Europaisches
`Patentamt
`European
`Patent Office
`Office européen
`
`des brevets
`
`
`
`
`AWA Sweden AB
`Box 45086
`104 30 Stockholm
`SUEDE
`
`European Patent Office
`80298 MUNICH
`GERMANY
`
`Questions about this communication?
`Gontact Customer Services at www.epo.org/contact
`
`Dat
`w
`
`03.01.2023
`
`i Application Na./Pateni No.
`i Reference
`| 22183029.2 - 17101
`;EP-21136021
`PADPRGERUPPapLOR1
`Bluewater Sweden AB
`
`i
`
`The extended European search reportis enclosed.
`
`Communication
`
`The extended European search report includes, pursuant to Rule 62 EPC, the European search report
`(R. 61 EPC) or the partial European search report/ declaration of no search (R. 63 EPC) and the
`European search opinion.
`
`Copies of documenis cited in the European search report are attached.
`
`id
`
`0 additional set(s) of copies of such documents is (are) enclosed as well.
`
`The following have been approved:
`
`
`
`Abstract kiesTiitle
`
`Cc]
`
`The Abstract was modified and the definitive text is attached to this communication.
`
`The following figure(s} will be published together with the abstract: 2
`
`Refund of search fee
`if applicable under Article S Rules relating to fees, a separate communication from the Receiving Section
`on the refund of the search fee will be sent tater.
`
`Should you wish to further prosecute this application in ihe examination phase, your attention is drawn to
`the provisions of Rule 70a EPC. Aninvilation to respond to ihe exterided European search report will be
`issued once the date of publication of the European search report has been mentioned in the European
`Patent Bulletin (R. 69(1), R. 70(2) EPC).
`
`
`
`EPO Form 1507N 06.12
`
`page 7 of 1
`
`

`

`Europaisches
`
`it
`
`tent
`tice
`waren ceceen |
`des brevets
`j
`
`EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT
`
`Application Numbe
`rp
`EP 22 Ls 3028
`
`"
`
`
`
`x
`
`[0023],
`
`(1-5,7,
`(20,212,
`[43,14
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`CLASSIFICATION OF THE
`Relevant
`Citation of document with indication, where appropriate,
`Category
`weOErelevantpassages_declan|APPLICATION(PC)
`
`
`(NEWMAN DANIEL A [US])
`x
`us 2007/023338 Al
`(4-5,7,
`[i February 2007 (2007-02-01)
`|20-14
`-—
`|* paragraphs [0003],
`[0021]
`|
`| [6031],
`0032]; figures 1-5 *
`Baa
`(US 4 994 177 A (BOGAR JR EARL M [US]}
`[19 February 1991 (1991-62-19)
`
`INV.
`COZFi/60
`
`ADD.
`CO2F1/32
`CcO2ri/68
`
`|* column 3, Line 19 —- column 4,
`| £igures 1, 2 *
`
`line 12;
`
`us 160 383 315 B2 (PIONEER PET PRODUCTS LLC 1-7,10,
`| {US]) 20 August 20193 (2019-08-26)
`(11,13,14
`i* column 4, Line 13 - column 11, Line 14;
`©
`| figures i-i2 *
`
`(MAININI CHRISTOPHER E
`us 2017/3262092 Al
`| {US] EY AL} 21 December 2617 (2017-12-21)
`|
`i * paragraphs [0089]
`BO
`
`“4-5,
`(8-11,13,
`au
`[0093]; figure 9 * on
`~-
`eee
`TECHNICAL FIELDS
`SEARCHED
`(PC)
`
`co2Er
`AGLK
`
`The present search report has been drawn up for all claims
`Place of search
`Date of completion of the search
`
`Examiner
`
`The Haque
`CATEGORYOFCITED DOCUMENTS
`
`: particularly relevant if taken alone
`: particularly relevant if cambined with another
`
`document of the same category
`
`: technological background
`
`nan-writien disclosure
`1
`
`‘intermediate document
`
`16 December 2022
`
`Wolf, Gundula
`
`T : theory or principie underlying the invention
`E : earlier patent document, but published on, or
`after the filing date
`D : document cited in the anolication
`L : document cited for other reasons
`
`& : member of the same patent family, corresponding
`document
`
`x
`
`x
`
`i
`
`4 a
`
`
`03.82(PO4C01)
`EPOFORM1503
`
`

