Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-08-19)

CLAIMS:
19056114 AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

The following listing of claims replaces all prior listings of claims in this application.

1\. (Currently Amended) An impeller for a flow device, the impeller comprising: a hub; and a plurality of blades , wherein each blade comprises: an attached portion, attached to an outer surface of the hub; and an unattached tip end portion , extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub, wherein the unattached tip end portion of a blade of the plurality of blades is \[\[free\]\]configured to deflect based on a rotational speed of the impeller and correspondingly adjust a backsweep angle of the blade within a predefined range, and wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade.
2\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the unattached tip end portion of the plurality of blades extends at least partially beyond an outermost diameter of the hub.
3\. (Original) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the predefined range of the backsweep angle ranges from 15 to 60 degrees from a radial direction from the hub.
4\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a coupling side attached to the outer surface of the hub, and wherein the coupling side has a curved profile, such that a plurality of fluidic passages is formed or defined between adjacent blades in the plurality of blades to allow flow of a fluid therethrough.
5\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the hub has a curved profile, wherein an outer diameter of the hub increases in a direction while moving from a leading end towards a trailing end of the hub, and wherein the unattached tip end portion of the hub extends at least partially beyond the outer diameter of the trailing end of the hub.
6\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a coupling side attached to the outer surface of the hub, a leading edge located adjacent to a leading end of the hub, a trailing edge located adjacent to a trailing end of the hub, and a curved edge opposite to the coupling side and extending between the trailing edge and the leading edge .
7\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein a trailing edge of the blade of the plurality of blades \[\[are\]\]is circumferentially offset from a corresponding leading edge of the blade.
8\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein \[\[a\]\]said at least part of the attached portion\[\[,\]\] is configured at a leading edge\[\[,\]\] of each of the plurality of blades, and wherein said at least part of the attached portion is curved in \[\[a\]\]the direction opposite to the curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade.
9\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of blades has a variable thickness between the leading edge and the trailing edge .
10\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 9, wherein the thickness of each of the plurality of blades reduces while moving in a radial direction from the coupling side towards the unattached tip end portion .
11\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of blades has a variable thickness between the coupling side and the curved edge .
12\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 6, wherein \[\[the\]\]a thickness of each of the plurality of blades reduces while moving in a direction from the leading edge towards the trailing edge .
13\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a middle portion, and wherein \[\[the\]\]a thickness of each of the plurality of blades increases while moving from the leading edge towards \[\[a\]\]the middle portion and further reduces while moving towards the trailing edge .
14\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the impeller further comprises a shroud encasing the hub and the plurality of blades, such that a first end of the shroud located adjacent to a leading edge of the plurality of blades remains open to allow inflow of a fluid therewithin, and a second end of the shroud located adjacent to a trailing edge of the plurality of blades remains open to allow outflow of the fluid therefrom.
15\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 14, wherein the shroud encases the hub and the plurality of blades, such that the unattached tip end portion of the plurality of blades remains enclosed by and unattached to the shroud.
16\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 14, wherein the shroud has a curved profile, and wherein a diameter of the shroud increases while moving in a direction from a leading end towards a trailing end of the hub.
17\. (Original) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades, the hub, and a shroud of the impeller are made of a non-metallic material.
18\. (Original) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades is made of a composite material having a predetermined flex modulus.
19\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the impeller further comprises a plurality of splitters configured in an alternating arrangement with the plurality of blades such that one of the plurality of splitters remains between \[\[the \]\]adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, and wherein the plurality of splitters extends radially outwards from the hub such that at least a portion of a tip end, opposite to the hub, of a splitter of the plurality of splitters remains unattached to the outer surface of the hub.
20\. (Currently Amended) The impeller of claim 1, wherein the unattached tip end portion of each of the plurality of blades is configured to deflect from a first position, away from a radial direction of the hub, to a second position toward the radial direction of the hub, as the rotational speed of the impeller increases .

