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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 14-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the rostrate overhang" in line 16. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For examination purposes the claim is assumed to recite, “a rostrate overhang”.
The additional claims are rejected as depending from claim 14.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 4-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Soderstrom et al. US 2020/0122065 in view of Roesgen US 8,858,793.
Claims 1 and 7-8, Soderstrom teaches a filter component comprising: a peripheral surface (at 114) including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each projecting in a radial direction from the peripheral surface and including a first tab stop surface (see below) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface (see below) facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 28) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (see below) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels (22) defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead-in section (see below) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (see below), and a securement section (see below) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, a plurality of base surfaces (see below) each forming in part one of the securement sections, and extending in the second circumferential direction from a first or a respective two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements to a second of the respective two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, and each first tab stop surface is direction connected to a respective one of the plurality of base surfaces and forms an angle therewith opening in the first circumferential direction and the first axial direction, each of the plurality of retention elements including an end surface facing the first axial direction (fig. 1-6). Soderstrom does not teach a peak including a sloped lead-in surface originating at the peak.
PNG
media_image1.png
405
602
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Roesgen teaches a filter component comprising: a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (54) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 52) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (52) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead in section (48) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (38) and a securement section (42) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements wherein the rostrate overhang is tapered to a tip in the first circumferential direction, the rostrate overhang includes a forward sloped lead in surface forming in part a first adjacent one of the lead in section and the end surface includes a rearward sloped lead in surface forming in part a second adjacent one of the lead in sections and the end surface forms a peak, and the forward sloped lead in surface advances in the first circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak and the rearward lead in surface advances in the second circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44). Roesgen does not teach the peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the respective rostrate overhang. The recitation of the peak offset from the rostrate overhang is a recitation of moving the origination point of the lead-in surface. Shifting the position of an element is unpatentable if shifting the position of the element would not modify the operation of the device, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70 (1950).
Claims 2 and 4-6, Soderstrom further teaches a filter medium (106), an end plate (104) attached to the filter medium and a connector protrusion (114) including the peripheral surface and projecting from the end plate (fig. 1-6); the peripheral surface includes an outer peripheral surface (fig. 1-6); the tapered lead-in section is defined between the end surfaces of each respective two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements (fig. 1-6); and the rostrate overhang is tapered to a tip in the first circumferential direction and includes a tab retention bump (130) upon the second tab stop surface (fig. 1-6).
Claim 9, Soderstrom teaches a connector system for a filter assembly comprising: a first peripheral surface including a plurality of tabs (216), a second peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements projecting in a radial direction from the second peripheral surface, the first and second peripheral surfaces are positionable in coaxial alignment around an axis to position the plurality of tabs and the plurality of retention elements at respective offset circumferential distributions around the axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (see above) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface (see above) facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (see above) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels (112) including a tapered lead-in section (see above) between the end surfaces of two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (see above), and a securement section (see above) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements (fig. 1-6). Soderstrom does not teach each end surface forming a peak circumferentially offset from the respective rostrate overhang and including a forward sloped lead in surface advancing in the first circumferential direction.
Roesgen teaches a connector system comprising: a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (54) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 52) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (52) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead in section (48) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (38) and a securement section (42) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, each end surface forms a peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the respective rostrate overhang and includes a forward sloped lead in surface, advancing in the first circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak to the respective rostrate overhang (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44). Roesgen does not teach the forward sloped lead-in surface originating at a location offset in the second circumferential direction from the rostrate overhang and the first tab stop surface. The recitation of the forward sloped lead-in surface originating at a position offset from the rostrate overhang and the first tab stop surface is a recitation of moving the origination point of the lead-in surface. Shifting the position of an element is unpatentable if shifting the position of the element would not modify the operation of the device, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70 (1950).
Claims 10-11, Soderstrom further teaches the first peripheral surface includes an inner peripheral surface and the second peripheral surface includes an outer peripheral surface relative to each other (fig. 1-6); and a plurality of base surfaces each extending between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and facing the first axial direction, a connector protrusion (113) including the second peripheral surface and a seal (224) mounted on the connector protrusion adjacent to the plurality of base surfaces (fig. 1-6).
Claims 12-13, Roesgen further teaches the forward sloped lead in surface forms in part a first adjacent one of the lead in sections and the end surface includes a rearward sloped lead in surface forming in part a second adjacent one of the lead in sections (fig. 2) and the rearward sloped lead in surface advances in the second circumferential direction and the second axial direction (fig. 2).