`

`ANNEX TO THE EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT
`ON EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION NO.
`
`EP 22 18 3029
`
`This annex lists ihe patent family membersreijating io the patent documents cited in the above-mentioned European search report.
`The members are as contained in the European Patent Office EDP file on
`The European Patent Office is in no wayliable for these particulars which are merely given for the purpose of information.
`16-12-2022
`
`
`
`Publication
`|
`Patent family
`|
`Publication
`Patent document
`daie
`|
`member(s)
`|
`date
`cited in search report
`
`Al
`01-02-2007
`EP
`1749442 Ai
`67-02-2007
`
`JP
`4945388 BZ
`06-06-2012
`IP
`2007037548 A
`15-02-2607
`us
`2607023338 Al
`01-62-2007
`
`US 4994177
`
`A
`
`19-02-1991
`
`NONE
`
`US 16383315
`
`B2
`
`20-08-2019
`
`16-06-2015
`2879488 Al
`EP
`06-03-2019
`3449722 Al
`EP
`O3-07-2015
`2015189862 Al
`Us
`07-11-2013
`2019335723 Al
`US
`WO
`2014022704 Al
`06-02-2014
`
`
`US 2017362032
`
`Al
`
`21-12-2017
`
`cA
`CN
`EP
`Us
`
`2971299 Al
`107822326 A
`3260422 Al
`42017362092 Al
`
`20-12-2017
`23-12-2017
`27-12-2017
`21~12~201L7
`
`For more details about this annex : see Official Journal of the European Patent Office, No. 12/82
`
`EPOFORMP0459
`
`

`

`Daturn
`
`Date
`Date
`
`cf Form 1507
`
`Blatt
`
`Sheet
`Feuille
`
`1
`
`Anmelde-Nr:
`
`Application No:
`Demande n°:
`
`22 183 029.2
`
`The examinationis being carried out on the following application documents
`
`Description, Pages
`
`1-12
`
`as originally filed
`
`Claims, Numbers
`
`4-14
`
`as originally filed
`
`Drawings, Sheets
`
`1/6-6/6
`
`as originally filed
`
`Reference is mace to the following documents; the numbering will be adheredto in the
`rest of the procedure.
`
`D1
`
`D2
`
`D3
`
`D4
`
`1
`
`2
`
`US 2007/023338 Al
`
`US 4994177 A
`
`US 10 383 315 B2
`
`US 2017/362092 Ai
`
`The application does not meet the requirements of Article 84 EPC, becausein
`claim 6 it is not clear how a sealing element can comprise a sub-housing.
`
`The present application does not meet the requirements of Article 52(1) EPC
`because the subject-matter of claims 1-12 is not new within the meaning of
`Article 54(7) and (2) EPC.
`
`2.1
`
`Di discloses (Fig. 1-5; par. 21-22) a filter device suitable for filtering drinking
`water (par. 3), comprising:
`a housing (12, 16) configured for submersion in a water reservoir, comprising an
`intake aperture (18) arranged for intake of water from the water reservoir and a
`return aperture (20) arranged for returning water to the water reservoir,
`wherein the housing extends along an axis;
`a pump (86, 88), housed in the housing, arranged on the axis to direct fluid from
`the intake aperture to the return aperture; and
`a filter arrangement (42), housed in the housing, arranged along the axis from
`EPO Form 1703 07.91TRI
`
`

`

`Daturn
`
`Blatt
`
`Anmelde-Nr:
`
`cf Form 1507
`
`2
`
`Application No:
`Sheet
`Date
`Demande n°:
`Feuille
`Date
`
`
`22 183 029.
`
`ho
`
`2.2
`
`the pump in a fluid path between the intake aperture and the return aperture,
`and
`wherein the housing further comprises:
`a first end (56, 36) for manipulation of the filter device by a user; and
`one or more spacers (90, 94) extending from a second end, the second end
`being opposedto the first end, wherein the ore or more spacers are configured
`for spacing the intake aperture from a surface of a water reservoir whilst
`allowing a passage of water into the intake aperture.
`
`Di therefore anticipates the subject matter of independent claim 1.
`
`D1 also discioses the subject matter of dependent claims 2 and 3 (Fig. 1), 4
`(par. 21: pump housing 90), 5 (Fig. 1 and 4: upper opening of the housing is
`sealed by cap 56), 7 (par. 31, 32), 10 (par. 21), 11 (Fig. 4), 12 (par. 23), 13 (Fig.
`4) and 14 (par. 3).
`
`De discloses (Fig. 1, 2; col. 3, |. 19-54) a filter device suitable for filtering
`drinking water, comprising:
`a housing (bucket 18) configured for submersion in a water reservoir (10),
`comprising an intake aperture (54) arranged for intake of water from the water
`reservoir and a return aperture (48) arranged for returning water to the water
`reservoir (col. 4, 1. 6-12),
`wherein the housing extends along an axis (Fig. 1, 2);
`a pump (34), housed in the housing, arranged on the axis to direct fluid from the
`intake aperture to the return aperture; and
`a filter arrangement (col. 3, |. 66-col. 4, |. 1), housed in the housing, arranged
`along the axis from the pump in a fiuid paih between the intake aperture and the
`return aperiure, and
`wherein the housing further comprises:
`a first end (24) for manipulation of the filter device by a user; and
`one or more spacers (suction cups 26) extending from a second end, the
`second end being opposed to the first end, wherein the one or more spacers
`are configured for spacing the intake aperture from a surface of a water
`reservoir whilst allowing a passage of water into the intake aperture.
`
`D2 therefore anticipates the subject matter of independent claim 7.
`
`D2 also discloses the subject matter of dependent claims 2 and 3 (Fig. 1, 2), 4
`
`EPO Form 1703 071 .91TRI
`
`

