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 .
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.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 2 August 2024, 21 Oct 2024, 20 Nov 2024, 2 May 2025, 15 Sept 2025, 3 March 2026 were filed in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
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 1-8 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the cooling fluid" in lines 8, 10 and 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the cooling fluid" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the cooling fluid" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the second supply coupling" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the cooling fluid" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the first cartridge" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the second cartridge" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims not specifically referenced are rejected as being dependent on a rejected base claim.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 3-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Vancelette et al (US 20080027422).
Regarding Claim 1, Vancelette et al disclose a manifold (112). The manifold comprising:
a first outlet port (see Annotated Figure A) with a first normally-closed outlet valve (¶ 16);
a second outlet port (see Annotated Figure A) with a second normally-closed outlet valve (¶ 16);
a first inlet port (see Annotated Figure A) with a first normally-closed inlet valve (¶ 16);
a second inlet port (see Annotated Figure A) with a second normally-closed inlet valve (¶ 16);
a manifold inlet (124); and
a single supply conduit (113) fluidly coupled between the manifold inlet and both the first outlet port and the second outlet port to supply the cooling fluid1 to both the first outlet port and the second outlet port (Figure 2);
wherein the manifold is arranged to hold the cooling fluid2 within the single supply conduit until the first outlet port is opened via a first supply coupling (to 114), after which the cooling fluid3 is permitted to pass through the single supply conduit and out through the first outlet port (to 114).
PNG
media_image1.png
433
379
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Annotated Figure A - Vancelette et al
Regarding Claim 3, Vancelette et al disclose where the single supply conduit includes separate branches for respectively supplying the cooling fluid to the first outlet port and the second outlet port (see Annotated Figure A).
Regarding Claim 4, Vancelette et al disclose where the manifold is further arranged to permit the cooling fluid to pass out through the second outlet port in response to the second supply coupling connecting to the second outlet port (to 114; Figure 2).
Regarding Claim 5, Vancelette et al disclose where a manifold outlet (126) and a single return conduit (Figure 2) fluidly coupled between the manifold outlet and both the first inlet port and the second inlet port to receive the cooling fluid from both the first inlet port and the second inlet port (see Annotated Figure A).
Regarding Claim 6, Vancelette et al disclose where the first outlet port and the first inlet port are arranged in a first pair for simultaneously receiving a first single cartridge (see Annotated Figure A with cartridge 132 of Figure 3), and wherein the second outlet port and the second inlet port are arranged in a second pair (see Annotated Figure A) for simultaneously receiving a second single cartridge (another of 132 of Figure 3).
Regarding Claim 7, Vancelette et al disclose where when the first cartridge is connected to the first pair, the first normally-closed outlet valve is in an open position (¶ 17 via quick disconnect coupling).
Regarding Claim 8, Vancelette et al disclose where when the second cartridge is connected to the second pair, the second normally-closed outlet valve is in an open position (¶ 17 via quick disconnect coupling).
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.
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) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vancelette et al (US 20080027422) in view of Schennum et al (US 5842682).
Regarding Claim 2, Vancelette et al disclose all essential elements of the current invention as discussed above but fails to expressly disclose where the first normally-closed outlet valve, the second normally-closed outlet valve, the first normally-closed inlet valve, and the second normally-closed inlet valve are umbrella valves or duckbill valves.
Schennum et al teach a connect disconnect structure with a valve (Figures 3-5) where the valve is an umbrella valve (5 in Figures 3 and 5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the valve of Vancelette et al with the umbrella valve as taught by Schennum et al for the advantage of combining prior art elements according to known methods (the valve of Schennum et al within the system of Vancelette et al) to yield predictable results (to close and open the inlets and outlets of the manifold).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NICOLE GARDNER whose telephone number is (571)270-0144. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8AM-4PM EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors, KENNETH RINEHART (571-272-4881) or CRAIG SCHNEIDER (571-272-3607) can be reached by telephone. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/NICOLE GARDNER/
Examiner, Art Unit 3753
1 The recitation of the actual fluid handled has been given no patentable weight in the apparatus claims, MPEP 2115.
2 The recitation of the actual fluid handled has been given no patentable weight in the apparatus claims, MPEP 2115.
3 The recitation of the actual fluid handled has been given no patentable weight in the apparatus claims, MPEP 2115.
Prosecution Insights