Claim 14, Soderstrom teaches a filter element (100) comprising: filter media (106) extending around an axis, a connector (108) for mounting the filter medium in a filter housing, the connector including an outer peripheral surface and projecting in a first axial direction from the filter medium, the connector further including a plurality of retention elements upon the outer peripheral surface and projecting radially inwardly and having a circumferential distribution around the axis, and each of the plurality of retention elements projecting in a radial direction from the outer peripheral surface and the connector further includes a plurality of tab channels (112) each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, and each including a tapered lead in section (see above) opening in the axial direction, a middle section (see above) and a securement section (see above) extending in a circumferential direction from the middle section to a tab stop surface facing an opposite circumferential direction, each of the plurality of retention elements including an end surface facing the first axial direction and a rostrate overhang (fig. 1-6). Soderstrom does not teach a sloped lead-in surface originating at a peak offset in the circumferential direction from the rostrate overhang.
Roesgen teaches a filter element comprising: a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (54) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 52) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (52) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead in section (48) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (38) and a securement section (42) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements wherein the rostrate overhang is tapered to a tip in the first circumferential direction, the rostrate overhang includes a forward sloped lead in surface forming in part a first adjacent one of the lead in section and the end surface includes a rearward sloped lead in surface forming in part a second adjacent one of the lead in sections and the end surface forms a peak, and the forward sloped lead in surface advances in the first circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak and the rearward lead in surface advances in the second circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44). Roesgen does not teach the peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the rostrate overhang. The recitation of the peak offset from the rostrate overhang is a recitation of moving the origination point of the lead-in surface. Shifting the position of an element is unpatentable if shifting the position of the element would not modify the operation of the device, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70 (1950).
Claims 15-19, Soderstrom further teaches each of the plurality of retention element includes an overhang (at 128) extending in an opposite circumferential direction and includes a sloped surface defining in part one of the lead in sections, and a tab stop surface facing an opposite axial direction and defining in part the respective one of the securement sections (fig. 1-6); each of the plurality of retention elements includes another tab stop surface facing the opposite circumferential direction (fig. 1-6); the tab stop surface and the another tab stop surface are oriented normal to one another (fig. 1-6); the overhang tapers to a tip defining in part a respective one of the middle sections (fig. 1-6); an end plate (104) attached to the filter medium, an opposite end plate (116) attached to the filter medium, and the connector is located radially inward of an outer perimeter of the end plate (fig. 1-6).
Claim(s) 3 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Soderstrom et al. US 2020/0122065 in view of Roesgen US 8,858,793 as applied to claims 2 and 19 above and further in view of Knickmann et al. US 8,501,002.
Soderstrom in view of Roesgen teaches the filter component of claim 2 and filter element of claim 19 as detailed above but does not teach a bracket coupled to an opposite end plate.
Knickmann teaches a filter element comprising two endplates (26, 27) coupled to opposite ends of a filter medium and a bracket (21) coupled to an endplate, through the filter media, and a seal (24) mounted upon the bracket and the bracket is rotatable and axially movable relative to the filter medium (fig. 4-4b). Soderstrom teaches the filter element is placed within a vessel which is sealed. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the bracket and seal of Knickmann because the seal provides a seal for the housing parts and the bracket ensure the seal is guided (col. 6, lines 3-25).
Claim(s) 1-2 and 4-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Terhume et al. US 4,871,455 in view of Soderstrom et al. US 2020/0122065 and Roesgen US 8,858,793.
Claims 1 and 7-8, Terhume teaches a filter component comprising: a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution about an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (see below) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface (see below) facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 28) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (see below) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels (22) defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead-in section (see below) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (see below), and a securement section (see below) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, a plurality of base surfaces (see below) each forming in part one of the securement sections, and extending in the second circumferential direction from a first or a respective two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements to a second of the respective two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, and each first tab stop surface is direction connected to a respective one of the plurality of base surfaces and forms an angle therewith opening in the first circumferential direction and the first axial direction, each of the plurality of retention elements including an end surface facing the first axial direction (fig. 1-2). Terhume teaches the plurality of retention elements being free standing but does not teach the plurality of retention elements projecting in a radial direction from a peripheral surface or a peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the respective rostrate overhang and including a sloped lead in surface originating at the peak.
Soderstrom teaches a filter component with a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements circumferentially distributed around an axis and that project radially from the peripheral surface (fig. 1-6). Providing retention elements projecting radially from an annular wall rather than being free standing is well known in the art as demonstrated by Soderstrom and would have been well within the normal capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art. The claim would have been obvious because a particular known technique was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007).
