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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 8 November, 2024 is being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “52” has been used to designate both plate and component cover on Figure 6. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
A broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, claim 1 recites the broad recitation the support bearing at least one component , and the claim 9 also recites the support bearing at least one of the following components which could be a valve or a pump or a non-return valve or a throttle valve or a plate exchanger or a condensation exchanger or an electrical heating resistor or a desiccant bottle or a filter which is the narrower statement of the range/limitation. The claim(s) are considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims.
Claim Interpretation
Examiner is interpreting the components of claim 9 as separate from the valve or pump of claim 1 in the interest of compact prosecution.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1- 4,9-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §102 (a) (2) as being anticipated by OH et al. (US-20210053415-A1-published 25 February, 2021).
As to claim 1, OH discloses a cooling module (Paragraph 49, integrated thermal management module) comprising: a support (Formed by coupling of the First portion-M1 and second portion-M2) comprising at least one channel for the flow of a heat-transfer fluid (Paragraph 55 mentions module with upper plate and lower plate forming a first portion M1, and a flow path forming between the upper plate and lower plate),
wherein the support bearing at least one component with a fluidic function (P1-P4, V1-V7), wherein the one component with a fluidic function comprises a valve or a pump (Paragraphs 63-67 mentions pumps P1-P4, and valves V1-V5, V7 with a fluidic function that is supported by the first portion M1);
a box (M2) for distribution of the heat-transfer fluid (Paragraph 56 mentions a space formed in the second portion M2 which houses components for distribution of heat transfer fluid),
wherein the box is configured to accommodate at least one heat-exchange component distinct from the component with a fluidic function, and is designed for circulation of a coolant fluid (Paragraph 56 mentions M2 as a space where refrigerant line, first heat exchanger, second heat exchanger may be mounted therein),
wherein the box is designed to permit within its interior an exchange of heat between the heat-transfer fluid and the coolant fluid (M2 is designed to permit heat exchange within its interior through the heat exchangers present inside the space),
wherein the box is formed at least partly by the support (Box-M2 is part of the support which is assembled as a single module by coupling with the first portion M1).
As to claim 2, OH teaches the limitations of claim 1, OH further discloses the cooling module, wherein the support (M1 +M2) comprises a first plate (U) and a second plate (D) assembled to one another in order to define the channel, wherein the plates are joined and forming together a circumference of the channel (Paragraphs 55-57).
As to claim 3, OH teaches the limitations of claim 2, OH further discloses the cooling module, wherein the channel is formed by a first cavity of the first plate and/or a second cavity of the second plate (Paragraph 57).
As to claim 4, OH teaches the limitations of claim 1, OH further discloses the cooling module, wherein the support comprises a single plate designed to bear the component(s) (Claim 3).
As to claim 9, OH teaches the limitations of claim 1, OH further discloses the cooling module, wherein the support is provided with two assembled plates (U-upper plate and D-lower plate, paragraph 56) or a single plate, bears at least one of the following components:
a pump to pump the heat-transfer fluid;
a valve for orientation of the heat-transfer fluid (Paragraph 53 mentions pumps P1, P2, P3, P4 along with valves V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7 are configured in a single module to be compactly arranged and may be modularized to be integrally coupled).
As to claim 10, OH teaches the limitations of claim 1, OH further discloses a heat-transfer fluid circuit of a heat pump, comprising the cooling module (Figure 5 illustrates the heat transfer fluid circuit of a heat pump).
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.
Claim(s) 5-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103 as being unpatentable over OH et al. (US-20210053415-A1-published 25 February, 2021), and further in view of, WU et al. (US-20230032094-A1-published 2 February, 2023).
As to claim 5, OH teaches the limitations of claim 1, OH further discloses the cooling module, wherein the box (M2)See Annotated Figure OH),
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Lateral wall, with a periphery, wherein the periphery is globally rectangular)]
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Annotated Figure (OH)
OH, however, does not disclose that the lateral wall
However, WU teaches the lateral wall comprising a network of reinforcement ribs, wherein the network of ribs comprising ribs which intersect perpendicularly, the reinforcement ribs is provided to improve the impact resistance of the heat exchanger and improve the service life (See Annotated Figure WU 1 and WU 2, Paragraph 29).
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Network of reinforcement ribs, wherein the network of ribs comprising ribs which intersect perpendicularly)]
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Annotated Figure (WU 1)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify OH, to incorporate the network of reinforcement ribs which intersect perpendicularly to the box- comprising a lateral wall, with a periphery, wherein the periphery is globally rectangular, in order to improve the impact resistance and the service life of the cooling module.
As to claim 6, OH modified by WU teaches the limitations of claim 5, WU further discloses the cooling module, wherein the lateral wall with the support a first plate of the support, wherein the first plate forming a base of the box (Paragraph 26 mentions bottom plate 211 and the four side plates 212 are arranged and connected end to end in sequence, See Annotated Figure WU 2).
OH modified by WU, however, does not teach that the lateral wall is produced integrally with the support.
While OH modified by WU, as stated above, does not provide that the lateral wall is produced integrally with the support, one having ordinary skill in the art would have found producing the lateral wall integrally with the support entirely obvious absent present persuasive evidence that the particular production of the structure is significant. (See MPEP §2144.04 V (B)). Looking at the specification of the present invention, it is recited, “According to one of the aspects of the invention, the box comprises a lateral wall, with a periphery which in particular is globally rectangular, this wall being produced integrally with the support, in particular with the first plate, this plate forming a base of the box”. The specification fails to provide why the lateral wall being produced integrally with the support is critical, and therefore the formation of the box by lateral wall being produced integrally with the support is a matter of design choice, therefore one having ordinary skill in the art would have found it obvious, prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify OH as modified by WU, to incorporate the lateral wall being produced integrally with the support, without any new or unexpected results directed to an outcome of the claimed shape, has not placed any criticality thereon.
[AltContent: arrow]As to claim 7, OH modified by WU teaches the limitations of claim 6, WU further discloses the cooling module, wherein the lateral wall comprises a free rim designed to receive a cover (1, See Annotated Figure WU 2).
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Free rim designed to receive a cover 1)][AltContent: textbox (Cover)][AltContent: textbox (211 plate forming base of the box)]
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Annotated Figure (WU 2)
As to claim 8, OH modified by WU teaches the limitations of claim 5, OH further teaches the cooling module, wherein the lateral wall of the box is added on and secured on the support (See Annotated Figure OH, Paragraph 56 mentions that the second portion box- M2 which has lateral wall is coupled with first portion M1 which implies that the lateral wall of the box is added on and secured on the support).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BIGYAN BHATTACHAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8767. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 5 PM.
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, Len Tran can be reached at (571) 272-1184. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BIGYAN BHATTACHAN/
Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/LEN TRAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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