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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The IDS filed on April 8, 2025 is hereby acknowledged and has been placed of record. Please find attached a signed copy of the IDS.
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.
Claims 139-158 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Robertson et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0334332.
As to claim 139, Robertson (see, for example, the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-12) shows a spray nozzle (10) comprising: a lower member (14 and 12) and an upper member (16) rotatably coupled to the lower member to vary a size of an arc opening for water to exit the nozzle (see paragraph [0053]), the lower member and the upper member defining a path for the water to flow from a passage within the lower member (as shown in Fig. 5), through an orifice (for example, as defined between 55 and 32), and then to an exit (for example, where the arrows commence exiting the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 5) of the nozzle, the exit comprising opposing surfaces of the upper member and the lower member (see again, Fig. 5), the upper member comprising one or more ramps (as defined on each of 60) having a convex surface (see Figs. 8-12).
As to claim 140, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the convex surface is a curved surface (inclusive of 70d; see Fig. 11).
As to claim 141, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the convex surface comprises at least one arc (inclusive of 70d, as a “curved” surface is reasonably an arc-shaped surface; see Fig. 11)
As to claim 142, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the convex surface comprises at least one line segment (for example, 70a, 70b, 70c; see Fig. 11).
As to claim 143, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the convex surface comprises three line segments (70a, 70b, 70c; see Fig. 11).
As to claim 144, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 143, and wherein the three line segments are configured as a head water ramp, a mid-level ramp, and a radial ramp, respectively (70a, 70b, 70c; see Fig. 11). It should be noted that the terms “head water ramp”, “mid-level ramp”, and “radial ramp” can be treated as merely names of such ramp portions, since neither the originally-filed disclosure, nor the claims define such terms in a manner which would preclude surfaces, such as “70a”, 70b” and “70c” of Robertson, from being reasonably applied to each of the recited “ramp” elements.
As to claim 145, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 143, and wherein at least two of the three line segments have different lengths (such as 70b, as compared to 70c; see Fig. 11).
As to claim 146, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the upper member follows a helical path about a central axis of the nozzle (see Fig. 12) when rotated relative to the lower member.
As to claim 147, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the upper member and the lower member are connected by a screw (18).
As to claim 148, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 147, and wherein the lower member includes a central sleeve (26) through which the screw is threaded.
As to claim 149, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 139, and wherein the lower member has a threaded segment (40) configured to screw to a riser.
As to claim 150, Robertson (see, for example, the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-12) shows a spray nozzle (10) comprising: a lower member (14 and 12) having an inlet; an upper member (16) rotatably coupled to the lower member to vary a size of an arc opening for water to exit the nozzle (see paragraph [0053]), the upper member comprising one or more ramps (as defined on each of 60) having a convex surface (see Figs. 8-12); a flow path defined by the lower member and the upper member for the water to flow from the inlet to the arc opening (see Fig.5); an orifice (for example, as defined between 55 and 32) disposed along the flow path and downstream from the inlet (see again, Fig. 5); and an exit (for example, where the arrows commence exiting the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 5) disposed downstream of the orifice and comprising the one or more ramps (see again, Fig. 5).
As to claim 151, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 150, and wherein the convex surface comprises at least one line segment (for example, 70a, 70b, 70c; see Fig. 11) and at least one arc (inclusive of 70d, as a “curved” surface is reasonably an arc-shaped surface; see Fig. 11).
As to claim 152, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 150, and wherein the convex surface extends in a radial direction away from a central axis of the nozzle (see Fig. 12).
As to claim 153, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 150, and wherein at least a portion of the convex surface extends parallel to a direction of the water exiting the nozzle (see Fig. 5).
As to claim 154, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 150, and wherein the exit is configured to create a fan-shape for the water exiting the nozzle (the adjustable arc spray created by the nozzle of Robertson would reasonably be called “fan” shaped in at least one adjusted configuration).
As to claim 155, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 150, and wherein the upper member follows a helical path about a central axis of the nozzle (see Fig. 12) when rotated relative to the lower member.
As to claim 156, Robertson (see, for example, the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-12) shows a spray nozzle (10) comprising: an inlet (as defined in the upstream end portion of 12 and 14) for water to enter the nozzle; an arc opening (see Fig. 5; and see paragraph [0053]) for water to exit the nozzle; a flow path defined by the nozzle for the water to flow from the inlet to the arc opening (see again, Fig. 5); an orifice (for example, as defined between 55 and 32) disposed along the flow path (see again, Fig. 5); an exit (for example, where the arrows commence exiting the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 5) disposed downstream of the orifice and comprising an upper surface (as defined on 16) and a lower surface (as defined on 14); and one or more ramps (as defined on each of 60) disposed on the upper surface and having a convex shape (see Figs. 8-12).
As to claim 157, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 156, and wherein the convex shape is curved (see, for example, at 70d).
As to claim 158, Robertson shows the spray nozzle of Claim 156, and wherein the convex shape is configured as a head water ramp, a mid-level ramp, and a radial ramp (for example, 70a, 70b, 70c; see Fig. 11). It should be noted that the terms “head water ramp”, “mid-level ramp”, and “radial ramp” can be treated as merely names of such ramp portions, since neither the originally-filed disclosure, nor the claims define such terms in a manner which would preclude surfaces, such as “70a”, 70b” and “70c” of Robertson, from being reasonably applied to each of the recited “ramp” elements.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DARREN W GORMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4901. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6:30-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur 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.
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/DARREN W GORMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752
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