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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: WATER PURIFIER WITH COCK SUPPORT MEMBER ARRANGEMENT
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.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “protruding engagement part” in claims 7 and 12.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend 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 avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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.
Claims 1, 8-9 and 11 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 1, line 11, recitation is made of “the housing”. However, Examiner is unsure whether this refers to the housing in general, to the first housing or the second housing. Examiner requests clarification. Additionally, claims 8 (once) and 9 (thrice) and claim 11 (twice) recite “the housing” and it is not clear as to which housing these recitations refer. Examiner requests clarification.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 6 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yoon (US20210001253A1).
Claim 1: Yoon discloses a water purifier (Figs. 1-26, note element 1) comprising a filter unit (40) that filters raw water to provide purified water; a flow channel (note 400/410a/b/440/450) that provides a passage through which the raw water or the purified water flows; a valve unit (90) including at least one valve module that is selectively opened and closed to control a flow of the raw water or the purified water in the flow channel (Fig. 3); a cock (210/240/2012/2013) for discharging the purified water to an outside of the water purifier (Fig. 3); a housing including a first housing (Fig. 3, note housing portion made up of 108/45/85) in which the filter unit, the flow channel, and the valve unit are accommodated (see Figs. 3, 14-15 and), and a second housing (Fig. 3, note 100/1000) disposed on a front side of the first housing; and a cock support member (200/220) that is detachably engaged with the cock (note separability between 200/2002 and 210/2012/2013 by way of lifting gear 2006 and guide rail 2008) and the housing (note detachment means by way of screw holes in 220 in Fig. 5).
Claim 2: Yoon further discloses that the cock support member includes a cock support body (200); and a cock support engagement part (220) supported by the cock support body and having a housing engagement part (Fig. 4, note bottom rim of 220) that is formed to engage with the second housing (1000), wherein the cock support body (200) closely contacts the second housing (100/1000) when the second housing engages with the housing engagement part (Fig. 1).
Claim 6: Yoon further discloses that the cock includes a cock body (2012); and a stopper (2013) protruding from the cock body to prevent the cock support member from rotating beyond a predetermined rotational phase angle or rising beyond a predetermined distance (see Figs. 5-6).
Claim 14: Yoon further discloses that the cock is integrally formed with the flow channel (see paragraph 312) or is separately formed to be detachable from the flow channel.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-5 and 7-13 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: regarding claim 3, the prior art of record does not further disclose or reasonably teach in combination that the cock support engagement part has a cock contact part that closely contacts an end of the cock when the cock support engagement part is connected to the cock, and wherein the cock contact part includes: a first contact surface facing a lower surface of the cock; and a second contact surface extending in a circumferential direction to surround a lower end of the cock.
Regarding claim 5, the prior art of record does not further disclose or reasonably teach in combination that the cock support body extends horizontally from the cock support engagement part, wherein the upper surface of the cock support body and the lower surface of the second housing closely contact each other, whrerin the cock support engagement part closely contacts the cock, and wherein a contact area between the upper surface of the cock support body and the lower surface of the second housing is greater than a contact area between the cock support engagement part and the cock.
Regarding claim 7, the prior art of record does not further disclose or reasonably teach in combination that the cock includes a protrusion extending laterally from the cock body and comprising a protruding engagement part formed to engage with the cock support member.
Regarding claim 8, the prior art of record does not further disclose or reasonably teach in combination that the cock support member is configured to engage with the cock and the housing by being rotated.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN C ZOLLINGER whose telephone number is (571)270-7815. The examiner can normally be reached Generally M-F 9-4 EST.
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) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Essama Omgba can be reached at 469-295-9278. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/NATHAN C ZOLLINGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746
