87DETAILED 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 § 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) 20, 22-23, and 25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Paauwe et al. (11724930).
Regarding claim 20, Paauwe discloses a beverage dispensing system configured for receiving an exchangeable keg (3) comprising a closure (47) with a beverage outlet (49), an exchangeable dispensing line (35) having a dispensing end (32) and a keg connection end (45) for connecting to the beverage outlet, and an exchangeable valve (31) being connected to the dispensing end; wherein the system comprises: a beverage font assembly (1) for dispensing a beverage from the exchangeable keg, the beverage font assembly comprising a tapping head (29) configured for receiving the exchangeable valve; a body (5) defining a receptacle for receiving at least part of the exchangeable keg; and a lid (12) arranged to cover at least part of the exchangeable keg when the exchangeable keg is received in the receptacle; and the receptacle comprising a keg closure cavity (36) designed to accommodate the closure of the exchangeable keg, wherein the keg closure cavity is provided with a coupler (38) with a through-hole (44) for allowing passage of the exchangeable dispensing line (Fig. 3B), and wherein the through-hole is configured to receive the keg connection end of the exchangeable dispensing line in a sealing manner and align the keg connection end with the beverage outlet of the exchangeable keg (Fig. 3B).
Regarding claim 22, the lid is secured to the body using a pressure-resistant connection (see latching mechanism at 72 in Fig. 13), and wherein the body together with the lid defines a sealable enclosure serving as a pressure chamber for pressurizing the exchangeable keg inside the enclosure (Figs. 24A-24B).
Regarding claim 23, the exchangeable keg comprises a beverage filled bag inside an outer shell (col. 10, lines 18-21), the beverage filled bag and outer shell defining a space in between where pressurized fluid can be applied for pressurizing the exchangeable keg (Fig. 24B).
Regarding claim 25, the beverage font assembly is a beverage font assembly (1).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1-12 and 16-19 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art to the claimed invention is Paauwe et al.
Paauwe discloses a beverage font assembly (1) for dispensing a beverage, the beverage font assembly comprising: a tapping head (29) defining a valve cavity (the space covered by lid 72) for receiving an exchangeable valve (31) for controlling the flow of beverage through the tapping head, the tapping head comprising a first recess extending from the valve cavity to a side of the tapping head and opening towards at least the side of the tapping head (Fig. 13 shows valve, 31, and a dispensing line, 35, nested within a recess in the tap housing), wherein the tapping head comprises an applicator (70 and 71 of operating mechanism 30) for placing the exchangeable valve in the valve cavity, the applicator being sized and shaped to be slidably received in the first recess (Fig. 13), and the applicator being configured for having at least the exchangeable valve releasably attached thereto prior to insertion of the applicator into the first recess (the valve is replaceable, i.e. separate from the operating mechanism and its applicator; col. 12, lines 32-35; col. 19, lines 59-60).
Paauwe fails to teach or suggest wherein the tapping head comprises an applicator for placing the exchangeable valve in the valve cavity by inserting the applicator into the first recess.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DONNELL ALAN LONG whose telephone number is (571)270-5610. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8AM-5PM.
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/DONNELL A LONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754