DETAILED ACTION
This is the Final Office Action for application number 18/901,766 - TOILET BIDET DEVICE AND TOILET, filed on 9/30/24. Claims 2, 4-14 and 16-21 are pending. Claims 1, 3 and 15 have been canceled.
This Final Office Action is in response to applicant’s reply dated 6/2/26. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Applicant's amendment necessitated any new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.
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) 2-4, 10-12 and 20-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Liu et al. (CN 211 499 087 U).
Regarding Claim 2 Liu shows an apparatus (Fig. 2) comprising: a seat (11) having an opening (at 3; Fig. 2); a spray pipe (22) mounted in a cavity (111) at a front end of the seat (Fig. 2), wherein the opening is formed in an inner side wall ( near 3; Fig. 2) at the front end of the seat; a blocking door (3) pivotally mounted in the seat and used for blocking the opening (Figs. 1 & 7), wherein the blocking door is mounted in the seat through a pivot shaft (Fig. 8 where 3 connects to the housing 11; the baffle is connected with the seat ring main body through a pivot shaft…the pivotal axis is located on the upper part of the baffle), and the blocking door is capable of rotating around the pivot shaft (Figs. 7-8); and a nozzle (22) including a storage state in which the nozzle is stored in a pipe body (21; Fig. 7) and an extension state in which the nozzle extends out of the pipe body (21; Fig. 8), wherein when the nozzle is in the extension state, the blocking door rotates around the pivot shaft into the cavity and a main part of the blocking door is located in the cavity (Fig. 7).
Liu shows wherein when the seat is moved upwards from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, the blocking door is configured to remain in a position that at least partially blocks the opening (Figs. 7& 8; note, seat position is not linked to the nozzle extending, switch 5 extends the nozzle; therefore the nozzle may be extended or in initial state (retracted) with the door fully or at least partially blocking remains in the position it is in when the seat is moved from horizontal to vertical; In this way, when opening the switch button 5, the host water tank supplies water to the water spraying device 2, the water enters the water inlet chamber 21 through the water inlet pipe 23, and then acts on the plug cover 25. Under the action of water pressure, the plug cover 25 and the spray pipe 22 are pushed toward the cavity opening 112, so that the spray pipe 22 extends from the cavity opening 112. at the same time of the nozzle 22, a part of water through the plug cover through hole 251 into the water flow passage 221, and then sprayed through the water spraying hole 220).
Regarding Claim 3 Liu shows the apparatus of claim 2, wherein in a turning process, the blocking door rotates around the pivot shaft under an action of gravity and a part of the blocking door continuously blocks the opening (Figs. 7-8; When the thrust jet 22 is retracted, the baffle 3 can be automatically reset by its own gravity).
Regarding Claim 4 Liu shows the apparatus of claim 3, wherein in the turning process, the apparatus is flipped upwards or downwards (the blocking door closes through its own gravity, so if the apparatus is flipped down while the door is open and nozzle retracted, the blocking door will close through its own gravity).
Regarding Claim 10 Liu shows the apparatus of claim 2, wherein in the extension state, the nozzle extends out of the opening and holds up the blocking door to enable the blocking door to rotate around the pivot shaft to open the opening (Fig. 8; the nozzle 22 will push the baffle 3 to open).
Regarding Claim 11 Liu shows the apparatus of claim 2, wherein a driving mechanism drives the nozzle to extend and retract from the pipe body and is connected between the pipe body and the nozzle (Further, a driving mechanism for driving the nozzle to slide along the device main body is connected between the device main body and the nozzle).
Regarding Claim 12 Liu shows the apparatus of claim 11, wherein the driving mechanism is an air cylinder or an oil cylinder (The nozzle 22 extends and retracts, can be driven by the driving mechanism, for example, by a cylinder, a piston, a motor and other driving mechanism. nozzle 22 is extended and retracted, also can be driven by water pressure driving and reset member, for example, through water pressure driving nozzle 22 extends, through the reset member drives the nozzle reset).
Regarding Claim 20 Liu show a toilet (Fig. 12)comprising: a bowl (Fig. 12); a seat (11) having an opening (at 3; Fig. 2); a spray pipe (22) mounted in a cavity (111) at a front end of the seat (Fig. 2), wherein the opening is formed in an inner side wall ( near 3; Fig. 2) at the front end of the seat; a blocking door (3) pivotally mounted in the seat and used for blocking the opening (Figs. 1 & 7), wherein the blocking door is mounted in the seat through a pivot shaft (Fig. 8 where 3 connects to the housing 11; the baffle is connected with the seat ring main body through a pivot shaft…the pivotal axis is located on the upper part of the baffle), and the blocking door is capable of rotating around the pivot shaft (Figs. 7-8); and a nozzle (22) including a storage state in which the nozzle is stored in a pipe body (21; Fig. 7) and an extension state in which the nozzle extends out of the pipe body (21; Fig. 8), wherein when the nozzle is in the extension state, the blocking door rotates around the pivot shaft into the cavity and a main part of the blocking door is located in the cavity (Fig. 7).
