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 .
Abstract
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because:
Phrases that can be implied, such as “The disclosure relates” and “and particularly relates” (see line 1) should not be present therein.
A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
In Figure 9, there are two reference characters 81 directed towards two different elements. It is noted the reference character 81 directed towards the vertically extending suction hole is consistent with the specification.
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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
In paragraph 0037, on line 1, “such” should be “suck”; and
In paragraph 0045, on line 34, “gasket” (the first word on this line) should be deleted.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In regard to claim 9, it is unclear as to whether or not the “spray gun” recited therein (see line 1) is referring to the same “spray gun” recited in claim 1 (see lines 2, 4 and the last line) or some other element. Note the rejection of claims 1 and 4 under 35 USC 112 below.
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 1-10 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 regard to claim 1, an antecedent basis for “the spray gun” (see lines 2, 4 and the last line) has not been defined. It is noted the spray gun is considered to be part of the claimed combination.
In regard to claim 4, an antecedent basis for “the spray gun” (see line 2) has not been defined.
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.
Claims 1-3 and 7-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kieffer et al. (U.S. Patent 5,655,714, hereinafter Kieffer).
In regard to claim 1, the Kieffer reference discloses a suction pipe rotating device comprising:
a rotary knob 160 arranged at a top of a gun body 130 of the spray gun;
a rotary connection portion 156 wherein one end of the rotary connection portion is arranged on the rotary knob and is movably inserted into a material suction hole (the suction hole being defined as a bore in element 130) of the spray gun; and
an angle suction pipe 140 comprising a straight pipe (at 142, see Figure 2) and an inclined pipe (at 151) that are connected to each other, wherein the straight pipe is rotatably arranged in the material suction hole and is connected to the other end of the rotary connection portion, the inclined pip is obliquely arranged, and an end of the inclined pipe is close to a joint between a side wall and a bottom of a material barrel 120 of the spray gun.
In regard to claim 2, the rotary connecting portion 156 comprises a connecting support (defined by the upper portion thereof, see Figure 7) arranged in the material suction hole and a connecting rod (defined by the lower portion thereof) wherein one end of the connecting rod is arranged on the connecting support and the other end of the connecting rod is connected to the straight pipe.
In regard to claim 3, the Kieffer device further includes a positioning sleeve (defined by the upper O-ring 159, see Figure 2) arranged on top of the gun body 130 and rotatably located between the rotary knob and the rotary connection portion for limiting the axial position of the rotary connection portion (i.e., the O-ring will limit the movement of the rotary connection portion in the axial direction at least to some degree).
In regard to claim 7, the feeding end 14 of the inclined pipe is provided with a material suction slope (i.e., viewing Figure 2, the end of the inclined pipe is shown to be sloped with respect to the longitudinal axis of the straight pipe section) configured to reduce a gap between an end of the inclined pipe and the material barrel.
In regard to claim 8, several first sealing rings 159 are arranged between the rotary connection portion and the material suction hole.
In regard to claim 9, the Kieffer reference discloses a spray gun comprising the suction pipe rotating device defined above and a sealing device 123 arranged between the gun body and the material barrel.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-6 and 10 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include 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. The Lam, Evans, Chapin and Fisher reference are cited as being directed to the state of the art as teachings of other spray gun having an angled suction pipe.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID J WALCZAK whose telephone number is (571)272-4895. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 6:30-4:00.
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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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DJW
2/28/26
/DAVID J WALCZAK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754