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowed.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Applicant’s amendment defines over the applied references in that the references taken alone or in combination do not teach “wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion”. The combination of elements in the claims is not taught or fairly suggested by the prior art.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSStatus of Claims Claims 1-20 are pending in the present Application. Claims 1, 2, 4-16, 19, and 20 are currently amended. Support for the amendments can be found in original figures and in paragraphs [0041], [0047], and [0049] of the as-filed Specification. Reconsideration and allowance of the claims are respectfully requested in view of the above amendments and the following remarks.Examiner Interview Applicant thanks the Examiner MAXIME M ADJAGBE for conducting the Telephonic Interview on June 30, 2025. In particular, in the Interview Summary, the Examiner cites new references, US 2022/0307520 Al (Mosiewicz), US 2021/0071681 Al (Hsu), US 2018/0128109 Al (Humes), US 2010/0189557 Al (Broom), and US 9,850,760 B1 (Crosatti) "each of which reads on the proposed amended claim 1." Applicant has further amended independent claim 1 in view of the new references cited in the Interview Summary, and submits the following remarks.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 112 Claims 1-19 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. § 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph. See Office Action, pages 2 and 3.In response, Applicant has amended claims 1, 2, 4-16, and 19 to further clarify the claimed subject matter. Dependent claims 3, 17, and 18 depend on amended independent claim 1.Therefore, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of claims 1-19 under 35 U.S.C.§ 112(b) be withdrawn.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 102 Claims 1, 2, 4-13, 18, and 20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 5,993,158 (Young).Applicant traverses this rejection. In particular, Applicant submits that Young does not disclose the features of claims 1, 2, 4-13, 18, and 20.Independent claim 1 Specifically, amended independent claim 1 recites "a plurality of blades, wherein each blade comprises: an attached portion, attached to an outer surface of the hub; and an unattached tip end portion, extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub ...wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade," which is not disclosed by Young (emphasis added).The Office Action, on page 4, alleges that Young discloses the features of original claim 1 and refers to FIG. 1 and column 5, lines 29-48 of Young for the same.Young, in the cited portions and elsewhere, describes an impeller 10 comprising a hub 20 and a plurality of impeller blades 30 connected to the hub 20. The impeller blades 30 are flexible, i.e., have a continuous flexure along the length of the impeller blade 30, or a discontinuous flexure by providing one or more joints along the length of the impeller blade 30. See FIG. 1 of Young reproduced below.f
.-.. .: .
L  k i'- FIG.1 FIG. 1 of Young Thus, Young, at best, describes that impeller blade 30 is configured to deflect, either continuously or discontinuously, along the length of the impeller blade 30. However, in Young, there is no part of the attached portion of the blade 30 that is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached portion of the blade 30. In fact, Young's blade 30 is, at best, curved in a single direction. Refer FIG. lA of Applicant annotated below.102 atached ponion of the blade -cun e-d
FIG. 1A The dir-ctionz of curv: atu:re'of u". ntached ' portin of t1he ba'de Annotated FIG. 7A of Applicant In view of the above, Applicant respectfully submits that Young fails to disclose the above- mentioned features of amended independent claim 1.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of independent claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) be withdrawn.Dependent claims 2, 4-13, 18, and 20 Dependent claims 2, 4-13, 18, and 20 are also allowable at least by virtue of their dependency from amended independent claim 1, which has been shown to be allowable above, and as well as for the features they recite individually.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of dependent claims 2, 4- 13, 18, and 20 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) be withdrawn.Claims 1, 2, 4-12, and 20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0008067 Al (Kuan).Applicant traverses this rejection. In particular, Applicant submits that Kuan does not disclose the features of claims 1, 2, 4-12, and 20.Independent claim 1 Specifically, amended independent claim 1 recites "a plurality of blades, wherein each blade comprises: an attached portion, attached to an outer surface of the hub; and an unattached tip end portion, extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub ...wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade," which is not disclosed by Kuan (emphasis added).The Office Action, on page 7, alleges that Kuan discloses the features of original claim 1 and refers to paragraph [0016] and FIG. 1 for the same.Kuan, in the cited portions and elsewhere, describes a cooling fan 10 that comprises fan blades 24 integrally formed with a hub 22. Each fan blade 24 comprises a linear first portion 240 (unattached portion) and a curved second portion 242 (attached portion). See FIG. 1 of Kuan reproduced below.10244 246 224 222 220 242 240 Y  J22
