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 Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 1, line 4 of the claim “button” should be “buttons”. 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) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and/or 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Logan US 2006/0186215.
Regarding claim 1, Logan discloses a water control device, the device comprising:
a casing 110 having a top panel, bottom panel, and sidewalls defining an enclosure (Figs. 1-3);
an electrical circuit 111 disposed in the enclosure [0060];
a plurality of electrical push buttons (Figs. 1-3, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, etc.) coupled to the top panel, each push button being electrically coupled to the electric circuit (Figs. 1-3);
electrical wiring electronically coupling the electric circuit to one or more valves 117 controlling the flow of cold water and hot water to a water faucet 101; and
an electrical power cable coupling the electrical circuit to an electrical power source (inherent for the electrical circuit to be connected to an electrical power source);
wherein each electrical push button is assigned to a different desired temperature and flow rate (see Figs. 1-3, [0024], [0045], [0062], [0064]); and
wherein each electrical push button may be engaged to change the desired temperature and flow volume rate of water flowing from the water faucet (see Figs. 1-3, [0024], [0045], [0062], [0064]).
Regarding claim 2, Logan discloses a method of controlling the temperature and flow of water from a faucet, the method comprising:
providing a water faucet 101, the faucet comprising a hot water line [0006], a cold water line [0006], and valves 117 coupled to each water line for regulating the flow of water through the hot water line and cold water line;
providing an electrical console 110, the console including a casing with a top panel comprising a plurality of electrical push buttons (Figs. 1-3, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, etc.) electrically coupled to an electrical circuit housed within the casing [0060], and electrical wiring coupled to the electric circuit (see Figs. 1-3, [0024], [0045], [0062], [0064]);
coupling the electrical wiring to the valves (see Figs. 1-3, [0024], [0045], [0062], [0064]);
engaging the push button to automatically change the desired temperature and flow rate of water flowing from the water faucet (see Figs. 1-3, [0024], [0045], [0062], [0064]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Logan US 2006/0186215 in view of Thomas et al. US 9,458,612.
Regarding claim 1, Logan is silent to an electrical power cable coupling the electrical circuit to an electrical power source. Thomas discloses an electrical power cable 74 coupling the electrical circuit to an electrical power source 21. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the electrical power cable connected to an electrical power source as disclosed by Thomas to power the electrical circuit of Logan as a matter of simple substitution of electrical power and/or to provide a consistent, constant power by using an electrical cable and power source to the electrical circuit of Logan.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Klicpera, Cornwall, Mueller, Houghton, Anger, Wilson, Jung, and Rodenbeck disclose water control devices and corresponding method of control of faucets having push buttons to control different flow rate and temperature of the water flowing from the faucet.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN BASTIANELLI whose telephone number is (571)272-4921. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Craig Schneider, can be reached at telephone number (571) 272-3607 or Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/John Bastianelli/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
571-272-4921