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 .
Drawings
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 “nonreturn valve” recited in claim 1 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 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 1- are 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “cleaning liquid” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “cleaning liquid” recited in line 1.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “fluid” in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “cleaning liquid” recited in line 1.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “liquid” in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “cleaning liquid” recited in line 1.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “and to selectively the cleaning liquid between the pump and the at least one spray endpiece” in lines 8-9. The recitation is grammatically and idiomatically incorrect.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “selectively” in line 8. The claim fails to recite structure of the valve to accomplish the function of “selectively.” The structure recited in the claim is not commensurate in scope with the function recited in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "gas" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the effect" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation “to allow the cleaning liquid to return to the pump and to the liquid reservoir” in lines 2-3. The claim fails to recite structure to the accomplish the function. The structure recited in the claim is not commensurate in scope with the function recited in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation “cleaning liquid” in line 3. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “cleaning liquid” recited in claim 1.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the passage of fluid" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "fluid" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “cleaning liquid” recited in claim 1.
Claim 6 recites the limitation “air” in line 5. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “gas” recited in claim 1.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the action" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
The claims are replete with indefiniteness. The above listing is only exemplary. Limited time for examination precludes a complete editorial review of the claims. Applicant is required to review and amend all of the claims in their entirety to ensure full compliance with 35 U.S.C. 112(b).
Applicant should not misconstrue any lack of art rejection as an indication of allowable subject matter.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
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, Arthur O Hall can be reached at (571) 270-1814. 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.
/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK
Prosecution Insights