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 .
This is the first office action for application number 18/869,624, CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FOR WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER ASSEMBLY, AND WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER ASSEMBLY, filed on November 26, 2024.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because the lead line for reference character "200" in Figs. 1, 6, 9, 12, and 13 is not correct, see 37 CFR 1.84(q) for lead lines and their usage. 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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: "1022" in Fig. 6. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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 § 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) 18-20, 27, and 30-37 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chinese Publication No. 117190291 to Lei et al., hereinafter, Lei. Lei discloses a connection assembly comprising: a lock member (54) movable between a first position, at which the lock member locks an indoor unit body (1 & 4) of a window air conditioner (100) of a window air conditioner assembly and a mounting unit (3) of a mounting support of the window air conditioner assembly, and a second position, at which the lock member releases locking of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; and an elastic member (53) configured to apply an elastic force to the lock member in a direction in which the lock member moves toward the first position; wherein: the lock member and the elastic member are configured to be arranged at one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; the connection assembly includes a connector (51 & 52) configured to be connected to another one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; and the lock member is separably engaged with the connector; wherein the connector has a lock hole (51); and the lock member is configured to pass through the lock hole when the lock member is at the first position, to restrict a relative movement between the indoor unit body and the mounting unit in a radial direction of the lock hole; further comprising: a connector (52) configured to be connected to one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; wherein the lock member and the elastic member are arranged at the connector; another one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit has a lock hole; and the lock member is configured to pass through the lock hole when the lock member is at the first position, to restrict a relative movement between the indoor unit body and the mounting unit in a radial direction of the lock hole.
In regards to claims 30-34, Lei discloses a connection assembly comprising: an elastic snap fastener (53) configured to be arranged at one of an indoor unit body (1 & 4) of a window air conditioner (100) of a window air conditioner assembly and a mounting unit (3) of window air conditioner assembly, and snap with another one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit to lock the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; wherein the elastic snap fastener includes: a hook member (52) located at a free end of the elastic snap fastener; and an elastic member (532); a window air conditioner assembly comprising: a window air conditioner (100) including an indoor unit body (101); a mounting support (3) including a mounting unit, the indoor unit body being arranged at the mounting unit; wherein the mounting unit has a snap hole (51) formed at a transverse side of the mounting unit; and the elastic snap fastener is arranged at the indoor unit body and snapped at an edge of the snap hole; and wherein the mounting unit has an insertion engagement hole formed at a side of the mounting unit facing the indoor unit body; and the elastic snap fastener passes through the insertion engagement hole.
In regards to claims 35-37, Lei discloses a window air conditioner assembly comprising: a window air conditioner (100) including an indoor unit body (1 & 4); a mounting support (3) including a mounting unit, the indoor unit body being arranged at the mounting unit; and a connection assembly configured to lock the indoor unit body and the mounting unit, and including a lock member (53) movable between a first position, at which the lock member locks an indoor unit body of a window air conditioner of a window air conditioner assembly and a mounting unit of a mounting support of the window air conditioner assembly, and a second position, at which the lock member releases locking of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; and an elastic member (532) configured to apply an elastic force to the lock member in a direction in which the lock member moves toward the first position; wherein the lock member and the elastic member are configured to be arranged at one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; the connection assembly includes a connector (52) configured to be connected to another one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit; and the lock member is separably engaged with the connector; and wherein the connector has a lock hole (51); and the lock member is configured to pass through the lock hole when the lock member is at the first position, to restrict a relative movement between the indoor unit body and the mounting unit in a radial direction of the lock hole.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 21-26 and 28 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the limitations of the connector having an insertion engagement space having an insertion engagement opening to allow the insertion engagement space to accommodate one of the indoor unit body and the mounting unit, cited in dependent claim 21 an in combination with the other elements cited in the claim along with the base claim and any intervening claims, which is not found in the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. U.S. patent No. 12,546,509 to Surwillo et al. is directed to an adjustable bracket for a window air conditioner, the bracket having a support member including an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2025/0341319 to Lei et al. is directed to a window air conditioner including an outdoor unit body, an indoor unit component, and a connection support. U.S. Patent no. 12,234,999 to Gray et al. is directed to a window mounted air conditioning unit having an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a bridge. U.S. Patent 12,235,013 to Gray is directed to an adjustable bracket for a window air conditioning unit having a base, and indoor portion, and an outdoor portion. U.S. Patent No. 12,085,304 to Si et al. and U.S. Patent No. 11,536,469 to Si et al. are directed to an auxiliary mounting device and a mounting method for a saddle type window air conditioner. U.S. Patent No. 11,441,792 to Liang et al. is directed to a window air conditioner including a casing having an outdoor part and an indoor part spaced apart from each other. U.S. Patent No. 11,415,329 to Liu et al. is directed to a window air conditioner including a casing and a positioning device. U.S. Patent No. 10,359,212 to Darby is directed to a clamp for securing an air conditioning unit in a window.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANITA M KING whose telephone number is (571)272-6817. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30am-4:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Terrell Mckinnon can be reached at 571-272-4797. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANITA M KING/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632 April 13, 2026
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