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 .
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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The claims are replete with inconsistent terminology wherein water purifier components are initially recited as being a one or more of a plurality of components, and subsequently recited as plural or singular components in dependent claims, thus the subsequent recitations lacking antecedent basis or alternatively initially recited as being a plurality of components in independent claim 1, and subsequently recitations as being a singular component, thus also lacking antecedent basis, including the following:
claim 1, initial recitation of “at least two first reinforcing ribs” and “at least two second reinforcing ribs, later recitations in claim 1 of “the first reinforcing ribs” and “the second reinforcing ribs” (all lacking antecedent basis and being inconsistent), and subsequent recitations in claims 4-6, 8 and 10 of “the first reinforcing rib” and “the second reinforcing rib” (all lacking antecedent basis and being inconsistent); and
claim 1, initial recitation of “first limiting slots” and “second limiting slots”, and, subsequent recitations in claims 2-4, 7 and 8 of “the first reinforcing rib” and “the second reinforcing rib” (all lacking antecedent basis and being inconsistent).
Also in claim 1, it is unclear how many respective first and second limiting slots are recited (respective plural first and second limiting slots for both the board component and the bracket component or/and (or “and/or”) the board component.
In each of claims 2 and 3, it is unclear what is meant by respective recitations of “appearance surface” (does ‘appearance concern a structural feature of the component the phrase is modifying?).
In claim 4, “the shapes…rib” lacks antecedent basis.
In claim 6, “the third reinforcing rib” and “the third side wall” each lacks antecedent basis, since presence of third side wall is initially recited as only being in the alternative, initially in the claim.
In claim 7, “the bayonet slots” lacks antecedent basis, since presence of bayonet slots is initially recited as only being in the alternative, initially in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
Independent claim 1 would distinguish and be non-obvious in view of recitation of: A water purifier, comprising a main housing, a waterway board component, and a bracket component,
a mounting opening is provided on one surface of the main housing,
the waterway board component and the bracket component are inserted into the main housing from the mounting opening,
at least two first reinforcing ribs and at least two second reinforcing ribs are respectively arranged on opposite first side wall and second side wall of the main housing, both the first reinforcing ribs and the second reinforcing ribs extend into the main housing along the mounting opening, all of which is cumulatively taught or suggested by the cited prior art,
in view of further recitation of: first limiting slots and second limiting slots are provided in two sides of the waterway board component or/and the bracket component, the first limiting slots are clamped to the first reinforcing ribs, and the second limiting slots are clamped to the second reinforcing ribs.
The closest prior art comprises: patent publications CN 114601336, 114601333, and 217243789 and patent publication JP 20155322200 and corresponding, respective Escapenet translations, and PGPUBS Document US 2005/0193695.
The CN patent publications, particularly nearly identical publications ‘336 and ‘333, cumulatively teach or make obvious the claimed features of “A water purifier, comprising a main housing, a waterway board component, and a bracket component,
a mounting opening is provided on one surface of the main housing, and,
wherein, the waterway board component and the bracket component are inserted into the main housing from the mounting opening”, as well as claiming various reinforcing ribs and slots or openings for various purposes.
The JP patent publication and the PGPUBS Document, particularly at paragraph [0010] cumulatively teach “at least two first reinforcing ribs and at least two second reinforcing ribs are respectively arranged on opposite first side wall and second side wall of a or “the” main housing, both the first reinforcing ribs and the second reinforcing ribs extend into the main housing along a or “the” mounting opening.
However, none of the prior art teaches or suggests the further limitation of “first limiting slots and second limiting slots are provided in two sides of the waterway board component or/and the bracket component, the first limiting slots are clamped to the first reinforcing ribs, and the second limiting slots are clamped to the second reinforcing ribs” in combination with a water purifier housing, having a water board, or equivalent “channel”, bracket, reinforcing ribs, and limiting slots .
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Primary Examiner Joseph Drodge at his direct government formal facsimile phone number telephone number of 571-272-1140. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from approximately 8:00 AM to 1:00PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
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JWD
10/13/2026
/JOSEPH W DRODGE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1773
