DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
This action is in response to the application 18/826,332 filed 9/6/2024 which claims benefit of 63/599,174 11/15/2023.
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.
Claims 1-3, 5, 7-14, and 16-18 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cheng (US 2010/0289302 A1)(hereinafter Cheng).
RE Claim 1: Cheng discloses an assembly (Fig 3) comprising:
a plurality of fluid bladders (30) including at least a first fluid bladder (see annotated Fig 3 below) and a second fluid bladder (see annotated Fig 3 below);
a fluid manifold (Fig 3) in fluid communication with the plurality of bladders (30), wherein the fluid manifold includes at least a first passage (see annotated Fig 3 below) and a second passage (see annotated Fig 3 below);
a first port fluidly connecting the first fluid bladder to the first passage (where 47 attaches to first fluid bladder 30);
a second port fluidly connecting the second fluid bladder to the first passage (47 between second fluid bladder 30 and first passage);
a third port fluidly connecting the second fluid bladder to the second passage (vertical tube between the first and second passage, upper portion above 43)(in fluid mechanics tubes can be considered ports as they are connections for components on manifolds); and
a first check valve (43) positioned in the second passage, wherein the first check valve is moveable between a first position where fluid enters the third port and inflates the second fluid bladder (para 0030-0034), and a second position where fluid is directed through the third port to a vent (labeled in annotated Fig 3 below)(para 0030-0034).
RE Claim 12: Cheng discloses a seat assembly (Figs 3-4) comprising:
a seat component (Fig 4) comprising an exterior facing surface (part which a user’s back and bottom rest against),
a plurality of fluid bladders (30) associated with the exterior facing surface (Fig 4), the plurality of fluid bladders including at least a first fluid bladder and a second fluid bladder (see annotated Fig 3);
a fluid manifold (Fig 3) fluidly connecting a fluid supply source (42) with the plurality of bladders (30), wherein the fluid manifold includes at least a first passage (see annotated Fig 3) and a second passage (see annotated Fig 3);
a valve assembly fluidly connecting the fluid supply source to the fluid manifold (where 42 attaches to second passage);
a first port fluidly connecting the first fluid bladder to the first passage (where 47 attaches to first fluid bladder 30);
a second port fluidly connecting the second fluid bladder to the first passage (47 between second fluid bladder 30 and first passage);
a third port fluidly connecting the second fluid bladder to the second passage (vertical tube between the first and second passage, upper portion above 43)(in fluid mechanics tubes can be considered ports as they are connections for components on manifolds); and
a first check valve (43) positioned in the second passage, wherein the first check valve is moveable between a first position where fluid enters the third port and inflates the second fluid bladder (para 0030-0034), and a second position where fluid is directed through the third port to a vent (labeled in annotated Fig 3 below)(para 0030-0034); and
one or more controllers (41) selectively controlling the valve assembly between the first position and the second position (using info from stress sensors 20).
RE Claims 2 and 13: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1 (and 12),
including a fourth port fluidly connecting the first fluid bladder to the second passage (where 47 extending from first fluid bladder 30 connects to the second passage)(in fluid mechanics tubes can be considered ports as they are connections for components on manifolds),
wherein the first check valve (43) is positioned in the second passage between the third port and the fourth port (43 on 47).
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Annotated Fig 3
RE Claims 3 and 14: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1 (and 12),
wherein the first check valve is in the first position during an inflation condition for the first fluid bladder and the second fluid bladder (para 0031-0033), and
wherein the first check valve is in the second position during a deflation condition for the first fluid bladder and the second fluid bladder (para 0031-0033).
RE Claim 5: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1, including:
a fluid supply source (42);
a valve assembly fluidly connecting the fluid supply source to the fluid manifold (where 42 attaches to second passage); and
one or more controllers (41) selectively controlling the valve assembly between the first position and the second position (using info from stress sensors 20).
RE Claim 7: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 5,
including a connecting passage fluidly connecting the vale assembly to the first passage and the second passage (all in fluid communication with each other; Fig 3).