24 FIG. 1 of Kuan Thus, Kuan, at best, describes that the second portion 242 (attached portion) of the fan blade 24 forms a linear-shaped top edge 244 and a concaved side edge 246. However, Kuan nowhere discloses that a part of the second portion 242 is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the first portion 240. In fact, as shown in FIG. 1 of Kuan above, the unattached portion or the first portion 240 of Kuan is a linear portion, and does not have a curving profile or curvature.Therefore, Kuan also fails to disclose the above-mentioned features of amended independent claim 1.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of independent claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) be withdrawn.Dependent claims 2, 4-12, and 20 Dependent claims 2, 4-12, and 20 are also allowable at least by virtue of their dependency from amended independent claim 1, which has been shown to be allowable above, and as well as for the features they recite individually.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of dependent claims 2, 4- 12, and 20 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) be withdrawn.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103 Claim 3 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Young or Kuan.Dependent claim 3 is allowable at least by virtue of its dependency from amended independent claim 1, which has been shown to be allowable above, and as well as for the features it recites individually.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of dependent claim 3 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 be withdrawn.Claims 14-16 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kuan in view of U.S. Patent No. 11,041,503 B2 (Iurisci).Iurisci is not asserted to cure the deficiencies in the rejection of independent claim 1 above.Further, Iurisci fails to disclose "a plurality of blades, wherein each blade comprises: an attached portion, attached to an outer surface of the hub; and an unattached tip end portion, extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub ... wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade," as recited in amended independent claim 1.Therefore, dependent claims 14-16 are allowable at least by virtue of their dependency from amended independent claim 1, which has been shown to be allowable above, and as well as for the features they recite individually.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of dependent claims 14-16 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 be withdrawn.Claims 17 and 18 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kuan in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0213632 Al (Parry).Parry is not asserted to cure the deficiencies in the rejection of independent claim 1 above.Further, Parry fails to disclose "a plurality of blades, wherein each blade comprises: an attached portion, attached to an outer surface of the hub; and an unattached tip end portion, extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub ... wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade," as recited in amended independent claim 1.Therefore, dependent claims 17 and 18 are allowable at least by virtue of their dependency from amended independent claim 1, which has been shown to be allowable above, and as well as for the features they recite individually.Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of dependent claims 17 and 18 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 be withdrawn.Claim 19 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over Kuan in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0401606 Al (Guriev).Guriev is not asserted to cure the deficiencies in the rejection of independent claim 1 above.Further, Guriev fails to disclose "a plurality of blades, wherein each blade comprises: an attached portion, attached to an outer surface of the hub; and an unattached tip end portion, extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub ... wherein at least part of the attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of the unattached tip end portion of the blade," as recited in amended independent claim 1.64 48
44 Annotated FIG. 1 of Guriev from the Office Action Applicant submits that although Guriev depicts an S-shaped configuration of a blade, Guriev does not disclose that a part of an attached portion is curved in a direction different from a curvature of an unattached portion of the blade. In fact, the unattached portion (annotated by the Examiner on page 15 of the Office Action) is different from the claimed "unattached tip end portion, extending radially beyond and unattached to the outer surface of the hub." (Emphasis added). In particular, the alleged unattached portion in Guriev does not extend radially beyond the outer surface of the hub, in a manner as claimed in amended independent claim 1.Therefore, Guriev, either alone or in combination with Kuan, does not teach or suggest the above-mentioned features of amended independent claim 1.Accordingly, dependent claim 19 is also allowable at least by virtue of its dependency from amended independent claim 1, which has been shown to be allowable above, and as well as for the features it recites individually.Therefore, Applicant respectfully requests that the rejection of dependent claim 19 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 be withdrawn.It should be noted that the Applicant has not addressed each rejection of the dependent claims. Any rejection of a dependent claim not specifically addressed is not to be construed as an admission by the Applicant of the correctness of that rejection. Rather, the Applicant believes that the independent claims are patentably distinguishable over the cited references for the reasons noted above, so that the rejection of the dependent claims need not be addressed at this time.Applicant reserves the right to address the rejection of any dependent claim at a later time should that become warranted.CONCLUSIONThe Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any fee required under 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.16 or other applicable rule to Deposit Account 030835.Date: July 15, 2025