PNG
media_image2.png
448
553
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Roesgen teaches a filter component comprising: a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (54) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 52) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (52) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead in section (48) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (38) and a securement section (42) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements wherein the rostrate overhang is tapered to a tip in the first circumferential direction, the rostrate overhang includes a forward sloped lead in surface forming in part a first adjacent one of the lead in section and the end surface includes a rearward sloped lead in surface forming in part a second adjacent one of the lead in sections and the end surface forms a peak, and the forward sloped lead in surface advances in the first circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak and the rearward lead in surface advances in the second circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44). Roesgen does not teach the peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the respective rostrate overhang. The recitation of the peak offset from the rostrate overhang is a recitation of moving the origination point of the lead-in surface. Shifting the position of an element is unpatentable if shifting the position of the element would not modify the operation of the device, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70 (1950).
Claims 2 and 4-5, Terhume further teaches a filter medium (12), an endplate (46) attached to the filter medium and a connector protrusion (38) including the peripheral surface and projecting from the endplate (fig. 1, claim 1, which recites the passage means may be located on the cartridge end cap); the peripheral surface includes an outer peripheral surface (fig. 1); and the tapered lead-in section is defined between the end surfaces of each respective two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements (fig. 1).
Claim 6, Roesgen further teaches the rostrate overhang is tapered to a tip in the first circumferential direction (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44).
Claim 9, Terhume teaches a connector system for a filter assembly comprising: a first peripheral surface (38) including a plurality of tabs (24), a second peripheral surface and a plurality of retention elements, the first and second peripheral surfaces are positionable in coaxial alignment around an axis to position the plurality of tabs and the plurality of retention elements at respective offset circumferential distributions around the axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (see above) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface (see above) facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 28) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (see above) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels (22) including a tapered lead-in section (see above) between the end surfaces of two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (see above), and a securement section (see above) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements (fig. 1-2). Terhume teaches the plurality of retention elements being free standing but does not teach the plurality of retention elements projecting in a radial direction from a peripheral surface. Terhume also does not teach each end surface forming a peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the respective rostrate overhang and including a forward sloped lead in surface originating at a location offset in the second circumferential direction from the rostrate overhang and the first tab stop surface, advancing in the first circumferential direction.
Soderstrom teaches a filter component with a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements circumferentially distributed around an axis and that project radially from the peripheral surface (fig. 1-6). Providing retention elements projecting radially from an annular wall rather than being free standing is well known in the art as demonstrated by Soderstrom and would have been well within the normal capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art. The claim would have been obvious because a particular known technique was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007).
Roesgen teaches a connector system comprising: a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (54) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 52) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (52) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead in section (48) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (38) and a securement section (42) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, each end surface forms a peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the respective rostrate overhang and includes a forward sloped lead in surface advancing in the first circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak to the respective rostrate overhang (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44). Roesgen does not teach the forward sloped lead-in surface originating at a location offset in the second circumferential direction from the rostrate overhang and the first tab stop surface. The recitation of the forward sloped lead-in surface originating at a position offset from the rostrate overhang and the first tab stop surface is a recitation of moving the origination point of the lead-in surface. Shifting the position of an element is unpatentable if shifting the position of the element would not modify the operation of the device, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70 (1950).
Claims 10-11, Terhume further teaches the first peripheral surface includes an inner peripheral surface and the second peripheral surface includes an outer peripheral surface (fig. 1-2, claim 1, which recites the passage means may be located on the cartridge end cap and the protrusions on the base); a plurality of base surfaces each extending between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and facing the first axial direction, a connector protrusion (14) including the second peripheral surface and a seal (42) mounted on the connector protrusion adjacent to the plurality of base surfaces (fig. 1-2, claim 1).
Claims 12-13, Roesgen further teaches the forward sloped lead in surface forms in part a first adjacent one of the lead in sections and the end surface includes a rearward sloped lead in surface forming in part a second adjacent one of the lead in sections (fig. 2) and the rearward sloped lead in surface advances in the second circumferential direction and the second axial direction (fig. 2).
Claim 14, Terhume teaches a filter element (12) comprising: filter media extending around an axis, a connector (38) for mounting the filter medium in a filter housing, the connector including an outer peripheral surface and projecting in an axial direction from the filter medium, the connector further including a plurality of retention elements upon the outer peripheral surface and having a circumferential distribution around the axis, and the connector further includes a plurality of tab channels (22) each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements, and each including a tapered lead in section (see above) opening in the axial direction, a middle section (see above) and a securement section (see above) extending in a circumferential direction from the middle section to a tab stop surface facing an opposite circumferential direction, each of the plurality of retention elements includes an end surface facing the first axial direction and a rostrate overhang (fig. 1-2, claim 1). Terhume does not teach the retention elements projecting in a radial direction from an outer peripheral surface, or a peak offset from the rostrate overhang and including a sloped lead in surface originating at the peak.