RE Claims 8 and 16: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1 (and 12),
wherein the plurality of bladders includes at least a third bladder (see annotated Fig 3), and further including:
a fifth port fluidly connecting the third fluid bladder to the first passage (tube 47 which connects third bladder 30 to first passage);
a sixth port fluidly connecting the third fluid bladder to the second passage (portion of 47 which connects to second passage) ; and
a second check valve (43 on corresponding 47) positioned in the second passage between the third port and the sixth port, the second check valve being moveable between a first position where fluid enters the sixth port and inflates the third fluid bladder, and a second position where fluid is directed through the sixth port to the vent (para 0031-0033).
RE Claims 9 and 17: The assembly of claim 8 (and claim 16),
wherein the plurality of bladders includes at least a fourth bladder (another one of 30 on the left side), and further including:
a seventh port fluidly connecting the fourth fluid bladder to the first passage (where 30 connects to respective 47);
an eighth port fluidly connecting the fourth fluid bladder to the second passage (all of 30, 47, connected fluidly to those identified in annotated Fig 3, claim does not require direct connection); and
a third check valve (respective 43) positioned in the second passage between the sixth port and the eighth port, the third check valve being moveable between a first position where fluid enters the eighth port and inflates the fourth fluid bladder, and a second position where fluid is directed through the eighth port to the vent (para 0031-0033).
RE Claims 10 and 18: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1 (and 12),
wherein the plurality of fluid bladders including the first fluid bladder and the second fluid bladder comprise a first set of fluid bladders, and wherein the fluid manifold includes a third passage, and further (on left side of Fig 3) including:
a second set of fluid bladders (30 on left side of Fig 3) comprising at least a third fluid bladder and a fourth fluid bladder, the second set of fluid bladders being in a parallel fluid flow arrangement with the first set of fluid bladders (Fig 3);
a fourth port fluidly connecting the third fluid bladder to the third passage (Fig 3);
a fifth port fluidly connecting the fourth fluid bladder to the third passage; a sixth port fluidly connecting the fourth fluid bladder to the second passage (Fig 3); and
wherein, when the first check valve is in the first position, where fluid enters the third port and the sixth port and inflates the second fluid bladder and the fourth fluid bladder, and when the first check valve is in the second position, fluid is directed through the third port and the sixth port to the vent (para 0031-0033).
RE Claim 11: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1,
including a seat component (Fig 4) comprising an exterior facing surface (part which a user’s back and bottom rest against), and wherein the first fluid bladder and the second fluid bladder are positioned adjacent to the exterior facing surface (Fig 4).
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.
Claims 4 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cheng.
RE Claims 4 and 15: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 1 (and 12).
Regarding the following limitation: “wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the first port is greater than a cross-sectional flow area of the second port.”
However, 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 device of Cheng such that a cross-sectional flow area of the first port is greater than a cross-sectional flow area, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges only involve routine skill in the art. See MPEP 2144.05 (II) Routine Optimization citing In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955). This would be done to ensure uniformity of flow throughout the system manifold.
Claims 6 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cheng as applied to claims 5 and 18 above, and further in view of Scott (US 4,938,528)(hereinafter Scott).
RE Claims 6 and 19: Cheng discloses the assembly of claim 5 and 18.
Cheng does not explicitly teach wherein the valve assembly comprises a single three position valve.
However, Scott teaches a seat assembly with an inflatable bladder (analogous art).
Scott further teaches wherein the valve assembly comprises a single three position valve (64).
Therefore, 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 device of Cheng in view of Scott such that the valve is a single three position valve as taught by Scott for the advantages of managing air flow.
RE Claim 20: Cheng as modified discloses the seat assembly of claim 19,
Cheng further discloses including a connecting passage fluidly connecting the valve assembly to the first passage, the second passage, and the third passage (all of the manifold is fluidly connected)(Fig 3).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See attached PTO-892.
These documents present alternative designs similar in scope which illustrate relevant features in comparison to the Applicant’s submission. The cited prior art include various fluid flow assemblies in seats with bladders, ports, valves, and controls.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARIA E GRABER whose telephone number is (571)272-4640. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Timothy D Collins can be reached on 571-272-6886. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARIA E GRABER/Examiner, Art Unit 3644
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