DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 18/885,400 - MOVABLE SUBMERGED INTERFACE FOR POOL EXIT, filed on 9/13/24. Claims 1, 10 and 24-33 are pending. Claims 2-9 and 11-23 have been canceled.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Species E, sub-species h in the reply filed on 5/13/26 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the species and sub-species listed are unreasonable as well as stating there is no generic claim. This is not found persuasive because no detail has been provided rebutting the “unreasonable” nature of the groupings. The groupings were detailed in the instant specification as different embodiments or species. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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, 1, 10 and 24-33 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.
Regarding claim 1 is indefinite as it is unclear if the the pool related platform (cleaning robot) (PRP) is part of the interfacing system.
Regarding claim 1, the limitation “an external surface” is indefinite as it is not clear what external surface is being described. Pool external surface? PRP external surface? Interfacing system external surface? Examination will be as can best be understood. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being incomplete for omitting essential structural cooperative relationships of elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the necessary structural connections. See MPEP § 2172.01. The omitted structural cooperative relationships are: the structure of the PRP and the structure configured to interface with the PRP; to convert a PRP interfacing element via rotation to a change in angle.
Regarding claims 1 and 24, the limitation “exit from a pool assistance” is indefinite as it is unclear what a “pool assistance” actually refers to.
Regarding claims 1 and 24 is indefinite as it is unclear what axis the first and second angle are in relation to.
Regarding claim 25, is indefinite as it is not clear what ‘proximal’ and ‘distal’ are in relation to.
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) 1 and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Pichon et al. (US Pub. 2021/0108432).
Regarding Claim 1 Pichon shows an interfacing system (Fig. 1) for pool related platform (PRP) (100) autonomous exit from a pool assistance, the interfacing system comprising:
a pool surface (201,203) interface that is positioned on an external surface (202); and
a submerged interface (205) that is mechanically coupled (at 207) to the pool surface interface (Figs. 3-5) and is configured to interface with the PRP (Fig. 5) and convert a PRP rotation of a PRP interfacing element ((104 , 210) and PRP wheels via 104 and 210; note, ¶ [0061-0065; 0067; 0073; 0079-0082]) to a movement of a portion of the submerged interface from a lower position in which the portion of the submerged interface (¶ [0062; 0079]) is inclined at a first angle (Fig. 2) to an upper position in which the portion of the submerged interface is inclined as a second angle that is smaller than the first angle (¶ [0062; 0064; 0084]).
Regarding Claim 10 Pichon shows an interfacing system according to claim 1, wherein the submerged interface comprises a PRP stopper (216) that is configured to maintain the PRP at a defined location during a portion of the exit from the pool (¶ [0081-0082]; Fig. 5).
Regarding Claim 24 Pichon shows a method for assisting a pool related platform (PRP) (100) exit from a pool assistance (Figs. 3-5), the method comprises: converting, by a submerged interface (205) that is mechanically coupled (at 207) to a pool surface interface (201,203), a PRP rotation of a PRP interfacing element ((104 , 210) and PRP wheels via 104 and 210; note, ¶ [0061-0065; 0067; 0073; 0079-0082]) to a movement of a portion of the submerged interface from a lower position in which the portion of the submerged interface is inclined at a first angle to an upper position in which the portion of the submerged interface is inclined as a second angle that is smaller than the first angle ¶ [0061-0065; 0067; 0073; 0079-0082; 0084]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 25-33 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Davis (US 6,643,879) shows a similar pool interfacing system; Witelson et al. (US Pub. 2015/0102772) shows the general state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached at 571-270-3735. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 6/2/2026
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