DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Election/Restrictions
Claims 9-16 remain withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 27 March 2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claims 1,2, and 4-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Arima et al. (US 2006/0011249 hereinafter "Arima").
In regards to claims 1 and 6, Arima discloses a connection for a fluid, comprising:
a hose (12), in which configured for having a fluid is intended to flow therein,
comprising: an outer layer (20) of polymeric material (see paragraph [0074]), an inner layer (16)
of polymeric material (see paragraph [0072]),
a connector (14), in which configured for having a fluid is intended to flow therein, and
which is in fluidic communication with the hose; wherein the hose is mounted around a male
portion (22) of the connector,
a ring (24), mounted around the hose at the male portion of the connector; wherein the
ring, when mounted around the hose at the male portion, is deformed and exerts compression on
the hose because of such deformation (shown in fig. 2),
wherein the hose further comprises and at least one intermediate layer (18), interposed
between the outer and inner layers, made from net, mesh, braid, spiral-wrapped wire, textile
fibres, fabric, or non-woven fabric (see paragraph [0071]),
wherein a length of the ring is at least three times the thickness of the ring (shown clearly in fig. 2) and
wherein the ring is the only device for compressing the hose onto the male portion of the connector (shown in fig. 2).
Arima does not expressly disclose the ring being made of polymeric material that is more
rigid than that of the inner or outer layer, but rather is silent to the material of the ring. It would
have been obvious before the effective filing date to one having ordinary skill in the art to
modify Arima by making the ring from PTFE due to its strength, temperature resistance, etc., since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known
material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design
choice. In re Leshin, 277 F.2d 197, 125 USPQ 416 (CCPA 1960). See MPEP 2144.07.
In regards to claim 2, Arima further discloses the ring has a continuous circular profile
(shown in fig. 1A).
In regards to claim 4, Arima further discloses the outer and inner layers comprise
thermoplastic elastomer or thermosetting elastomer (see paragraphs [0072] and [0074]).
In regards to claim 5, Arima further discloses the intermediate layer comprises aramid
fibre, PA, or PET (see paragraph [0071]).
In regards to claim 7, Arima further discloses the ring has a cylindrical shape (shown in
fig. 1a).
In regards to claim 8, at the onset it is noted that a claim containing a "recitation with
respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not
differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus" if the prior art apparatus teaches
all the structural limitations of the claim. Ex parte Masham, 2 USPQ2d 1647 (Bd. Pat. App. &
Inter. 1987). See MPEP § 2114. The recitation "vehicle" is a nominal recitation of the intended
manner of operation of the system, and does not add any further structure than the "connection".
Therefore, little patentable weight is given to "vehicle".
Arima discloses a vehicle (see paragraph [0001]) comprising the connection (1)
according to claim 1 (see above).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 24 August 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s arguments regarding the amended language, see the rejection above which shows how these limitations are disclosed by Arima. It is noted that apparatus claims are only examined at one instant of time, and the use of additional tools during the connection process is of no consequence to the claim as after connection, the ring is the only device present compressing the hose onto the connector.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH whose telephone number is (571)270-0505. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:30 EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew D. Troutman can be reached at (571) 270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
09/11/2026
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