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.
Claim 6 is 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.
The limitation of “a bottom surface” renders the claim unclear as if it is the same or different from “a bottom surface” of parent claim 1.
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) 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zerweck US 10,407,931 B2.
Re claim 1, Zerweck discloses an automatic swimming pool cleaner [figs. 1-3] comprising:
a housing [200, 110] comprising a top end 200 and a bottom end 110, wherein the housing defines a housing cavity having a bottom surface 110 opposite from the top end 200, wherein the housing is configured to receive a filter within the housing cavity between the top end and the bottom surface [“[a]n end user may easily grasp and lift (e.g., rotate about an unillustrated hinge) the liftable section 220 via an opening 222 included at the front end 202 of the cover 200 in order to access the interior space 160 (e.g., to remove and clean a filter installed in the pool cleaner 10).”]; and
a chassis 180, wherein the housing is attachable to and detachable from the chassis without the use of tools [see Abstract].
Re claim 2, wherein the chassis 180 comprises a chassis cavity [cavity defined by ends 182, 190, and sides 192, 194], wherein the housing comprises a body 200 and an engagement section [193 of upper chassis 200] extending downwardly from the body, and wherein the engagement section 193 of the housing is positionable within the chassis cavity such that the housing is removably attached to the chassis [fig. 3, “the intermediate chassis 180 may include openings configured to receive protrusions 193 included on the cover and the protrusions 193 included on the intermediate chassis 180 may engage the chassis openings 128”].
Re claim 3, wherein the chassis further comprises a first engagement feature [openings, see above claim 2] within the chassis cavity, wherein the housing comprises a second engagement feature 193 on the engagement section that is complimentary to the first engagement feature, and wherein the engagement section of the housing is positionable within the chassis cavity such that the first engagement feature selectively engages the second engagement feature.
Re claim 4, wherein one of the first engagement feature or the second engagement feature comprises a recess or a first rib [opening], and wherein the other one of the first engagement feature or the second engagement feature comprises a second rib [193].
Re claim 5, wherein the chassis comprises a chassis cavity [cavity defined by ends 182, 190, and sides 192, 194], wherein the housing comprises a housing cavity 110, and wherein the automatic swimming pool cleaner further comprises a motor block 340 positioned at least partially within the chassis cavity and extending at least partially into the housing cavity 110.
Re claim 6, wherein the housing cavity comprises a bottom surface 110 recessed relative to a top end 200 of the housing, wherein the bottom surface defines an aperture 152, and wherein the motor block 340 extends at least partially through the aperture 152 and into the housing cavity.
Re claim 7, a motor block 340 positioned at least partially in the chassis; and
a flow outlet 350 configured to attach to the motor block 340 such that at least a portion of the housing is retained between the motor block and the flow outlet [part of the housing is structurally between the motor block and flow outlet; NOTE: the claim does not require the retainment to have a structural element fixing the motor, the outlet and the housing].
Re claim 8, Zerweck discloses an automatic swimming pool cleaner [figs. 1-2] comprising:
a housing [200, 110], wherein the housing comprises a body 200 and an engagement section [193 of upper chassis 200] extending downwardly from the body 200; and
a chassis 180, wherein the housing is removably attached to the chassis [fig. 3, “the intermediate chassis 180 may include openings configured to receive protrusions 193 included on the cover and the protrusions 193 included on the intermediate chassis 180 may engage the chassis openings 128”].
wherein the chassis comprises a chassis cavity [cavity defined by ends 182, 190, and sides 192, 194], and wherein the engagement section of the housing 193 is positionable within the chassis cavity such that the housing is removably attached to the chassis
Re claim 9, wherein the chassis further comprises a first engagement feature [openings configured to receive protrusion 193 included on the cover, see above] within the chassis cavity, wherein the housing comprises a second engagement feature 193 on the engagement section that is complimentary to the first engagement feature, and wherein the engagement section of the housing is positionable within the chassis cavity such that the first engagement feature selectively engages the second engagement feature.
Re claim 10, wherein one of the first engagement feature or the second engagement feature comprises a recess or a first rib [openings], and wherein the other one of the first engagement feature or the second engagement feature comprises a second rib 193.
Re claim 11, a motor block 340 positioned at least partially within the chassis cavity [the cage part 350] and extending at least partially into the housing cavity 110.
Re claim 12, wherein the housing cavity [200, 110] comprises a bottom surface 110 recessed relative to a top end 200 of the housing, wherein the bottom surface defines an aperture 152, and wherein the motor block 340 extends at least partially through the aperture and into the housing cavity.
Re claim 13, a motor block 340 positioned at least partially in the chassis 180; and a flow outlet 350 configured to attach to the motor block 340 such that at least a portion of the housing [200, 110] is retained between the motor block and the flow outlet [the housing is structurally between the motor block and flow outlet; NOTE: the claim does not require the retainment to have a structural element fixing the motor, the outlet and the housing].
Re claim 14, Zerweck discloses an automatic swimming pool cleaner [figs. 1-2] comprising a housing 200, a chassis 110, and
a sub-assembly 340, wherein the housing is removably attached to the chassis 110, and
wherein attachment of the housing 200 to the chassis 110 holds the sub-assembly 340 on the chassis.
Re claim 15, wherein the sub-assembly comprises a battery block [“the motor assembly 300 allows for different types/sizes of motor, as well as any other component, to be assembled within the motor module, only subject to the space constraints within the pool cleaner 10. For example, an air tight bladder or battery could be connected to one of the receivers 342, 344 in order to provide additional ballast or power, respectively, within the pool cleaner 10.”].
Re claim 16, wherein the housing 200 is removably attached to the sub-assembly 340 [through the chassis].
Re claim 17, wherein the sub-assembly 340 is positioned at least partially within the chassis 110.
Re claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the sub-assembly 340 is retained between the housing 200 and the chassis 110.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Carlos A. Rivera whose telephone number is (571)270-5697. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM -4PM.
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 supervisor, Brian Keller can be reached at (571) 272-8548. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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C. A. R.
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 3723
/C. A. RIVERA/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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