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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This is responsive to the amendment filed 11/7/2025. Applicant amended claims 1 – 2, 8 – 9; clams 1 – 12 are pending in this application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 11/7/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant regarding US Patent Application Publication to Ito et al. (2022/0025990) argues the shaft is not coupled by “direct engagement” because the shaft is connected to the operating pin by a fixing pin. Examiner respectfully disagrees. Examiner for this office action is interpreting the “fixing pin” as part of the operating shaft thereby reading on all the limitations of the claimed subject matter.
Based on the foregoing the rejection of claims 1 and 12 are maintained and THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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.
Claims 1 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent Application Publication to Ito et al. (2022/0025990).
Examiner notes the reference has a parent application (JP 2020041660) with a publication date of 3/19/2020.
Regarding claim 1, Ito et al. disclose a spool (31, Fig. 1) operable to move in an axial direction of the spool to switch a liquid flow path or adjust a liquid flow rate; an operation pin (62, Fig. 1) connected to the spool and operable to rotate about a rotation axis of the operation pin as the spool moves in the axial direction; and an operation shaft (77, Fig. 2) operable to be moved along the rotation axis of the operation pin (62, Fig. 1) to be switched between a coupled state, in which the operation shaft (77, Fig. 2) is coupled by direct engagement – as interpreted above - to the operation pin (62, Fig. 1) and rotates together with the operation pin (62, Fig. 1), and an uncoupled state, in which the operation shaft (77, Fig. 2) is not coupled to the operation pin (62, Fig. 1) and supports – on one side - the operation pin (62, Fig. 2) such that the operation pin (62, Fig. 2) is rotatable, wherein the operation pin (62, Fig. 2) is operable to be rotated about the rotation axis such that the spool (31, Fig. 1) is moved when the operation shaft is rotated about the rotation axis in the coupled state.
Regarding claim 12, Ito et al. disclose an operation lever (64, Fig. 4A) connected to the operation shaft (77, Fig. 4A) to move the operation shaft (77, Fig. 4A) along the rotation axis; and a contact portion (65, 80 Fig. 4A) contacting the operation lever (64, Fig. 4A); wherein the operation lever (64, Fig. 4A) is operable to tilt with the contact portion as a fulcrum to move the operation shaft (77, Fig. 4A) along the rotation axis when the operation shaft (77, Fig. 4A) is coupled to the operation pin (62, Fig. 4A).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2 – 11 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
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to UMASHANKAR VENKATESAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5602. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner' s supervisors Craig Schneider can be reached at (571) 272-3607 or Ken Rinehart can be reached at (571) 272-4881. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/UMASHANKAR VENKATESAN/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753