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 Objections
Claim 21 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 21 is a duplicate of claim 19. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 5-8, 14 and 18-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schmitz 4,768,275.
In regard to Claims 5 and 14, Schmitz discloses (figs. 7 and 8) a connection body, comprising a pipe part P’ and a connecting part 112, in which the connecting part comprises a through-hole with a connection end 116 and a connecting end 110, wherein a circumferential fastening groove 129 is arranged in the inner surface of the connection end 116 and has a sealing ring groove 130 with a sealing ring 134 is arranged in axial relation to the fastening groove 129, wherein the pipe part P’ is at least partially bent out into the fastening groove 129 and is in contact with the sealing ring 134 present in the sealing ring groove 130,
Wherein the width of the sealing ring groove 130 is less than that of the fastening groove 129, which prevents pipe material from buckling into the sealing ring groove.
In regard to Claims 6 and 18, wherein a sealing gap present between the outer surface of the pipe part and the inner surface of the connecting part is substantially zero (see fig. 8 where P’ contacts 134).
In regard to Claims 7, 19 and 21, wherein a sealing ring 134 made of an elastic material.
In regard to Claims 8 and 20, wherein the fastening ring has a bulge (123 in fig. 8).
Claim(s) 5-8, 14 and 18-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lutz et al. 9,964,241.
In regard to Claims 5 and 14, Lutz discloses a connection body, comprising a pipe part 24 and a connecting part 14, in which the connecting part 14 comprises a through-hole with a connection end 38 and a connecting end 34, wherein a circumferential fastening groove 44 is arranged in the inner surface of the connection end 38 and has a sealing ring groove 46 with a sealing ring 48 is arranged in axial relation to the fastening groove 44 (see fig. 2), wherein the pipe part 24 is at least partially bent out 30 into the fastening groove 44 and is in contact with the sealing ring 48 present in the sealing ring groove 46,
Wherein the width of the sealing ring groove 46 is less than that of the fastening groove 44, which prevents pipe material from buckling into the sealing ring groove.
In regard to Claims 6 and 18, wherein a sealing gap present between the outer surface of the pipe part and the inner surface of the connecting part is substantially zero (see fig. 2 where 24 contacts 48).
In regard to Claims 7, 19 and 21, wherein a sealing ring 48 made of an elastic material.
In regard to Claims 8 and 20, wherein the fastening ring has a bulge 30.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 9, 11-13 and 15-17 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 5-8, 14 and 18-21 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID E. BOCHNA whose telephone number is (571)272-7078. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached on (571) 270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAVID BOCHNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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