Office Action 3: Notice of Allowance (2025-05-14)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims replaces all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

What is claimed is:

1\. (Currently Amended) A washing machine without an external drum, comprising:a washing drum provided inside the washing machine, the washing drum \[\[is\]\] provided with an opening for placing and removing laundry, wherein a front end of the washing drum is smaller in diameter than a rear end, and the washing drum is in the shape of a truncated cone;
drain holes provided on the washing drum; \[\[and\]\] a valve for opening or closing \[\[all\]\] the drain holes \[\[is\]\], the valve provided on the washing drum and located at a corresponding position of \[\[a\]\] the drain holes;
wherein a bevel is provided between \[\[a\]\] the rear end and \[\[the\]\] a side wall of the washing drum, \[\[and\]\] the drain holes are distributed on the bevel\[\[;\]\],and the valve \[\[is\]\] includes at least one sealing ring connected with a locking device for opening or closing the drain holes; \[\[and\]\] wherein the locking device is mounted on a spindle of the washing drum by a bearing and \[\[is\]\] configured to move in an axial direction along the spindle;,\_andprovided with a locking shaf set in a tilted trac connected to a movement driver.

2\. (Cancelled)

3\. (Cancelled)

4\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein a water inlet mechanism is provided having a water valve provided on the washing drum\[\[;\]\],\_anda water channel \[\[is\]\] provided in the water valve \[\[and\]\] configured to move in the radial direction of the washing drum to connect the inner wall of the washing drum and \[\[the\]\] a water pipe\[\[;\]\] such that during filling water, the water pipe pushes the water valve to move inward toward the inner wall of the washing drum and connects the water pipe to the inner wall \[\[by\]\] via the water channel\[\[;\]\], and after filing, the water valve moves outwards to close the water channel.

5\. (Cancelled)

6\. (Currently Amended) A washing machine without an external drum, comprising:a washing drum provided inside the washing machine, the washing drum \[\[is\]\] provided with an opening for placing and removing laundry, wherein a front end of the washing drum is smaller in diameter than a rear end, and the washing drum is in the shape of a truncated cone;
drain holes \[\[are\]\] provided on the washing drum; and
a valve for opening or closing \[\[all\]\] the drain holes \[\[is\]\], the valve provided on the washing drum and located at a corresponding position of \[\[a\]\] the drain holes;
wherein a bevel is provided between a rear end and \[\[the\]\] a side wall of the washing drum, \[\[and\]\] the drain holes are distributed on the bevel\[\[;\]\], and

the valve \[\[is\]\] includes at least one sealing ring connected with a locking device for opening or closing the drain holes; and
wherein the at least one sealing ring is pivotally installed on the rear end of the washing drum and is connected to a reset spring\[\[;\]\], the locking device comprises at least a clasp movably mounted on the rear end of the washing drum\[\[;\]\], and when locked, the clasp locks the at least one sealing ring in position to close the drain holes.

7\. (Previously Presented) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein the drain holes are divided into several groups and set along the bevel.

8\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein the locking device provides a slide-to-close device for pushing the at least one sealing ring to close the drain holes\[\[;\]\]1 the slide-to-close device moves in parallel to a washing drum shaft of the washing drum\[\[;\]\], anda plate is provided for pushing the at least one sealing ring to the drain holes.

9\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of further comprising:
a collision block contacted with the clasp to unlock the at least one sealing ring from the clasp; wherein the collision block is L-shaped.

10\. (Currently Amended) A washing machine without an external drum, comprising:a washing drum provided inside the washing machine, the washing drum \[\[is\]\] provided with an opening for placing and removing laundry,

wherein a front end of the washing drum is smaller in diameter than a rear end, and the washing drum is in the shape of a truncated cone;
drain holes \[\[are\]\] provided on the washing drum; and
a valve for opening or closing \[\[all\]\] the drain holes \[\[is\]\], the valve provided on the washing drum and located at a corresponding position of \[\[a\]\] the drain holes;
wherein a bevel is provided between a rear end and \[\[the\]\] a side wall of the washing drum, and the drain holes are distributed on the bevel\[\[;\]\], and the valve \[\[is\]\] includes at least one sealing ring connected with a locking device for opening or closing the drain holes; and
wherein a water inlet mechanism including a positioning device for aligning the washing drum with the water inlet mechanism and a filling control device is provided, and during water filling, the positioning device aligns an outlet of the filling control device with at least one of the drain holes of the washing drum.

11\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein the positioning device, including a block, is configured to move in parallel to a washing drum shaft of the washing drum\[\[;\]\], andwhen locking the washing drum, the block contacts with one of the washing drum, the sealing ring, or the clasp to stop the washing drum from rotating.

12\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein the filling control device comprises a water tank configured to move \[\[in\]\] axially parallel to the rotation axis of the washing drum, and the water tank connects to a water supply by a water pipe.

13\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein the water tank slides along two rails, one of the rails \[\[is\]\] provided with an inclined section\[\[;\]\], rolling shafts are provided and roll along the rails\[\[;\]\] and the water tank inclines to align the outlet of the filling control device with the bevel while the water tank slides to the inclined section of the rail.

14\. (Original) The washing machine without an external drum of claim 12, wherein the water supply comprises a detergent dispenser, an inlet of the detergent dispenser connects to the water pipe, and an outlet of the detergent dispenser connects to the water tank.

15\. (Previously Presented) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of wherein the water pipe of the water supply connects to a heater.

16\. (Currently Amended) The washing machine without an external drum of The washing machine without an external drum of further comprising: a water basin positioned under the washing drum for receiving \[\[the\]\] water discharged from the drain holes.

