DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 18/832,920 - TOILET SEAT BODY AND TOILET, filed on 7/24/24. Claims 1-20 are pending.
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
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) 1-4, 6-7, 11 and 13-24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nakamura et al. (US 6,145,138).
Regarding Claim 1 Nakamura shows a toilet seat body (Figs. 9-11), provided with a bowl cavity (1); wherein the bowl cavity comprises a water inlet part (at 17), a flow guide part (at 10, 16), and a sewage discharge part (23) connected sequentially (Fig. 9); the water inlet part is provided with a brush ring water outlet (flush water outlet openings 4 and 5) and the sewage discharge part is provided with a sewage discharge port (at diaphragm 28); the water inlet part is located at a top part of the bowl cavity (Fig. 9, the water inlet part is at least partially configured as a rimless area (Figs. 9-11 & Figs. 2 & 8) , and the rimless area is smoothly connected with the flow guide part (Fig. 10).
Regarding Claim 2 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the water inlet part is configured as a rimmed area (projection 17; Fig. 9), and the brush ring water outlet is provided in the rimmed area (Fig. 9).
Regarding Claim 3 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 2, wherein the water inlet part comprises: a flow channel part (shown at 15, 16; Figs. 9 & 10) comprising a recess part (shown at 4 and 5; Fig. 10) and a smooth part shown at 15 & 16), wherein the brush ring water outlet is provided in the recess part (Fig. 9-10), the recess part and the smooth part are connected in a circumferential direction of the bowl cavity (Fig. 10), and form at least a part of a brush ring water channel (at 10 and 16) communicated with the brush ring water outlet (Fig. 8); and an extension part (17) connected to an upper end of the flow channel part (Figs. 9-11); wherein a portion of the extension part located directly above the recess part (Fig. 9) and the recess part enclose a groove (groove at 4), and said portion and the recess part jointly form the rimmed area (Fig. 9); a portion of the extension part located directly above the smooth part is smoothly connected with the smooth part, and said portion and the smooth part jointly form the rimless area (Figs. 9 & 10).
Regarding Claim 4 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 3, wherein in a water flow direction of the brush ring water outlet, a depth of the groove in a radial direction of the bowl cavity is gradually reduced, so that at least one end of the recess part is smoothly connected with the smooth part in the circumferential direction of the bowl cavity (the groove at 4 is no longer present at 16, so it necessarily reduces in depth).
Regarding Claim 6 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 3, wherein the smooth part is provided as a curved surface sunken outward along a radial direction of the bowl cavity (Fig. 10).
Regarding Claim 7 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 2, wherein a size of the rimless area in a circumferential direction of the water inlet part is greater than a size of the rimmed area in the circumferential direction of the water inlet part (Fig. 10).
Regarding Claim 11 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 4, wherein the smooth part is provided as a curved surface sunken outward along a radial direction of the bowl cavity (Fig. 10).
Regarding Claim 13 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 3, wherein a size of the rimless area in a circumferential direction of the water inlet part is greater than a size of the rimmed area in the circumferential direction of the water inlet part (Fig. 10).
Regarding Claim 14 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 4, wherein a size of the rimless area in a circumferential direction of the water inlet part is greater than a size of the rimmed area in the circumferential direction of the water inlet part (Fig. 10).
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.
Claim(s) 8-9, 16-18 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura et al. (US 6,145,138) in view of Weiss (EP 3 444 408 A1) in view of Yang (US Pub. 2021/0198882).
Regarding Claim 8 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 1, but fails to show wherein the toilet seat body is further provided with an installation cavity, the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side; the installation cavity is provided with a space for installing a sewage discharge box assembly, the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe, the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port and is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port; wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface. However, Weiss shows a toilet seat body (1) that is further provided with an installation cavity (3), the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side (Fig. 1); the installation cavity is provided with a space (Fig. 3 at 7, 8) for installing a sewage discharge box assembly (7, 8), the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe (7), the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port (8) and wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface (at 2).
Turning now to Yang. Yang shows a sewage discharge port (40, 41) that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port (at 40). Yang details to sewage discharge port is capable of rotating for controlling the flow in the drain (¶ [0019]). 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 Nakamura to include an installation cavity arrange side by side to the bowl cavity and a sewage discharge cavity with a sewage discharge port that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port for the purpose of providing an compact design for the toilet and for controlling the flow in the sewer discharge part as shown by Weiss and Yang.
