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 .
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 16 and 20 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.
Specifically, in claim 16, the phrase “the self-cleaning apparatus” lacks antecedent basis in the claims; claim 16 depends from claim 15, which claims a ‘cleaning apparatus’ rather than a ‘self-cleaning apparatus’; the claim will be treated assuming that claim 16 requires a ‘cleaning apparatus’; appropriate correction is required.
Specifically, in claim 20, the phrase “the curved cleaning apparatus” lacks antecedent basis in the claims; claim 20 depends from claim 15, which claims a ‘cleaning apparatus’ rather than a ‘curved cleaning apparatus’; the claim will be treated assuming that claim 20 requires a ‘cleaning apparatus’; appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 1-4, 6-13, 15-17, and 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Waddell (US 2016/0175852).
Regarding claim 1, Waddell discloses a self-cleaning ion generator device, comprising: a housing defining a volume therein (12 & 14; Paragraph [0036]); at least one ion terminal assembly having a first portion and a second portion (42 & 52; Paragraph [0047]); and a cleaning apparatus (58 & 66; Paragraph [0048-0049]).
Regarding claim 2, Waddell further discloses wherein the cleaning apparatus contains a rib (58; Paragraph [0048-0049]).
Regarding claim 3, Waddell further discloses at least one bore disposed within the housing (50; Paragraph [0044]).
Regarding claim 4, Waddell further discloses two bores disposed within the housing and two ion terminal assemblies (50; Paragraph [0044]).
Regarding claim 6, Waddell further discloses wherein the self-cleaning ion generator device is configured to initiate an internal check for determining that various components of the self-cleaning ion generator device are operational (Paragraph [0053]).
Regarding claim 7, Waddell further discloses wherein the ion terminal assembly includes an ion terminal, an ion terminal securing device, and an attachment device (52 & 54 & 36; Paragraph [0047]).
Regarding claim 8, Waddell further discloses wherein the ion terminal assembly is selectively secured to the housing (Paragraph [0047]).
Regarding claim 9, Waddell further discloses wherein the cleaning apparatus is t-shaped (58; Paragraph [0049]).
Regarding claim 10, Waddell further discloses wherein a motor positioned within the housing and engaged to the cleaning apparatus (56; Paragraph [0048]).
Regarding claim 11, Waddell discloses a self-cleaning ion generator device, comprising: a housing defining a volume therein (12 & 14; Paragraph [0036]); two bores disposed within the housing (50; Paragraph [0044]); and two ion terminal assemblies having a first portion and a second portion (42 & 52; Paragraph [0047]); and a cleaning apparatus (58 & 66; Paragraph [0048-0049]).
Regarding claim 12, Waddell further discloses wherein the ion terminal assemblies comprise an ion terminal, an ion terminal securing device, and an attachment device (52 & 54 & 36; Paragraph [0047]), wherein the ion terminal includes a high voltage wire engaged to a brush with electrically conductive bristles for emitting ions (Paragraph [0044]).
Regarding claim 13, Waddell further discloses wherein the ion terminal assemblies comprise an ion terminal, an ion terminal securing device, and an attachment device (52 & 54 & 36; Paragraph [0047]), wherein the ion terminal includes an electrode for emitting ions (Paragraph [0044]).
Regarding claim 15, Waddell discloses a self-cleaning ion generator device, comprising: a housing defining a volume therein (12 & 14; Paragraph [0036]); two ion terminal assemblies that include an ion terminal, an ion terminal securing device, and an attachment device (52 & 54 & 36; Paragraph [0047]), wherein the ion terminal assemblies emit ions (Paragraph [0044]); and a cleaning apparatus (58 & 66; Paragraph [0048-0049]).
Regarding claim 16, Waddell further discloses wherein the cleaning apparatus contains a rib (58; Paragraph [0048-0049]).
Regarding claim 17, Waddell further discloses at least one retention flange (42; Paragraph [0052]).
Regarding claim 19, Waddell further discloses wherein the self-cleaning ion generator device is configured to initiate an internal check for determining that various components of the self-cleaning ion generator device are operational (Paragraph [0053]).
Regarding claim 20, Waddell further discloses a motor positioned within the housing and engaged to the cleaning apparatus and a timing circuit for activating the cleaning apparatus at a predetermined interval (56; Paragraph [0040, 0048]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5, 14, and 18 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.
Specifically, in claims 5, 14, and 18, the prior art of record fails to teach or suggest the requirement wherein the cleaning apparatus includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion containing a hollow shaft.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANNE M HINES whose telephone number is (571)272-2285. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 8:00-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, James Greece, can be reached on 571-272-3711. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Anne M Hines/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2879
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