DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to application number 19/103,503 - SPRAY HEAD, FLUSHING SYSTEM, AND TOILET, filed on 2/12/25. Claims 1-2, 4-5, 7-8, 10-11, 13-23 and 25 are pending. Claims 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 have been canceled.
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 § 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.
Claims 10 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.
Regarding claim 10, he terms “in a region” and “close to” are relative terms which renders the claim indefinite. The terms “in a region” and “close to” are 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.
Regarding claim 19, the limitation “in a structure” is indefinite as it is unclear what is being referenced. The specification does not provide details as to what structure is being referenced.
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) 1-2, 4, 7-8 and 10-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang et al. (CN 210204892 U).
Regarding Claim 1 Zhang shows a spray head (42) applicable to toilet drainage, comprising: a body (422) provided with a first water path (Fig. 5; large arrows), a second water path (Fig. 5; small arrows through 42a), a first water inlet (where 30 connects to 42) and a first water outlet (near 13 not including area taken by 41) that are communicated with the first water path, and a second water inlet (where 40 enters 42a) and a second water outlet (at 41) that are communicated with the second water path (Fig. 5); and an adapter (at 30) mounted to the body, wherein the adapter is provided with a flow channel (30), and an inlet and an outlet (outlet is essentially first water inlet where 30 connects to 42) that are communicated with the flow channel, and the outlet is communicated with the first water inlet; wherein a flow area of the first water outlet is different from a flow area of the second water outlet (Fig. 5).
Regarding Claim 2 Zhang shows the spray head according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is sleeved on the body (11a) and is rotatable relative to the body (capable of until fixed to the toilet at 11a); and wherein a water-passaging groove is provided between the adapter and the body (best seen in Fig. 6; groove/opening), and the outlet is communicated with the first water inlet via the water-passaging groove (Figs. 5-6).
Regarding Claim 4 Zhang shows the spray head according to claim 2, wherein one of the adapter and the body is provided with an annular groove, and an annular water-passaging groove is enclosed and formed by the annular groove and the other of the adapter and the body; or, the adapter and the body are each provided with an annular groove (see Fig. 5 below), and an annular water-passaging groove is formed by the two annular grooves.
[AltContent: textbox (Annular groove; annular water passing groove)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow]
PNG
media_image1.png
470
538
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding Claim 7 Zhang shows the spray head according to claim 2, wherein the body is provided with a channel (31) and a separating rib (wall of 41) provided in the channel, and the separating rib is used to divide the channel into the first water path and the second water path; and wherein a portion of the separating rib is a portion of the water-passaging groove (where lower (on page) wall of 41 curves to meet 30).
Regarding Claim 8 Zhang shows the spray head according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is fixed to the body (Fig. 5); and wherein the body is provided with a channel (31) and a separating rib (wall of 41) provided in the channel, the separating rib is used to divide the channel into the first water path and the second water path (Fig. 5); and there is an interval along an axial direction of the spray head between the first water inlet and an end of the separating rib away from the first water outlet (where lower (on page) wall of 41 curves to meet 30).
Regarding Claim 10 Zhang shows the spray head according to claim 1, wherein a flow area of a region of the first water path close to the first water outlet is the same as a flow area of the first water outlet, and a shape of the region of the first water path close to the first water outlet is the same as a shape of the first water outlet; or, a flow area of the first water path gradually decreases in a direction toward the first water outlet (from large arrow through 42 to toilet; Fig. 5); or, a flow area of the first water path gradually increases in a direction toward the first water outlet.
Regarding Claim 11 Zhang shows the spray head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sealing rings (51) are provided between the adapter and the body, and the plurality of sealing rings are respectively provided on both sides of the outlet along an axial direction of the body; and wherein one of the adapter and the body is provided with a sealing groove (annular groove as shown above); a sealing ring is embedded into the sealing groove and is in contact and cooperation with the other of the adapter and the body (implicit in connecting parts for water tight connections).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 20-23 and 25 are allowed.
Claims 13-19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Zhang (CN 211200610 U) shows a similar device; Kappus (US Pub. 2023/0257980) shows a pressure assisted flushing toilet.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA whose telephone number is (571)270-5163. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6PM 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, DAVID ANGWIN can be reached at 571-270-3735. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CHRISTINE J SKUBINNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754 6/11/2026
Prosecution Insights