DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-7 are pending.
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 Objections
Claims 1-7 are objected to (wherein claims 2-7 inherit their objections due to their dependencies) because of the following informalities:
In claim 1, line 2, it is suggested that “separately” be changed to --respectively-- to more accurately correlate the two ends of the central body with the two valve seats.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 4-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In claim 4, line 2, it is unclear which of the two valve seats “the valve seat” refers to. If the recitation refers to each valve seat, the recitation should be changed to --each valve seat-- and “an outer wall of the water inlet pipe” should be changed to --an outer wall of each water inlet pipe--.
In claim 5, line 2, it is unclear which of the two valve seats “the valve seat” refers to. If the recitation refers to each valve seat, the recitation should be changed to --each valve seat-- and “the water inlet pipe is adhesive” should be changed to –each water inlet pipe is adhesive--.
In claim 6, line 2, it is unclear which of the two valve seats “the valve seat” refers to. If the recitation refers to each valve seat, the recitation should be changed to --each valve seat--.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that use the word “means” or “step” but are nonetheless not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph because the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure, materials, or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “means of a hot plate connecting structure” in claim 1, which is later recited to comprise first and second connecting parts and the various structures thereof.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are not being interpreted to cover only the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant intends to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to remove the structure, materials, or acts that performs the claimed function; or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) does/do not recite sufficient structure, materials, or acts to perform the claimed function.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 7 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the claim objections set forth in this Office action.
Claims 4-6 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, and claims objections set forth in this Office action and to include 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 prior art fails to disclose or render obvious, in combination with the other limitations recited, the shielding ring of the second connecting part abuts against the first connecting part, and an outer flash cavity is formed between the shielding ring and the welding ring and the welding pipe.
Regarding claim 1, Leichty et al. (US 2012/0067978) discloses Figs. 2-13 a connecting structure of an H-shaped water channel body (comprising yoke 70 and valve housings 50), comprising a central body 70 and two valve seats 50; two ends of the central body 70 are separately connected to the two valve seats 50 each by means of a connecting structure; each of the connecting structures comprises a first connecting part 71 arranged on one of the valve seat 50 and the central body 70, and a second connecting part 54 arranged on another one of the valve seat 50 and the central body 70;
the first connecting part 71 and the second connecting part 54 are both of a hollow structure; the first connecting part 71 is provided with a plug-in tube 71; the second connecting part 54 is provided with a plug-in port 54; when the first connecting part 71 is connected to the second connecting part 54, the plug-in tube 71 of the first connecting part 71 is plugged into the plug-in port 54 of the second connecting part 54.
Leichty lacks the connecting structure being a hot plate connecting structure, the first connecting part having a welding ring surrounding the plug-in tube, the second connecting part having a welding pipe surrounding the plug-in port and a shielding ring surrounding the welding pipe, the welding ring of the first connecting part is hot plate welded with the welding pipe of the second connecting part, an inner flash cavity is formed between the welding ring and the welding pipe and the plug-in tube, the shielding ring of the second connecting part abuts against the first connecting part, and an outer flash cavity is formed between the shielding ring and the welding ring and the welding pipe.
Gaum (US 2,732,229) teaches in Figs. 1-2 a connecting structure comprising a first connecting part 4, 6 and a second connecting part 5, 7 connected to each other by a hot plate connecting structure (wherein “hot plate” is interpreted as welding because it is used in recitations of welding, such as “hot plate welded”); the first connecting part 4, 6 and the second connecting part 5, 7 are both of a hollow structure; the first connecting part 4, 6 is provided with a plug-in tube 10 and a welding ring (attached to weld 17) surrounding the plug-in tube 10; the second connecting part 5, 7 is provided with a plug-in port (below flange 11), a welding pipe 11 surrounding the plug-in port, and a shielding ring (attached to weld 17) surrounding the welding pipe 11; when the first connecting part 4, 6 is connected to the second connecting part 5, 7, the plug-in tube 10 of the first connecting part 4, 6 is plugged into the plug-in port of the second connecting part 5, 7, the welding ring of the first connecting part 4, 6 is hot plate welded (at weld 17) with the welding pipe of the second connecting part 5, 7, an inner flash cavity is formed between the welding ring and the welding pipe 11 and the plug-in tube 10.
Gaum lacks the shielding ring of the second connecting part abuts against the first connecting part, and an outer flash cavity (separate from the inner flash cavity) is formed between the shielding ring and the welding ring and the welding pipe.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Examiner Jonathan Waddy, whose telephone number is 571-270-3146. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (10:00AM-6:00PM EST).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors can be reached by phone. Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881 or Craig Schneider can be reached at 571-272-3607. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
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) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form.
/J. W./
Examiner, Art Unit 3753
/KENNETH RINEHART/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3753
Prosecution Insights