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 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 1-5 and 8-20 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 claim 1, the claim recites “the flow of air” in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For examination purposes the claim is presumed to refer to a flow of air that is provided to the at least one heat exchanger and the energy storage device.
Regarding claims 2-5 and 8-20, the claims are rejected due to dependence from claim 1.
Regarding claims 4-5, the claims recite that the energy storage device is arranged downstream of the at least one heat exchanger, but the claims depend from claim 1 which recites that the storage device is arranged upstream from the heat exchanger. Thus the limitation is indefinite as it is unclear whether or not the storage device is arranged upstream or downstream from the heat exchanger.
As to claims 8-19, the claims recite that the energy storage device is located remotely from the flow of air, but the claims depend from claim 1 which recites that the energy storage device is arranged in the flow of air upstream from the heat exchanger. Thus the limitation is indefinite as it is unclear whether or not the storage device is in the flow of air or not.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
(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.
Claims 1-3 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ishizeki (US 2022/0363110).
As to claim 1, Ishizeki discloses an air conditioning system comprising:
a vapor compression cycle having a heat transfer fluid circulating between a compressor 2, an expansion device 73, and at least one heat exchanger 64; and
an energy storage device 55 selectively operable to supply power to the compressor 2 (paragraph 28);
wherein a flow of air is provided to the heat exchanger 64 to condition the heat transfer fluid and is also provided to the energy storage device 55 to cool the energy storage device 55 (paragraphs 39-40), wherein the energy storage device 55 is arranged upstream from the exchanger 64 relative to the flow of air (Fig. 1).
As to claim 2, the storage device 55 of Ishizeki is arranged within a flow path 68 such that the air directly cools the device 55 (Fig. 1).
As to claim 3, the storage device 55 of Ishizeki includes a housing with a flow channel for receiving the air (Fig. 1; paragraphs 37, 40, 56, 63, and 72).
As to claim 20, Ishizeki discloses the storage device 55 as a battery.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 5-9, filed 3/9/2026, with respect to the previously made claim rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, said rejections have been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made as set forth above.
Conclusion
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 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 JONATHAN BRADFORD whose telephone number is (571)270-5199. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:00 ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jerry-Daryl Fletcher can be reached at (571)270-5054. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JONATHAN BRADFORD/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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