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 § 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) 1-3 and 5-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Stover (US 2006/0260036).
Regarding claim 1, Stover discloses a vehicle washer connector comprising:
a main body part (12) connecting washer hoses to each other (The main body part connects 22 and 20 to each other);
a heating part (14) mounted on the main body part (Figure 2), wherein the heating part has a heating wire (50) connected thereto (Figure 2) and disposed on an inner side of the main body part (Figure 2) and is configured to supply power to heat the heating wire (Paragraph 21);
a temperature sensor (32) coupled to the main body part (Figure 2) and configured to measure a temperature of washer fluid flowing through the main body part (Paragraph 23); and
a controller (30) connected to the heating part and the temperature sensor (Figure 2 and Paragraph 23), wherein the controller selectively controls operation of the heating part by comparing the temperature of the washer fluid measured by the temperature sensor and a set temperature (Paragraph 23); and
a pressure sensor (70) mounted in the main body part (Figure 2) and configured to measure pressure of the washer fluid flowing through the main body part (Paragraph 24),
wherein the temperature is mounted in the main body part (Figure 2), and
wherein the pressure sensor (70) is disposed in the main body part spaced apart from the temperature sensor (Figure 2) and the pressure sensor and temperature sensor are mounted to the body part in the same manner (Both elements are mounted to protrude from the flow line), but is silent as to whether the sensor is detachable from the main body part.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to make the sensor detachable (with the heater), since it has been held that constructing a formerly integral structure in various elements involves only routine skill in the art. Nerwin v. Erlicnrnan, 168 USPQ 177,179.
Regarding claim 2, Stover discloses the vehicle washer connector of claim 1, but fails to disclose wherein the heating part is inclined relative to the main body part.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incline the heating part since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Regarding claim 3, Stover discloses the vehicle washer connector of claim 2, but fails to disclose wherein the heating part is integrally mounted on the main body part.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the elements integral since it has been held that forming in one piece an article which has been formerly been formed in two pieces and put together involves only routine skill in the art. Howard v. Detroit Stove Works, 150 U.S. 164 (1993).
Regarding claim 5, Stover discloses the vehicle washer connector of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted in a mounting area formed in the main body part (Figure 2) and is disposed in the mounting area spaced apart from the heating wire that is disposed on the inner side of the main body part (Figure 2).
Regarding claim 6, Stover discloses the vehicle washer connector of claim 1, wherein the controller, upon determining that the temperature of the washer fluid measured by the temperature sensor is below the set temperature, performs a control operation to supply the power to the heating part (Paragraph 10, the heater may be shut off until the temperature falls below a specified amount).
Regarding claim 7, Stover discloses, the vehicle washer connector of claim 1, wherein the controller, upon determining that the temperature of the washer fluid measured by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than the set temperature, performs a control operation to cut off the power supplied to the heating part (Paragraph 10, the heater may shut off when the specified temperature of water is reached).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 9/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., a quick-connect mechanism) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
As to Applicant’s position that the sensors are not on the same line, the sensors are on the line created by the joining of the constituent parts of the flow line of the device. As such, the sensors are on the same line.
Examiner notes that the limitations are broadly recited. Examiner recommends identifying the quick-connect mechanism in the claim limitations to overcome the current rejection.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER R. DANDRIDGE whose telephone number is (571)270-1505. The examiner can normally be reached M-T 9am-7pm.
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, Arthur O. Hall can be reached at (571)270-1814. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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CHRISTOPHER R. DANDRIDGE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3752
/CHRISTOPHER R DANDRIDGE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752
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