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 § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Roy et al (US Patent Publication 20230090852 herein after Roy).
Regarding Claim 1, Roy shows a method of locally heating a sub-portion of a swimming pool or spa, the method comprising operating a pump (paragraph 23) and a heater (14) in a spa mode by: decreasing a flow of water through a circulation system using a pump (paragraph 23); and increasing a temperature of water flowing through the circulation system using a heater (paragraph 23).
Regarding Claim 2, Roy shows the method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an activation signal from a user (1112) and changing a mode of the heater (1118) and the pump (1118) from a base mode to the spa mode, wherein, in the spa mode, the heater heats water of the swimming pool or spa with higher power compared to the base mode and the pump decreases a flow of water compared to the base mode (paragraph 23).
Regarding Claim 3, Roy shows the method claim 1, wherein the sub-portion of the swimming pool or spa comprises an area of the swimming pool (120, Fig.3).
Regarding Claim 4, Roy shows the method of claim 1, further comprising controlling outlets proximate to the sub-portion of the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 6).
Regarding Claim 5, Roy shows the method of claim 1, further comprising directing the water from the circulation system to the sub-portion of the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 6).
Regarding claim 6, Roy shows the method of claim 1, wherein the heated water at decreased flow is directed to the sub-portion of the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 23).
Regarding Claim 7, Roy shows a method of establishing a temperature gradient in water of a swimming pool or spa, the method comprising operating a heater (14) at an increased temperature relative to a temperature baseline (paragraph 23) and operating a filtration pump at a decreased speed relative to a flow baseline (paragraph 23).
Reading Claim 8, Roy shows the method of claim 7, wherein operating the heater at the increased temperature and the filtration pump at the decreased speed is responsive to a user input.
Regarding Claim 9, Roy shows the method of claim 7, wherein establishing the temperature gradient comprises heating a sub-portion of the swimming pool relative to another portion of the swimming pool (paragraph 108).
Regarding Claim 10, Roy shows the method of claim 9, wherein the sub-portion of the swimming pool includes an area of the swimming pool (120, Fig.3).
Regarding Claim 11, Roy shows the method of claim 7, further comprising controlling outlets (1013) of a circulation system directing water into the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 108).
Regarding Claim 12, Roy shows a circulation system for a swimming pool or spa, the circulation system comprising: an inlet for receiving water from the swimming pool (paragraph 140) or spa; a heater (14); a pump (paragraph 137); and an outlet (paragraph 140), wherein, in a spa mode, the circulation system decreases a flow of water and increases a temperature of the water (paragraph 23).
Regarding Claim 13, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 12, wherein the outlet directs water from the circulation system to the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 10).
Regarding Claim 14, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 12, wherein the outlet directs water from the circulation system to a sub-portion of the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 6).
Regarding Claim 15, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 12, further comprising at least one valve (1015) to direct the water to the sub-portion of the swimming pool or spa (paragraph 108).
Regarding Claim 16, The circulation system of claim 12, further comprising a controller (1013) communicatively coupled to the pump and the heater for controlling operation of the pump and the heater (paragraph 108).
Regarding Claim 17, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 16, wherein the controller (1112) is configured to control the circulation system in the spa mode responsive to input from a user (FIG.19).
Regarding Claim 18, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the flow of water by controlling the pump and is configured to increase the temperature of the water by controlling the heater (1118).
Regarding Claim 19, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to control the outlet (paragraph 108).
Regarding Claim 20, Roy shows the circulation system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the circulation system such that, in the spa mode, the heater heats water of the swimming pool or spa with higher power compared to a base mode and the pump decreases a flow of water compared to a base mode (paragraph 23).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAUREN ASHLEY CRANE whose telephone number is (571)270-5198. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays & Tuesdays 8 am - 4pm.
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/LAUREN A CRANE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754
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