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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/12/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 1-5 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.
With regard to claim 1, as written it is unclear. As understood, the supply part does three things. First, it stores a humidifying medium. Second, it generates a humidified air by passing air through the humidifying medium. And, third, supplies the humidified air to the cap. (Emphasis added). However, it is not clear how the air pump, sends air recovered from the cap to the supply part. Is not the air recovered from the cap, humidified air?
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The cited art does not teach or render obvious a restriction part which is provided in the supply flow pass, and generates a loss of pressure of 4σ/R or more (σ : a surface tension of the humidifying medium WM, R : an inner diameter of the supply flow pass). It is these features found in the claim(s) which have not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record, which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20240208227 A1 discloses a cap unit includes a cap, a tank, a first pipe, a second pipe, a pump, and a vent port. The cap is attached to and detached from a nozzle surface of an inkjet head. The tank stores humidifying liquid. The first pipe and the second pipe connect the cap and the tank. The pump is provided in the first pipe and pumping air in the tank into the cap. The vent port is provided in the cap.
CN 109421377 A discloses a cover device and a liquid spraying device capable of moisturizing the nozzle. cover device (800) is in contact with the liquid spray head (1) with nozzle (21) for spraying liquid of forming a surrounding nozzle (21) opening of the space (CK). cover device (800) comprises: forming the concave space (CK) (851), is provided with a space (CK) to humidify the humidified fluid humidifying chamber (852), and the recess (851) and humidifying chamber (852) to divide the partition wall (853) having a gas-permeable. flexible part (853a) one part of wall of the recess (851) and the nozzle (21) is formed by the formation of the air-liquid interface is damaged pressure is smaller than the pressure from being deformed.
US 20120162311 A1 discloses a humidifier i.e. air conditioner device, to supply humidified air into an ejection space through an air introduction opening and to discharge air from the ejection space through an air discharge opening. The air discharge opening is provided to open in an area other than a liquid discharge area onto which a liquid ejected through ejection openings is discharged when a sealing state is established by a cap device. A flow restrainer restrains the liquid discharged onto the liquid discharge area from flowing to the air discharge opening.
Communications with the PTO
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHARON A POLK whose telephone number is (571)270-7910. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 7-3.
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SHARON A. POLK
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2853
/Sharon Polk/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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