DETAILED ACTION
Non-Final Rejection
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 21 November 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the raised texture (Claim 4), the recessed texture (Claim 5), the shutoff valve (Claim 13), the Y-shaped hose (Claims 14 and 19), and the RV AC-unit (Claim 16) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claim 17 is 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.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "a fastener" in line 2. It is unclear if this fastener is the same fastener previously introduced in Claim 16 from which claim 17 depends. For purposed of examination, the fasteners will be interpreted as the same fastener.
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.
Claims 16, 17, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Patrick (U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0047289).
Regarding claim 16, Patrick discloses a method of using an RV AC-unit condensation collection device, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a device comprising a body 50 with a central recessed area 78, a male member 82 with an opening 58a/58b, and a fastener (at 82) coupled to the male member;
positioning the body under or near (FIG. 5d) an RV AC-unit 66 such that the recessed area collects a condensation dripping from the RV AC-unit;
attaching a hose to the male member using the fastener (Paragraph 48); and
routing the hose to a secondary location to drain the condensation collected within the recessed area (FIG. 5d-6c; Paragraph 46-51).
Regarding claim 17, Patrick discloses the body is comprised of a fastener (at 82) (FIG. 6c).
Regarding claim 20, Patrick discloses the hose is comprised of a connector (Paragraph 48).
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.
Claims 1-9 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Patrick in view of Maslakow (U.S. Patent Publication 2019/0233122).
Regarding claim 1, Patrick discloses an RV AC-unit condensation collection device 50 comprising:
a body 50 comprising a recessed area 78 and a bottom surface 52;
a male member 82 extending from the body, the male member comprising an opening in fluid communication with the recessed area; and
a first fastener (at 82) coupled to the male member configured to attach to a hose via a connector of the hose (Paragraph 48) (FIG. 5d-6c; Paragraph 46-51).
Patrick is silent regarding the bottom surface comprising a non-slip material.
However, Maslakow teaches a collection device comprising: a body 101 comprising a bottom surface 103 comprising a non-slip material 104 (FIG. 1-3A; Paragraph 20-21)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by adding a non-slip material to the bottom surface of the body, as taught by Maslakow, for the purpose of preventing the body from shifting out of its proper alignment when moving.
Regarding claim 2, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick further discloses the recessed area is comprised of a beveled outer edge (at 92) (FIG. 6c).
Regarding claim 3, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick/Maslakow further teaches the non-slip material is comprised of a rubber material (Maslakow Paragraph 47).
Regarding claim 4, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick/Maslakow further teaches the rubber material is comprised of a raised texture 201 (FIG. 4B).
Regarding claim 5, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 4.
Patrick/Maslakow further teaches the rubber material is comprised of a recessed texture (FIG. 2A).
Regarding claim 6, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick further discloses he bottom surface is comprised of a second fastener (adhesive”) (FIG. 5e; Paragraph 50).
Regarding claim 7, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick further discloses the second fastener is comprised of a suction cup, an adhesive, or a magnet (adhesive”) (FIG. 5e; Paragraph 50).
Regarding claim 8, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick further discloses the first fastener is comprised of a thread (FIG. 6c).
Regarding claim 9, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 1.
Patrick further discloses the first fastener and the connector are comprised of a pair of reciprocating fasteners (FIG. 6c; Paragraph 48).
Regarding claim 18, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 16.
Patrick is silent regarding the body is comprised of a non-slip bottom surface.
However, Maslakow teaches a collection device comprising: a body 101 comprising a bottom surface 103 comprising a non-slip material 104 (FIG. 1-3A; Paragraph 20-21)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by adding a non-slip material to the bottom surface of the body, as taught by Maslakow, for the purpose of preventing the body from shifting out of its proper alignment when moving.
Claims 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Patrick in view of Maslakow, in further view of Mahanay (U.S. Patent 4,907,420).
Regarding claim 10, Patrick discloses an RV AC-unit condensation collection device 50 comprising:
a body 50 comprising a central recessed area 78;
a male member 82 attached to the body and having an opening 58a/58b in fluid communication with the central recessed area;
a hose having a connector configured to attach to the male member (Paragraph 48);
a fastener (at 82) coupled to the male member to facilitate attachment of the hose; and
a bottom surface 52 of the body (FIG. 5d-6c; Paragraph 46-51).
Patrick is silent regarding the body comprises an overflow channel and the bottom surface comprising a non-slip material.
However, Maslakow teaches a collection device comprising: a body 101 comprising a bottom surface 103 comprising a non-slip material 104 (FIG. 1-3A; Paragraph 20-21)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by adding a non-slip material to the bottom surface of the body, as taught by Maslakow, for the purpose of preventing the body from shifting out of its proper alignment when moving.
Furthermore, Mahanay teaches a condensation collection device comprising a body 20 comprising an overflow channel 68 (FIG. 4; Col. 3 ln 6-16).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by adding an overflow channel, as taught by Mahanay, for the purpose of providing a controlled means for directing overflowing fluids to a desired area thus preventing unwanted overflowing liquid throughout the surrounding areas.
Regarding claim 11, Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 10.
Patrick further discloses the body is comprised of a plastic material (Paragraph 5).
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Patrick in view of Maslakow, in further view of Mahanay, in even further view of Ripoll (U.S. Patent Publication 2022/0126973).
Regarding claim 12 Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 10.
Patrick further discloses the body is made of steel (Paragraph 5).
Patrick is silent regarding the body is comprised of a corrosion-resistant metal material.
However, Ripoll teaches the body 134 is comprised of a corrosion-resistant metal material (Paragraph 11).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by making the body out of a corrosion-resistant metal, as taught by Ripoll, for the purpose of providing material that can withstand the moisture within the environment as well as within the body preventing premature degradation.
Claims 13 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Patrick in view of Maslakow, in further view of Mahanay, in even further view of Kadle (U.S. Patent 8,695,404).
Regarding claim 13 Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 10.
Patrick is silent regarding a shutoff valve is positioned within the connector.
However, Kadle teaches a shutoff valve 52 is positioned within the connector (52 at 50) (FIG. 1-2; Col. 4 ln 16-34).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by adding a shutoff valve at the connector, as taught by Kadle, for the purpose of providing a means to open or close the opening to control the flow of fluid out of the condensation collection device.
Regarding claim 15 Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 13.
Patrick/Kadle further teaches the shutoff valve is positioned on the connector (FIG. 1, 2).
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Patrick in view of Maslakow, in further view of Mahanay, in even further view of Wilks (U.S. Patent 5,879,029).
Regarding claim 14 Patrick, as modified above, discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 10.
Patrick is silent regarding the hose is comprised of a Y-shaped hose.
However, Wilks teaches the hose 12 is comprised of a Y-shaped hose (FIG. 1, 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by making the hose Y-shaped, as taught by Wilks, for the purpose of providing a means to direct the fluid out of the condensation collection device in a multitude of desired locations.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Patrick in view of Wilks.
Regarding claim 19 Patrick discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed, as set forth above for claim 16.
Patrick is silent regarding the hose is comprised of a Y-shaped hose.
However, Wilks teaches the hose 12 is comprised of a Y-shaped hose (FIG. 1, 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Patrick by making the hose Y-shaped, as taught by Wilks, for the purpose of providing a means to direct the fluid out of the condensation collection device in a multitude of desired locations.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Karas (U.S. Patent Publication 2014/0130533) discloses a condensation collection device similar to the one disclosed in the present application.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER D BALLMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-9984. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 6:00-3:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Craig M Schneider can be reached at 571-272-3607. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER D BALLMAN/Examiner, Art Unit 3753
/CRAIG M SCHNEIDER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3753