DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. 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
2. The information disclosure statement (IDS) filed on 12/31/2024 is being considered in the examination of this application.
Drawings
3. 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 “two exhaust openings each including a corresponding secondary filter” in claim 8 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 Objections
4. Claims 1, 11, 13 and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
a. Claim 1, line 11: the term “the” should be entered prior to the term “suspended debris” for the purpose of clarity.
b. Claim 11 line 2: the term “this” should be replaced with the structure and/or function recited for the purpose of clarity.
c. Claim 13, line 3: the term “such selective fluid communication” should be rewritten as --the selected fluid communication-- for the purpose of clarity.
d. Claim 16, line 3: the term “the exhaust of gas” should be rewritten as --an exhaust of gas-- for the purpose of clarity.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
5. 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.
6. Claims 5, 7 and 10-12 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.
7. Claim 5, lines 1-3, recites the limitation “wherein the hollow hood being movable relative to the rest of the fluid maintenance machine involves the hollow hood being tippable” which renders the claim indefinite, since it is unclear to as to exactly what extent of the machine is encompassed by the term “the rest”. Further clarification and appropriate correction is required.
8. The term “smaller-sized debris” in claim 7 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “smaller-sized debris” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. It is unclear as exactly what size debris is considered to be a smaller-sized debris such that the secondary filter is considered to be configured to filter smaller-sized debris than the primary filter. The applicant’s disclosure provides no clarification in this regard. Further clarification and appropriate correction is required.
9. Claim 10, line 4, recites the limitation “the exhaust of the vacuum source”, and line 7, recites the limitation “a vacuum source” which renders the claim indefinite, since it is unclear as to whether each of the vacuum sources is considered to be the same or separate vacuum sources. Furthermore, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation “the exhaust of the vacuum source” in line 4. Further clarification and appropriate correction is required.
10. Claims 11-12 are rejected based on their dependency from claim 10.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 8-9, and 13-17 are allowed (note drawings and claim objections).
Claims 5, 7 and 10-12 may be allowable by overcoming the 112(b) rejections set forth in this office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding Claim 1, the prior art of record does not teach or suggest the invention as claimed, including the exhaust system comprising: a filter box positioned to receive the gas including the suspended debris therein following sweeping, in which the filter box receives a primary dust filter; at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening receives a secondary filter to further filter the suspended debris from the gas before the gas is exhausted from the at least one exhaust opening.
By contrast, Wilmo (US 8458855 B2) discloses a floor maintenance machine for collecting debris from a floor, the floor maintenance machine comprising: a broom and a hopper positioned to collect debris swept by the broom; and an exhaust system drawing a gas with suspended debris from a region of the broom and the hopper, the exhaust system comprising: a fan in fluid communication with the primary filter that draws the gas with the suspended debris through the primary filter; and a hollow hood defining an internal chamber, the internal chamber having an inlet opening receiving the gas with suspended debris expelled from the fan into the internal chamber and at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening is in proximity to a filter to filter the suspended debris from the gas before the gas is exhausted from the at least one exhaust opening. However, Wilmo is silent regarding the exhaust system comprising: a filter box positioned to receive the gas including the suspended debris therein following sweeping, in which the filter box receives a primary dust filter; at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening receives a secondary filter to further filter the suspended debris from the gas before the gas is exhausted from the at least one exhaust opening.
By further contrast, Holsten et al. (US 4979260 A) discloses a floor maintenance machine for collecting debris from a floor, the floor maintenance machine comprising: a broom and a hopper positioned to collect debris swept by the broom; and an exhaust system drawing a gas with suspended debris from a region of the broom and the hopper, the exhaust system comprising: a filter box positioned to receive the gas including the suspended debris therein following sweeping, in which the filter box receives a primary dust filter; a fan in fluid communication with the primary filter that draws the gas with the suspended debris through the primary filter; and a hollow hood defining an internal chamber, the internal chamber having an inlet opening receiving the gas with suspended debris expelled from the fan into the internal chamber. However, Holsten et al. is silent regarding the exhaust system comprising: at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening receives a secondary filter to further filter the suspended debris from the gas before the gas is exhausted from the at least one exhaust opening.
By further contrast, Chen (US 2022/0031139 A1) discloses a floor maintenance machine for collecting debris from a floor, the floor maintenance machine comprising an exhaust system comprising: a fan in fluid communication with a filter; and a hollow hood defining an internal chamber, the internal chamber having an inlet opening receiving the gas with suspended debris expelled from the fan into the internal chamber and at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening is arranged above the filter to further filter the suspended debris from the gas before the gas is exhausted from the at least one exhaust opening. However, Chen fails to mention a broom and a hopper positioned to collect debris swept by the broom; and an exhaust system drawing a gas with suspended debris from a region of the broom and the hopper, the exhaust system comprising: a filter box positioned to receive the gas including the suspended debris therein following sweeping, in which the filter box receives a primary dust filter; a fan in fluid communication with the primary filter that draws the gas with the suspended debris through the primary filter; and at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening receives a secondary filter to further filter the suspended debris from the gas before the gas is exhausted from the at least one exhaust opening.
Therefore, alone or in combination with the prior art of record, it would have not been obvious to incorporate prior art which disclose floor maintainer machines including a primary dust filter and a secondary filter in the manner as described above without impermissible hindsight.
This statement is not intended to necessarily state all the reasons for allowance of all the details why the claims are allowed and has not been written to specifically or impliedly state that all the reasons for allowance are set forth (MPEP § 1302.14).
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Prior Art
The prior art made of record not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure:
Krier et al. (US 3160908 A), Schick et al. (US 8505161 B2), Burgoon et al. (US 4328014 A), Charky et al. (US 6041471 A), Groh (US 4007026 A), Comer (US 4514875 A), Blehert et al. (US 5093955 A), Blehert et al. (US 4819676 A) and Zhao et al. (CN 112089365 A) individually disclose a floor maintenance machine for collecting debris from a floor, the floor maintenance machine comprising: a broom and a hopper positioned to collect debris swept by the broom; and an exhaust system drawing a gas with suspended debris from a region of the broom and the hopper, the exhaust system comprising: a filter; a fan in fluid communication with the filter that draws the gas with the suspended debris through the primary filter; and a hollow hood defining an internal chamber, the internal chamber having an inlet opening receiving the gas with suspended debris expelled from the fan into the internal chamber and at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment.
Wendel (US 3304572 A), Legatt et al. (US 6519808 B2) and Hactmann et al. (US 12678010 B2) individually disclose A floor maintenance machine for collecting debris from a floor, the floor maintenance machine comprising: an exhaust system comprising: a filter; a fan in fluid communication with the filter that draws the gas with the suspended debris through the primary filter; and a hollow hood defining an internal chamber, the internal chamber having an inlet opening receiving the gas with suspended debris expelled from the fan into the internal chamber and at least one exhaust opening in fluid communication with a surrounding environment in which the at least one exhaust opening.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this or any earlier communication from the examiner should be directed to Examiner Arfan Sinaki, whose telephone number is 571-272-7185. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Joshua J. Michener can be reached at 571-272-1467. The fax number for the organization to which this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ARFAN Y. SINAKI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642
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