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 1-3 and 5-16 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. The claims are rejected for the following reasons.
In claim 1, there are two occurrences of “an inner part” which render the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the claim is intended to refer to two distinct inner parts. However, in light of the Specification and Drawings, the second occurrence of the term “an inner part” is it taken to refer to the same inner part previously defined in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the surface of the inner part" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
In claim 10, there are two occurrences of “a reactor” which render the claim indefinite because the two occurrences of “a reactor” creates an ambiguity as to whether the claim is intended to recite two distinct reactors. For clarity of the claim language, the second occurrence should be changed to --the reactor--.
Claim 16 is directed to a use of the reactor defined in claim 1, however, the claim fails to recite any active, positive steps delimiting how this use is actually practiced.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-3, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 13-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Henry (US 1,709,813).
Regarding claim 1, the reference Henry discloses a reactor for producing a product in which the reactor comprises an inner part (5, 8), a shell structure (1) which surrounds the inner part (5, 8) and a space (16) between the inner part (5, 8) and the shell structure (1), wherein the inner part (5, 8) is formed at least in part from a porous material (8) comprising a catalyst (see page 2, lines 54-68; Figs. 1-3) in which at least one reactant is arranged to flow into the inner part (5, 8) and after that through the porous material (8) to form a product, the porous material (8) is formed from metallic material (see page 2, lines 66-76; Figs. 1-3), the product formed from the reactant in the porous material (8) is arranged to flow out from the space (16) of the reactor, and the reactor comprises a heating device (2) for heating electrically the porous material such that the porous material is heated inductively (see page 1, lines 99 to page 2, line 44; Figs. 1-2).
Regarding claim 2, the reference Henry discloses the reactor, wherein the inner part (5, 8) is a tube, hollow tube, or a flow channel (see page 2, lines 54-64; Figs. 1-3).
Regarding claim 3, the reference Henry discloses the reactor, wherein the inner part (8) is formed from the porous material (i.e., a perforated wall structure) (see page 2, lines 54-64; Figs. 1-3).
Regarding claim 6, the reference Henry discloses the reactor, wherein the product formed from one or more reactant in the porous material (8) is arranged to flow from inside the inner part (8) to a surface of the inner part (8) (see page 2, lines 68-76; Figs. 1-3).
Regarding claim 7, the reference Henry discloses the reactor, wherein that the product may be rinsed from a surface of the inner part (8) by means of a scavenging agent and is arranged to flow out from the reactor via the space (16) between the inner part (8) and the shell structure (1) (page 2, lines 73-100; Figs. 1-2).
Regarding claim 9, the reference Henry discloses the reactor, wherein the porous material (8) is heated electrically using an induction heating (see page 2, lines 16-42; Figs. 1-2).
Regarding claim 10, the reference Henry discloses a method for producing a product in a reactor which comprises an inner part (5, 8), a shell structure (1) surrounding the inner part (5, 8) and a space (16) between the inner part (5, 8) and the shell structure (1) (see page 2, lines 54-68; Figs. 1-3), wherein the method comprises
- feeding at least one reactant into the reactor in which the inner part (5, 8) is formed at least in part from a porous material (8) comprising a catalyst and in which the porous material is formed from metallic material (see page 2, lines 73-86; Figs. 1-2) and
- arranging the reactant to flow into the inner part (5, 8) and after that through the porous material (8) to form a product (see page 2, lines 73-86; Figs. 1-2),
- arranging the product formed from the reactant in the porous material (8) to flow out from the reactor via the space (16) (see page 2, lines 73-86; Figs. 1-2) and
- heating electrically the porous material by means of a heating device (2) such that the porous material is heated inductively (see page 1, lines 99 to page 2, line 44; Figs. 1-2).
Regarding claim 13, the reference Henry discloses the method, wherein the porous material (8) is heated electrically using an induction heating (see page 2, lines 16-42; Figs. 1-2).
Regarding claim 16, the reference Henry teaches that the disclose reactor may suitably be utilized for carrying out electrically heated chemical reactions (see page 1, lines 1-7; 35-54; Figs. 1-2). Thus, as no structural distinction is seen between the reactor of Henry and the instantly claimed reactor, the reactor of Henry is considered suitable for carrying out the various chemical reactions recited in claim 16.
