Detailed Office Action
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. 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
2 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.
3. Claims 1, 4, 7, 10, 12-13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25-26, 30-31, 33, 38, 40-41, 45, 49-51, 58-59, 63, 67-68, 70 and 72 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.
Firstly, with respect to claim 1, the language, “the molten mixture” (both occurrences) lacks antecedent basis.
Secondly, with respect to claim 31, it is unclear what specific location is denoted by the relative terminology, “near the bottom”.
Thirdly, with respect to claims 31 and 33, there is a word omission after “mixing” (both occurrences); “vessel” should be inserted after “mixing”.
Fourthly, with respect to claim 40, the language, “the non-vapor products” and “mixer”, lacks antecedent basis. Furthermore, it is unclear what constitutes “desired products”; it is unclear what criteria must be met in order for the products to be desired.
Fifthly, with respect to claim 45, the language, “the hot vapor products” and “second devolatilization vessel”, lacks antecedent basis.
Sixthly, with respect to claim 51, the language, “vessels”, lacks antecedent basis
Seventhly, with respect to claim 67, it is unclear what is meant by the language “lower average molecular weight hydrocarbonaceous materials”; it is unclear to what the “lower average molecular weight” language is relative.
Lastly, with respect to claim 73, the language, “the condensed phases”, lacks antecedent basis.
Examiner’s Recommendation
4. It is recommended that the language “plug flow hot mixing vessel” be used within the claims where the instant language, “mixing vessel”, appears to promote greater clarity.
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 1, 4, 7, 10, 12-13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25-26, 30-31, 33, 38, 40-41, 45, 49-51, 58-59, 63, 67-68, 70 and 72 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
6. Claims 1, 4, 7, 10, 12-13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25-26, 30-31, 33, 38, 40-41, 45, 49-51, 58-59, 63, 67-68, 70 and 72 are allowable over the prior art of record. Though the prior art discloses the use of an extruder to remove chlorine from polymers, the prior art fails to disclose the claimed process wherein the extruded plastic mixture from the extruder is passed into a plug flow hot mixing vessel, further wherein the molten mixture from the plug flow hot mixing vessel is passed into a devolatilization vessel.
Conclusion
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rabon A Sergent whose telephone number is (571)272-1079. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, ET.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Heidi Riviere Kelley, can be reached at telephone number 571-270-1831. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RABON A SERGENT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1765
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