Soderstrom teaches a filter component with a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements circumferentially distributed around an axis and that project radially from the peripheral surface (fig. 1-6). Providing retention elements projecting radially from an annular wall rather than being free standing is well known in the art as demonstrated by Soderstrom and would have been well within the normal capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art. The claim would have been obvious because a particular known technique was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007).
Roesgen teaches a filter element comprising: a peripheral surface including a plurality of retention elements having a circumferential distribution around an axis, the plurality of retention elements each including a first tab stop surface (54) facing a first circumferential direction, an end surface facing a first axial direction, and a rostrate overhang (at 52) extending in the first circumferential direction from the first tab stop surface and including a second tab stop surface (52) facing a second axial direction, and a plurality of tab channels each defined between two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements and including a tapered lead in section (48) opening in the first axial direction, a middle section (38) and a securement section (42) extending in a second circumferential direction from the middle section to the first tab stop surface of one of the two adjacent ones of the plurality of retention elements wherein the rostrate overhang is tapered to a tip in the first circumferential direction, the rostrate overhang includes a forward sloped lead in surface forming in part a first adjacent one of the lead in section and the end surface includes a rearward sloped lead in surface forming in part a second adjacent one of the lead in sections and the end surface forms a peak, and the forward sloped lead in surface advances in the first circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak and the rearward lead in surface advances in the second circumferential direction and the second axial direction from the peak (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the rostrate overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44). Roesgen does not teach the peak offset in the second circumferential direction from the rostrate overhang. The recitation of the peak offset from the rostrate overhang is a recitation of moving the origination point of the lead-in surface. Shifting the position of an element is unpatentable if shifting the position of the element would not modify the operation of the device, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70 (1950).
Claims 15-17 and 19, Terhume further teaches each of the plurality of retention element includes an overhang (at 28) extending in an opposite circumferential direction and includes a sloped surface defining in part one of the lead in sections, and a tab stop surface facing an opposite axial direction and defining in part the respective one of the securement sections (fig. 1-2); each of the plurality of retention elements includes another tab stop surface facing the opposite circumferential direction (fig. 1-2); the tab stop surface and the another tab stop surface are oriented normal to one another (fig. 1-2); an end plate (46) attached to the filter medium, an opposite end plate (52) attached to the filter medium, and the connector is located radially inward of an outer perimeter of the end plate (fig. 1-2).
Claim 18, Terhume further teaches the overhang defines in part a respective one of the middle sections but does not teach the overhang tapers to a tip.
Roesgen further teaches the overhang tapers to a tip defining in part a respective one of the middle sections (fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the overhang be tapered because the taper simplifies the insertion of detent lugs (col. 8, lines 38-44).
Claim(s) 3 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Terhume et al. US 4,871,455 in view of Soderstrom et al. US 2020/0122065 and Roesgen US 8,858,793 as applied to claims 2 and 19 above and further in view of Knickmann et al. US 8,501,002.
Terhume in view of Soderstrom and Roesgen teaches the filter component of claim 2 and filter element of claim 19 as detailed above but does not teach a bracket coupled to an opposite end plate.
Knickmann teaches a filter element comprising two endplates (26, 27) coupled to opposite ends of a filter medium and a bracket (21) coupled to an endplate, through the filter media, and a seal (24) mounted upon the bracket and the bracket is rotatable and axially movable relative to the filter medium (fig. 4-4b). Terhume teaches the filter element is placed within a vessel but does not teach how such a vessel would be closed or sealed, as would have been recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art as necessary for the proper functioning of the filter element. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the bracket and seal of Knickmann because the seal provides a seal for the housing parts and the bracket ensure the seal is guided (col. 6, lines 3-25).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/6/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that the retention elements of Soderstrom do not project from the surface (114). The surface (114) is on an opposite side of the tube structure from the retention elements. From the perspective of the surface (114) the retention elements project radially inwardly therefrom. Therefore, Soderstrom teaches the retention element projecting in a radial direction from the peripheral surface.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the position of the peak being offset and the sloped in surface originating from the offset peak are addressed in the body of the rejection above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BENJAMIN M KURTZ whose telephone number is (571)272-8211. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30-5.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Bobby Ramdhanie can be reached at 571-270-3240. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/BENJAMIN M KURTZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1779
Prosecution Insights