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 claim 9 recitation “first retainer element is independent of the cartridge body” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). The drawings and specification show only the second retainer 142 independent of the cartridge body (which is for claimed second valve recited as controlling flow to outlet so it would be for second valve 206 as opposed to the first retainer 226 for first valve 204, which is inside cartridge body and not independent of the body). 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 § 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, 6-8, 11, 15-17, 19, 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Reinatz et al (6176692).
Regarding claim 1, Reinatz, (Fig 1), discloses a valve cartridge 34 for a fluid pump 9,15, comprising: a cartridge body (sleeve 35 constitutes cartridge body and inward extending portion at upstream end as valve seat for 38) defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the cartridge body having a fluid inlet (at 17) extending through the first end and a fluid outlet (at 33) extending through the second end; a first valve assembly “E” configured to control fluid flow through the fluid inlet, the first valve assembly disposed inside the cartridge body 35, and the first valve assembly comprising: a first valve seat (for 38 at inner surface of inward extending portion at upstream end of 35); a first valve 38 configured to sealingly engage the first valve seat; a first spring 41 configured to bias the first valve to a closed position with respect to the first valve seat; and a first retainer element (left side portion of 39) configured to engage the first spring 41; and a second valve assembly “E” configured to control fluid flow through the fluid outlet, the second valve assembly comprising: a second valve seat (right side portion of 39); a second valve 40 configured to sealingly engage the second valve seat; and a second spring 42 configured to bias the second valve 10 to a closed position with respect to the second valve seat, the valve cartridge configured for insertion into, and removal from, a cartridge bore in a housing of the fluid pump as a unit (col 1 ,line 56 teaches valves interconnected as s single cartridge inserted in the bore; likewise, the cartridge is seen as removable as single unit from bore 32).
As to claim 2, the cartridge body (35) is a single piece component from the first end to the second end.
As to claim 6, first valve assembly E is configured to control fluid flow through only one fluid inlet 17, and the fluid inlet is the only one fluid inlet (for pump 9,15), and wherein the second valve assembly 18 is configured to control fluid flow through only one fluid outlet 33, and the fluid outlet is the only one fluid outlet (for pump 9,15).
As to claim 7, the cartridge body (35) is configured to direct fluid flow from the first end to the second end of the cartridge body along a center line of the cartridge body.
As to claim 8, the fluid inlet 17 is along a center line of the cartridge body, and the fluid outlet 33 is along the center line of the cartridge body.
As to claim 11, Reinatz, (Fig 2), discloses a fluid end (at lower side of 52) of a fluid pump 46, comprising: a cap 48 configured to enclose a cartridge bore 47-50 of the fluid end; a valve cartridge 55 configured for insertion into, and removal from, the cartridge bore as a (col 1, line 56 teaches valves interconnected as s single cartridge inserted in the bore; likewise, the cartridge is seen as removable as single unit from bore), the valve cartridge comprising: a cartridge body 59,58,57,56 defining a first end (at 56) and a second end opposite the first end, the cartridge body having a fluid inlet (at 50) extending through the first end and a fluid outlet (to 47) extending through the second end; a first valve assembly E configured to control fluid flow through the fluid inlet, the first valve assembly disposed inside the cartridge body, and the first valve assembly comprising a first valve seat (at surface of 56), a first valve 51, a first spring 64, and a first retainer element (stepped section at upstream surface of 58); and a second valve assembly A configured to control fluid flow through the fluid outlet, the second valve assembly comprising a second valve seat (at surface of 58), a second valve 61, and a second spring 65; and a retainer element 62 configured to engage between the cap 48 and the second spring 65.
As to claim 15, first valve assembly E is configured to control fluid flow through only one fluid inlet (at 50), and the fluid inlet is the only one fluid inlet, and wherein the second valve assembly is configured to control fluid flow through only one fluid outlet 47, and the fluid outlet is the only one fluid outlet.
As to claim 16, the cartridge body (55) is configured to direct fluid flow from the first end to the second end of the cartridge body along a center line of the cartridge body.
As to claim 17, Reinatz, (Fig 1), discloses a fluid pump, 9,15, comprising: a power end 20; a fluid end 15 having a cartridge bore 32; and a valve cartridge 34 configured for insertion into, and removal from, the cartridge bore as a unit (col 1 ,line 56 teaches valves interconnected as s single cartridge inserted in the bore; likewise, the cartridge is seen as removable as single unit from bore 32), the valve cartridge comprising: a cartridge body (sleeve 35 constitutes cartridge body and inward extending portion at upstream end as valve seat for 38) fluid inlet (at 17) extending through the first end and a fluid outlet (at 33) extending through the second end; a first valve assembly “E” configured to control fluid flow through the fluid inlet, the first valve assembly disposed inside the cartridge body 35, and the first valve assembly comprising a first valve seat (for 38 at inner surface of inward extending portion at upstream end of 35), a first valve 38, a first spring 41, and a first retainer element (left side portion of 39); and a second valve assembly “A” configured to control fluid flow through the fluid outlet, the second valve assembly comprising a second valve seat (right side portion of 39), a second valve 40, and a second spring 42.
As to claim 19, first valve assembly E is configured to control fluid flow through only one fluid inlet 17, and the fluid inlet is the only one fluid inlet (for pump 9,15), and wherein the second valve assembly 18 is configured to control fluid flow through only one fluid outlet 33, and the fluid outlet is the only one fluid outlet (for pump 9,15).
As to claim 20, the cartridge body (35) is configured to direct fluid flow from the first end to the second end of the cartridge body along a center line of the cartridge body.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 3-5, 12-14, 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Reinatz et al (6176692) in view of Yater et al (20100038134).
Reinatz discloses valve assemblies “E” and “A’ in valve chamber formed by cartridge body (35 in Fig 1, and 56,57,58,59 in Fig 2) but fails to disclose the valve assemblies with seat, ball and spring of suction and discharge valves as copies of each other. Yater shows (Fig 20, Para 0192) suction and discharge valve assemblies 821,822 in a valve chamber 804 as a copies of each other.
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have provided the system/device disclosed Reinatz with valve balls, seats and springs as a copies of each other as taught by Yater in order to enable interchangeability of parts.
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Reinatz et al (6176692) in view of Chandrasekaran et al (20140086774).
Regarding claim 10, Reinatz, (Fig 1), discloses the first check valve “E” having retainer element (as upstream part of 39) but fails to disclose valves biased by spring with spring retainer held in grooves of cartridge body sidewall. Chandrasekaran et al teaches suction and discharge valves for pump as check valves biased by spring 72 with spring retainer 20 held in grooves 22 of valve chamber sidewall.
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have provided the system/device disclosed Reinatz with valves biased by spring with spring retainer held in grooves of valve chamber sidewall as taught by Chandrasekaran as an art-recognized functionally equivalent substitute check valve mechanism yielding predictable results of unidirectional flow. The grooves in sidewall of valve chamber of Reinatz as modified would be located in the inner surface of cartridge body sidewall.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 9 is/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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Atif Chaudry at phone number 571-270-3768. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (9:30AM-6:00PM EST).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors can be reached by phone. Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881, or Craig Schneider can be reached at 571-272-3607. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ATIF H CHAUDRY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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