annotated figure above)
a discharge port (30) of the manifold (50, 22, 24) protrudes from the outer wall of the manifold 50, 22, 24 (see Figure 1)
Regarding claim 6, Torimoto discloses:
A cooling module comprising:
a pump (4, 51) configured to pressure-feed a fluid
a manifold (50, 22, 24) having an outer wall (24) on which an attachment surface for the pump (4, 51) is provided and including a fluid flow path (60) therein through which the fluid pressure-fed by the pump (4, 51) flows
wherein a discharge port (54) of the pump (4, 51) is provided inside the manifold 50, 22, 24
the manifold (50, 22, 24) includes a flow path connection chamber (inner 22b) between the discharge port (54) and the fluid flow path 60
the flow path connection chamber (inner 22b) is a separate chamber from both the discharge port (54) and the fluid flow path 60
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KELSEY E CARY whose telephone number is (571)272-9427. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors, Craig Schneider can be reached at (571)-272-3607 or Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881.. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KELSEY E CARY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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