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 § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 1-2, 6-12, and 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KR10-2021-0027090, hereinafter referred to as “’090”.
Re Claims 1 and 15, ‘090 teaches a washing machine comprising: a cabinet 110; a tub 112 disposed in the cabinet; and a detergent supplier 200 configured to supply detergent to the tub; wherein the detergent supplier comprises: a detergent container 210 or 251; and a detergent pump 231 dockable with the detergent container, comprising: a first case including a detector 260 having at least a portion located within the detergent container, an inlet portion formed to allow detergent to be introduced from the detergent container and an outlet portion formed to allow the detergent introduced through the inlet portion to be discharged, a second case 270 couplable the first case, the second case including a terminal electrically connectable (via 272) to the detector; and a pump configured to draw in detergent through the inlet portion and discharge the drawn-in detergent through the outlet portion (goes right then left). See Fig, 15.
Re Claim 2, the detergent pump includes a pump connector 272a electrically connected to the terminal and mounted on the pump. See Figs. 9A-9B.
Re Claim 6, the detector is expected to detect the detergent as that is the function of the detector.
Re Claims 9-10, the detergent supplier includes a housing 210d having an opening (top face) that allows the detergent container 251 to be inserted and removed, and the detergent pump is mounted on the housing. See Fig. 8a. The detergent is expected to be discharged through the outlet portion.
Re Claim 11, the terminal includes at least one support protrusion protruding from an inner circumferential surface (where 271 points to and 272, Fig. 9a(b)) and the at least one support protrusion to contact the detector to conduct current to the detector via 262a.
Re Claim 12, the detergent container includes a detection hole 221a to allow the detector to pass through, and the detergent pump includes a hole sealer (reads on 231a) configured to seal the detection hole. Re Claims 7-8, this reads on the passage sealer, and he guide and connection portion read on 221a and the connecting part.
Re Claim 14, 280 reads on the terminal mounting portion, and the terminal support portion reads on the sides of 272.
Re Claims 3 and 13, the pump is expected to have a motor and connector to provide motive force and operate it.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KR10-2021-0027090, hereinafter referred to as “’090”.
‘090 is relied upon as applied to the claims above.
In the event that the above claims are not found to be anticipated, they are rejected as unpatentable because it appears that the structure and functions are taught by ‘090 as described above.
Claims 4-5 and are further directed toward a pump wire and sensing wire and it is not clear whether the “pump motor” is explicitly taught by ‘090. However, it is both well known and obvious to provide a motor and to connect it electrically to operate it using wires. Furthermore, 262a appears to be a wire fixing portion, and the detector insertion portion is shown in Figs. 8b(b) and 9b(b).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing to modify the washing machine as taught by ‘090 and to provide a pump wire and sensing wire to connect the pump and to detect detergent and dispense it as already taught by ‘090.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON Y KO whose telephone number is (571)270-7451. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00-6:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Barr can be reached at 571-270-1414. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JASON Y. KO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1711
/JASON Y KO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711