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 .
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 1-20 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 limitations “through which refrigerant circulates” and “through which a heat medium… circulates” in lines 3 and 4-5 of the claim, respectively. These limitations constitute method steps improperly recited within an apparatus claim, rendering the intended metes and bounds of the claim unclear. For purposes of compact prosecution, these limitations have been treated as if the respective circuits are capable of providing such circulation. Claims 2-20 are also rejected since they depend from claim 1.
Claims 4 and 8 each recite a series of method steps within an apparatus claim, rendering the intended metes and bounds of the claim unclear. For purposes of compact prosecution, these limitations have been treated as if the apparatus is capable of providing such operation. Claims 11, 15, and 20 are also rejected since they depend from claim 4. Claims 12 and 17 are rejected since they depend from claim 8.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As per independent claim 1, Gotou (US 5150582), directed to an air conditioning apparatus comprising outdoor unit A, branch unit B, indoor units C, and headers H-1-H3, represents the closest prior art. However, neither Gotou nor the prior art in general teach or suggest the air conditioning apparatus combination as recited, and in particular wherein the heat medium circuit comprises the full combination of a first pump, a second pump, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, a first branch header, a second branch header, a first merge header, a second merge header, a plurality of first on-off valves, a plurality of second on-off valves, a plurality of third on-off valves, a plurality of fourth on-off valves, a fifth on-off valve, a sixth on-off valve, a seventh on- off valve, an eighth on-off valve, a ninth on-off valve, and a tenth on-off valve disposed in the branch unit, all arranged in the manner recited.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARC E NORMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4812. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00-4:30 M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Frantz Jules can be reached at 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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/MARC E NORMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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