OFFICE ACTION:
EXAMINER'S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
The following amendments overcome rejections for lack of antecedent basis set forth in the prior Office action that were not corrected in Applicant’s after-final response.  The amendments are consistent with Applicant’s amendment to correct the same lack of antecedent basis in claim 1.
The application has been amended as follows:
In claim 6, line 10, change “a rear end” to “the rear end”.
In claim 6, line 10, change “a rear end” to “the rear end”.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:  As to claim 1, the prior art of record does not teach or suggest the claimed washing machine, either alone or in obvious combination. In particular, the prior art of record does not teach a washing machine without an external drum/tub having the claimed drain holes, valve, and locking device. The particular combination of claimed features would not haven obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed. As to claim 6, the prior art of record does not teach or suggest the claimed washing machine, either alone or in obvious combination. In particular, the prior art of record does not teach a washing machine without an external drum/tub having the claimed drain holes, valve, and locking device. The particular combination of claimed features would not haven obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed. As to claim 10, the prior art of record does not teach or suggest the claimed washing machine, either alone or in obvious combination. In particular, the prior art of record does not teach a washing machine without an external drum/tub having the claimed drain holes, valve, and water inlet mechanism. The particular combination of claimed features would not haven obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed.
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: REMARKS/ARGUMENTSClaim Status Summary Claim 4 is objected to (presumably under 37 C.F.R. §1.75) for purported minor informalities.Claims 1, 4, and 6-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b)/Second Paragraph, as being indefinite for purportedly failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.Claims 1, 4, 6, 8-13, and 16 are amended in this Paper.Claims 1, 4, and 6-16 remain pending in this application.Claim Objections Claim 4 is objected to (presumably under 37 C.F.R. §1.75) for purported minor informalities.Applicant respectfully disagrees for at least the reasons discussed below.Claim 4 has been amended to recite that a water channel is provided in the water valve and is configured to move in the radial direction of the washing drum to connect the inner wall of the washing drum and a water pipe.Applicant respectfully submits that this claim no longer exhibits non-idiomatic English usage with the recited movement of the water channel.Therefore, for the reasons discussed above, Applicant respectfully submits that the claimed invention are fully enabled and fully descriptive as required under 35 U.S.C. §112 and 37 C.F.R. §1.75; hence, Applicant respectfully requests the Office to withdraw the objection over claim 4 accordingly, and to issue favorable re- consideration.35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph Claims 1, 4, and 6-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b)/Second Paragraph, as being indefinite for purportedly failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.The claimed invention has been thoroughly checked over for all inadvertent errors, proper idiomatic English conformity, and proper antecedent basis issues.The subject matter previously presented in claim 4 has been incorporated into independent claim 1. This subject matter has been thoroughly checked to ensure conformance to the objections and rejections raised by the Office in the Final Office Action.Claim 1 now recites that a water channel is provided in the water valve, and the water channel is configured to move in a radial direction of the washing drum to connect an inner wall of the washing drum to a water pipe, supported by the originally filed specification, inter alia, Page 11, Line 21 through Page 12, Line 17.The "rear end" and "side wall" of the washing drum now have explicitly proper antecedent basis in the claimed invention in claims 1, 6, and 10.Claim 4 recites the water channel is provided in the water valve, and is configured to move in a radial direction of the washing drum to connect an inner wall of the washing drum to a water pipe.Claim 4 has been amended to recite that a water channel is provided in the water valve and is configured to move in the radial direction of the washing drum to connect the inner wall of the washing drum to a water pipe.Claims 6 and 10 have also been amended to recite that the valve for opening or closing the drain holes is provided on the washing drum and is located at a corresponding position of the drain hole holes, not a single drain hole as inadvertently recited previously.Claim 12 now recites that the filling control device comprises a water tank configured to move axially parallel to the rotation axis of the washing drum, as properly interpreted by the Office.Claim 13 now recites that the water tank inclines to align the outlet of the filling control device with the bevel, as properly interpreted by the Office.Therefore, for at least the reasons discussed above, Applicant respectfully submits that the claimed invention is definite and particularly points out the subject matter which Applicant regards as the invention as required under 35 U.S.C. §112, Second Paragraph; hence, Applicant respectfully requests the Office to withdraw the rejection over claims 1, 4, and 6-16 accordingly, and to issue favorable re-consideration.Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 6, and 10 are indicated as containing allowable subject matter as indicated in the Final Action, Page 4, Line 14 through Page 5, Line 12.Claims 1, 4, and 6-16 have been thoroughly analyzed and Applicant respectfully submits that all clarity issues raised by the Office have been explicitly addressed and conform fully to, at least, 35 U.S.C. §101, §102, §103, and §112.Therefore, for at least the reasons discussed above, Applicant respectfully requests the Office to withdraw all objections and rejections accordingly, and to issue favorable re-consideration of the claimed invention.Conclusion Claims 1, 4, and 6-16 are pending in this application. In view of the reasons stated above, Applicant respectfully submits that the independent claims patentably define the present invention over the citations of record, and Applicant respectfully requests a favorable reconsideration and issuing allowance accordingly. Further, the dependent claims should also be allowable for the same reasons as their respective base claims and further due to the additional features that they recite. Separate and individual consideration of the dependent claims is respectfully requested. Examiner is invited to contact the attorney on record to expedite the prosecution in pursuance of allowance.Respectfully submitted, WPAT, P.C.By / Marc D. Thompson Reg. #58,774 / Marc D. Thompson Registration No. 58,774 By