Regarding Claim 9 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 8, wherein the area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a sloped surface smoothly connected with the sewage discharge part (10 to 18; Fig. 9).
Regarding Claim 16 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 2, but fails to show wherein the toilet seat body is further provided with an installation cavity, the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side; the installation cavity is provided with a space for installing a sewage discharge box assembly, the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe, the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port and is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port; wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface. However, Weiss shows a toilet seat body (1) that is further provided with an installation cavity (3), the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side (Fig. 1); the installation cavity is provided with a space (Fig. 3 at 7, 8) for installing a sewage discharge box assembly (7, 8), the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe (7), the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port (8) and wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface (at 2).
Turning now to Yang. Yang shows a sewage discharge port (40, 41) that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port (at 40). Yang details to sewage discharge port is capable of rotating for controlling the flow in the drain (¶ [0019]). 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 Nakamura to include an installation cavity arrange side by side to the bowl cavity and a sewage discharge cavity with a sewage discharge port that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port for the purpose of providing an compact design for the toilet and for controlling the flow in the sewer discharge part as shown by Weiss and Yang.
Regarding Claim 17 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 3, but fails to show wherein the toilet seat body is further provided with an installation cavity, the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side; the installation cavity is provided with a space for installing a sewage discharge box assembly, the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe, the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port and is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port; wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface. However, Weiss shows a toilet seat body (1) that is further provided with an installation cavity (3), the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side (Fig. 1); the installation cavity is provided with a space (Fig. 3 at 7, 8) for installing a sewage discharge box assembly (7, 8), the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe (7), the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port (8) and wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface (at 2).
Turning now to Yang. Yang shows a sewage discharge port (40, 41) that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port (at 40). Yang details to sewage discharge port is capable of rotating for controlling the flow in the drain (¶ [0019]). 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 Nakamura to include an installation cavity arrange side by side to the bowl cavity and a sewage discharge cavity with a sewage discharge port that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port for the purpose of providing an compact design for the toilet and for controlling the flow in the sewer discharge part as shown by Weiss and Yang.
Regarding Claim 18 Nakamura shows the toilet seat body according to claim 4, but fails to show wherein the toilet seat body is further provided with an installation cavity, the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side; the installation cavity is provided with a space for installing a sewage discharge box assembly, the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe, the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port and is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port; wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface. However, Weiss shows a toilet seat body (1) that is further provided with an installation cavity (3), the installation cavity and the bowl cavity are arranged side by side (Fig. 1); the installation cavity is provided with a space (Fig. 3 at 7, 8) for installing a sewage discharge box assembly (7, 8), the sewage discharge box assembly comprises a sewage discharge pipe (7), the sewage discharge pipe is provided to communicate with the sewage discharge port (8) and wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface (at 2).
Turning now to Yang. Yang shows a sewage discharge port (40, 41) that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port (at 40). Yang details to sewage discharge port is capable of rotating for controlling the flow in the drain (¶ [0019]). 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 Nakamura to include an installation cavity arrange side by side to the bowl cavity and a sewage discharge cavity with a sewage discharge port that is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port for the purpose of providing an compact design for the toilet and for controlling the flow in the sewer discharge part as shown by Weiss and Yang.
Regarding Claim 20 Nakamura shows toilet seat body according to claim 16, wherein the area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a sloped surface smoothly connected with the sewage discharge part (10 to 18; Fig. 9).
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura et al. (US 6,145,138) in view of Halloran et al. (US Pub. 2020/0277775).
Regarding Claim 10 Nakamura shows a toilet, comprising the toilet seat body according to claim 1, but fails to show a brush ring assembly installed to the brush ring water outlet. However, Halloran shows a brush ring assembly (100; nozzle assembly) installed in a brush ring water outlet (50). 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 Nakamura to include a brush ring assembly installed to the brush ring water outlet for creating velocity for swirl and bowl cavity cleaning as shown by Halloran.
sewage discharge port and is capable of rotating relative to the sewage discharge port; wherein an area of the flow guide part opposite to the sewage discharge port is provided as a closed wall surface.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5, 12, 15 and 19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Derksen (US Pub. 2019/0153713) shows a similar toilet device; Stammel (US Pub. 2020/0284016) shows a similar toilet device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 3/5/2026