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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on June 9, 2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 1, lines 12/13 recite “…the first greasing parameter ends upon the wellhead pressure decreasing below the first preset pressure,”. Examiner cannot find support in the Specification that the first greasing parameter ends upon the wellhead pressure decreasing below the first preset pressure. Pertinent paragraphs appear to be [0005 and 0023] with [0023] disclosing “the grease cycle starts automatically when wellhead pressure passes a preset limit indicating pressure pumping has started”. However, there does not appear to be written description of what ends the first greasing parameter. Paragraph [0005] mentions …”the programmable logic controller may then deactivate the grease pump….upon reaching a preset grease amount”. However, this is not what is claimed in amended claim 1 as to how the first greasing parameter ends.
Claims 2-4 are rejected due to their dependance on claim 1.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 5-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being incomplete for omitting essential steps, such omission amounting to a gap between the steps. See MPEP § 2172.01. The omitted steps are: claim 5 lacks the entire method step of what begins the second greasing parameter. Lines 10-13 recite “wherein the second greasing parameter begins upon the wellhead pressure increasing to a first preset pressure, upon the second greasing parameter beginning supplying a preset volume of grease through the selected fluid pathway.” However, an essential part of this greasing step appears to be missing. Paragraph [0024] states if stage based greasing (same as second greasing parameter per paragraph [0005]) is selected when the system sees a pressure increase on the wellhead and then a pressure decrease, although not necessarily to zero but to a preset level, one stage has been completed. Upon completion of a stage and once the wellhead is at the lower pressure grease is pumped to the desired valves grease. Claim 5 omits this important step of the wellhead pressure has to see a pressure decrease before greasing begins.
Claims 6 and 7 are rejected due to their dependance on claim 5.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(a)(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed June 9, 2026, with respect to claims 1-4 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The prior art rejection of claims 1-4 have been withdrawn.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARK KENNETH BUSE whose telephone number is (571)270-3139. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert Hodge can be reached on 571 272-2097. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/M.K.B/Examiner, Art Unit 3654
/ROBERT W HODGE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3654
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