`

`Daturn
`Date
`Date
`
`cf Form 1507
`
`Blatt
`
`Sheet
`Feuille
`
`3
`
`Anmelde-Nr:
`
`Application No:
`Demande n°:
`
`22 183 029.2
`
`2.3
`
`(col. 3, 1 36-48), 5 (Fig. 1 and 2: upper opening of the housing is sealed by top
`wall 24), 7 (col. 3, |. 40-44;), 10 (col. 3, 1 36), 11 (Fig. 2), 13 (Fig. 2) and 14 (Fig.
`1 and 2).
`
`D3 discloses (Fig. 1-12} a filter device suitable for filtering drinking water,
`comprising:
`a housing (30) configured for submersion in a water reservoir (claim 1),
`comprising an intake aperture (holes in intake grate 48) arranged for intake of
`water from the water reservoir and a return aperture (discharge tube 88)
`arranged for returning water to the water reservoir,
`wherein the housing extends along an axis (Fig. 1-12};
`a pump (12), housed in the housing, arranged on the axis to direct fluid fram the
`intake aperture to the return aperture; and
`a filler arrangement (10), housed in the housing, arranged along the axis from
`the pump in a fluid path between the intake aperture and the return aperture,
`and
`wherein the housing further comprises:
`a first end (68) for manipulation of the filter device by a user; and
`one or more spacers (91, 93) extending from a second end, the second end
`being oppasedto the first end, wherein the one or more spacers are configured
`for spacing the intake aperture from a surface of a water reservoir whiist
`allowing a passage of water into the intake aperture.
`
`D3 therefore anticipates the subject matter of independent claim 1.
`
`D3 also discloses the subject matter of dependent claims 2 and 3 (Fig. 1, 2), 4
`(col. 6, 1. 27-29), 5 and 6 (col. &, 1. 28-32), 7 (col. 3, 1. 40-44;), 10 (col. 4, 1.
`22-23), 11 and 13 (Fig. 1-12) and 714 (col. 8, |. 4-5).
`
`2.4
`
`D4 discloses (Fig. 9; par. 89-93} a similar pump-filter combination and is also
`noveity destroying for claims 1-5, 10, 11, 13 and 74. it furthermore discioses the
`subject matter of dependent claims 8 (par. 61, 73} and 9 (par. 98).
`
`lt is not at present apparent which part of the application could serve as a basis
`for a new, allowable claim. Should the applicant nevertheless regard some
`particular matier as pateniable, an independent claim should be filed taking
`account of Rule 43(7) EPC.
`
`The applicant should also indicate the difference of the subject-maiter of the
`newclaim vis-a-vis the state of the art and the significance thereof in view of the
`requirement of inventive step, thereby following the problem/solution approach
`(Guidelines G-VIl, 5).
`
`EPO Form 1703 07.91TRI
`
`

`

`Datum
`
`Date
`Date
`
`cf Form 1507
`
`Blatt
`
`Sheet
`Feuille
`
`4
`
`Anmelde-Nr:
`
`Application No:
`Demande n°:
`
`22 183 029.2
`
`3.2
`
`3.3
`
`3.4
`
`3.5
`
`The features of the claims should be provided with reference signs placed in
`parenthesesto increase the intelligibility of the claims (Rule 43(7) EPC).
`
`Whenfiling amended claims the applicant should at the same time bring the
`description into conformity with the amended claims. Care should be taken
`during revision, especially of the introductory portion and any statements of
`problem or advantage, not to add subject-matter which extends beyond the
`content of the application as originally filed (Article 123(2) EPC).
`
`To meet the requirements of Rule 42(1)(b) EPC, the documents Di-D4 should
`be identified in the description and the relevant background art disclosed therein
`should be briefly discussed.
`
`The applicant should clearly identify the amendments carried out, irrespective of
`whether they concern amendments by addition, replacement or deletion, and
`indicate the passages of the application as filed on which these amendments
`are based (Rule 137(4) EPC).
`
`EPO Form 1703 07.91TRI
`
`