Liu shows wherein when the seat is moved upwards from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, the blocking door is configured to remain in a position that at least partially blocks the opening (Figs. 7& 8; note, seat position is not linked to the nozzle extending, switch 5 extends the nozzle; therefore the nozzle may be extended or in initial state (retracted) with the door fully or at least partially blocking remains in the position it is in when the seat is moved from horizontal to vertical; In this way, when opening the switch button 5, the host water tank supplies water to the water spraying device 2, the water enters the water inlet chamber 21 through the water inlet pipe 23, and then acts on the plug cover 25. Under the action of water pressure, the plug cover 25 and the spray pipe 22 are pushed toward the cavity opening 112, so that the spray pipe 22 extends from the cavity opening 112. at the same time of the nozzle 22, a part of water through the plug cover through hole 251 into the water flow passage 221, and then sprayed through the water spraying hole 220).
Regarding Claim 21 Liu shows the toilet of claim 20, wherein the toilet further comprises: a base (shown below the bowl sump) configured to support the bowl (Fig. 12); and a tank (at 6) configured to store water for the bowl (Fig. 12).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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) 9, 13-14 and 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu et al. (CN 211 499 087 U) in view of Yaoka et al. (US Pub. 2021/0164211).
Regarding Claim 9 Liu shows the apparatus of claim 2, but fails to show wherein in the storage state the blocking door partially blocks the opening. However, Yaoka shows a blocking door (483) that partially blocks the opening in the storage state (Fig. 5; no blocking at 478a). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Liu to include partially blocking the opening in the storage state for the purpose of drainage of sterilizing water as shown by Yaoka (¶ [0068]).
Regarding Claim 13 Liu shows a method for operating a blocking door (3), the method comprising: blocking an opening (at 3; Fig. 2) of a bidet device (Fig. 2) in a When the thrust jet 22 is retracted, the baffle 3 can be automatically reset by its own gravity) (the blocking door closes through its own gravity, so if the apparatus is flipped down while the door is open and nozzle retracted, the blocking door will close through its own gravity); and unblocking the opening (Fig. 8) in an extension state of the nozzle wherein the nozzle extends from the pipe body through the opening and pushes the blocking door to rotate around a pivot shaft (Fig. 8 where 3 connects to the housing 11; the baffle is connected with the seat ring main body through a pivot shaft…the pivotal axis is located on the upper part of the baffle); into a cavity (111) wherein a main part of the blocking door is located in the cavity (Fig. 7).
Liu shows wherein when the seat is moved upwards from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, the blocking door is configured to remain in a position that at least partially blocks the opening (Figs. 7& 8; note, seat position is not linked to the nozzle extending, switch 5 extends the nozzle; therefore the nozzle may be extended or in initial state (retracted) with the door fully or at least partially blocking remains in the position it is in when the seat is moved from horizontal to vertical; In this way, when opening the switch button 5, the host water tank supplies water to the water spraying device 2, the water enters the water inlet chamber 21 through the water inlet pipe 23, and then acts on the plug cover 25. Under the action of water pressure, the plug cover 25 and the spray pipe 22 are pushed toward the cavity opening 112, so that the spray pipe 22 extends from the cavity opening 112. at the same time of the nozzle 22, a part of water through the plug cover through hole 251 into the water flow passage 221, and then sprayed through the water spraying hole 220).
But Liu fails to show the bidet device in a partially blocked state of a storage state of the nozzle and maintaining the opening of the bidet device in the partially blocked state of the storage state of the nozzle. However, Yaoka shows a blocking door (483) that partially blocks the opening in the storage state (Fig. 5; no blocking at 478a) and maintaining the opening of the bidet device in the partially blocked state of the storage state of the nozzle (at 478a) . Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Liu to include partially blocking the opening in the storage state for the purpose of drainage of sterilizing water as shown by Yaoka (¶ [0068]).
Regarding Claim 14 Liu shows the method of claim 13, wherein in the turning state, the bidet device is flipped upwards or downwards (the blocking door closes through its own gravity, so if the apparatus is flipped down while the door is open and nozzle retracted, the blocking door will close through its own gravity).
Regarding Claim 17 Liu shows the method of claim 13, wherein the operating of the blocking door is performed by a driving mechanism to drive the nozzle to extend and retract from the pipe body (Further, a driving mechanism for driving the nozzle to slide along the device main body is connected between the device main body and the nozzle).
Regarding Claim 18 Liu shows the method of claim 17, wherein the driving mechanism is connected between the pipe body and the nozzle Further, a driving mechanism for driving the nozzle to slide along the device main body is connected between the device main body and the nozzle).
Regarding Claim 19 Liu shows the method of claim 18, wherein the driving mechanism is an air cylinder or an oil cylinder (The nozzle 22 extends and retracts, can be driven by the driving mechanism, for example, by a cylinder, a piston, a motor and other driving mechanism. nozzle 22 is extended and retracted, also can be driven by water pressure driving and reset member, for example, through water pressure driving nozzle 22 extends, through the reset member drives the nozzle reset).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-8 and 16 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/2/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s arguments with regard to the current amendment have been addressed above in the body of this action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Ko et al. (US 10,927,536) shows a similar blocking door for a bidet nozzle. (CN 109457776A) shows a front of the toilet seat bidet nozzle with a blocking door.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
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 on Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached on 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 7/9/2026
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