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 .
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 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.
Claim Objections
Claim 7 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 7, line 1; the phrase “a compressor” should be changed to --the compressor-- for proper antecedent basis.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
2. 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 1-4 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by AOKI et al (U.S. PG Pub No.: 2020/0333055 A1), hereinafter referred to as AOKI et al ‘055.
Regarding claim 1, AOKI et al. 055 disclose a compressor (10) comprising: a compressor body casing (11) {as shown in Fig. 1: ¶ [0027]}; a compression mechanism unit (20) provided in the compressor body casing {as shown in Fig. 1: ¶ [0027]}; and an accumulator (50) provided outside the compressor body casing, and connected to the compression mechanism unit via at least one outlet pipe (41), the accumulator having at least one through hole (58) through which the outlet pipe is inserted, in a plan view as viewed along a center axis direction (Fig. 2) of the accumulator, a center or a center of gravity (41c) of at least one portion where the outlet pipe is inserted into the through hole being located closer to the compressor body casing than a center axis of the accumulator (50c) {as shown in Figs. 1-2: ¶¶ [0016] and [0050]}.
Regarding claim 2, AOKI et al. 055 disclose the compressor according to claim 1, wherein in the plan view, a virtual straight line (FFL) (first frow path) and a virtual circle are formed, the virtual straight line passes through a center axis (10c) of the compressor body casing and the center axis of the accumulator, the virtual circle is centered on a point (A) at which the virtual straight line intersects with an outer peripheral surface (OPS) of the compressor body casing, and has a radius equal to a distance (R) from the point to the center axis of the accumulator, and the center or the center of gravity (14c) is located in the virtual circle {as shown in annotated Fig. 2}.
Regarding claim 3, AOKI et al. 055 disclose the compressor according to claim 2, wherein the center or the center of gravity is located on the virtual straight line in the plan view {as shown in annotated Fig. 2}.
Regarding claim 4, AOKI et al. 055 disclose the compressor according to claim 1, wherein an end of the accumulator in the center axis direction has a flat portion (FP) extending along a radial direction of the accumulator, and the through hole is provided in the flat portion {as shown in annotated Fig. 4}.
Regarding claim 7, AOKI et al. 055 disclose a refrigeration apparatus (1) including the compressor according to claim 1 {see ¶ [0019]}.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
3. 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 of this title, 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over AOKI et al ‘055, in view of OYAGI et al (English Translated Japanese Publication No.: 2016020657 A), hereinafter referred to as OYAGI et al ‘657.
Regarding claim 5, AOKI et al. 055 disclose the compressor according to claim 1, EXCEPT for the limitations of wherein an end of the accumulator in the center axis direction has a curved portion contiguous with an outer peripheral side surface of the accumulator, and the through hole is provided in the curved portion.
OYAGI et al ‘657 teach: the concept of an end of the accumulator (13) in the center axis direction has a curved portion (CP) contiguous with an outer peripheral side surface (OPSS) of the accumulator, and the through hole for outlet pipe (18) is provided at least in the curved portion {as annotated shown in Fig. 1}.
Since all claimed elements were known in the art at the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify AOKI et al. 055 in view of OYAGI et al ‘657 to include the outlet pipe provided at least in the curved portion, in order to facilitate stable attachment of the accumulator to the compressor body without extra structural support need.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the AOKI et al. 055 in view of OYAGI et al ‘657 to obtain the invention as specified in claim 5.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over AOKI et al ‘055, in view of YAKUSHIJI et al (English Translated WO Publication No.: 2019159497 A1), hereinafter referred to as YAKUSHIJI et al ‘497.
Regarding claim 6, AOKI et al. 055 disclose the compressor according to claim 1, EXCEPT for the limitations of wherein the outlet pipe has an oil return hole communicating with a space in the accumulator and located near a lowermost portion of the accumulator.
YAKUSHIJI et al ‘497 teach: the concept of the outlet pipe (511) has an oil return hole (511a) communicating with a space in the accumulator (5) and located near a lowermost portion (L) of the accumulator {as shown in Fig. 1: Page 4, ¶5 through Page 5}.
Since all claimed elements were known in the art at the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify AOKI et al. 055 in view of YAKUSHIJI et al ‘497 to include the outlet pipe that has an oil return hole communicating with a space in the accumulator and located near a lowermost portion of the accumulator, in order to facilitate returns of lubricating oil collected at the bottom of the container body to the compression chambers {.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to modify the AOKI et al. 055 in view of YAKUSHIJI et al ‘497 to obtain the invention as specified in claim 6.
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Conclusion
4. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
CN-110892633-A to NIGO, MASAHIRO.
CN-101331323-A to MORIMOTO, KOUKI.
WO-2020235076-A1 to KENMOTSU KAZUTO
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EMMANUEL E DUKE whose telephone number is (571)270-5290. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday thru Friday; 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday thru Friday; 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FRANTZ JULES can be reached on (571)272-6681. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EMMANUEL E DUKE/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
06/06/2026
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