Claims 1-3, 5-8, 10-12, and 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mortensen et al. (WO 2019/228798).
Regarding claim 1, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses a reactor (100) for producing a product in which the reactor comprises an inner part (10), a shell structure (20) which surrounds the inner part (10) and a space between the inner part (10) and the shell structure (20) (see page 2, lines 15-30; page 28, lines 23-29; Fig. 1a), wherein the inner part (10) is formed at least in part from a porous material (5) comprising a catalyst (see page 5, lines 13-30) in which at least one reactant is arranged to flow into the inner part (10) and after that through the porous material (5) to form a product, the porous material is formed from metallic material (page 5, lines 13-30), the product formed from the reactant in the porous material is arranged to flow out from the space of the reactor, and the reactor comprises a heating device (40, 40’) for heating electrically the porous material such that the porous material is heated resistively (see page 3, lines 11-20; page 29, lines 4-21; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 2, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the reactor, wherein the inner part (5) is a flow channel or a structure with a predetermined shape (see page 18, lines 24-28; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 3, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the reactor, wherein the inner part (10) is formed from the porous material (see page 5, lines 13-30; page 28, lines 23-29; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 5, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the reactor, wherein the catalyst is arranged on surfaces of the pores of the porous material (5) (see page 5, lines 1-11 and 27-30).
Regarding claim 6, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the reactor, wherein the product formed from one or more reactant in the porous material (5) is arranged to flow from inside the inner part to a surface of the inner part (page 19, lines 1-5).
Regarding claim 7, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the reactor, wherein that the product may be rinsed from a surface of the inner part by means of a scavenging agent (i.e., inert gas) and is arranged to flow out from the reactor via the space between the inner part (10) and the shell structure (20) (page 8, lines 10-20; page 29, lines 19-21; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 8, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the reactor, wherein the porous material (5) is heated using an electric resistance heating (see page 3, lines 11-20; page 29, lines 4-21; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 10, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses a method for producing a product in a reactor which comprises an inner part (10), a shell structure (20) surrounding the inner part (10) and a space between the inner part (10) and the shell structure (20) (see page 2, lines 15-30; page 28, lines 23-29; Fig. 1a), wherein the method comprises
- feeding at least one reactant into the reactor in which the inner part (10) is formed at least in part from a porous material (5) comprising a catalyst and in which the porous material is formed from metallic material (see page 5, lines 13-30) and
- arranging the reactant to flow into the inner part (5) and after that through the porous material to form a product (see page 19, lines 1-5),
- arranging the product formed from the reactant in the porous material (5) to flow out from the reactor via the space (see page 29, lines 19-21; Fig. 1a) and
- heating electrically the porous material by means of a heating device (40, 40’) such that the porous material is heated resistively (see page 3, lines 11-20; page 29, lines 4-21; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 11, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the method, wherein all reactants are fed into the inner part (10) (see page 29, lines 19-21; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 12, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the method, wherein the porous material (5) is heated using an electric resistance heating (see page 3, lines 11-20; page 29, lines 4-21; Fig. 1a).
Regarding claim 14, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the method, wherein carbon dioxide and hydrogen are fed as the reactants to the inner part (10) of the reactor (100), and the reactants react in the porous material (5) to form the product (see page 8, lines 10-13).
Regarding claim 15, the reference Mortensen et al. discloses the method, wherein at least hydrocarbon is fed as the reactant to the inner part (10) of the reactor (100), and the reactant reacts in the porous material (5) to form the product (see page 8, lines 13-15).
Regarding claim 16, the reference Mortensen et al. teaches that the disclose reactor may suitably be utilized for carrying out electrically heated chemical reactions (see page 1, line 29-20; 8, lines 10-20). Thus, as no structural distinction is seen between the reactor of Mortensen et al. and the instantly claimed reactor, the reactor of Mortensen et al. is considered suitable for carrying out the various chemical reactions recited in claim 16.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 5, 11, 14, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over by Henry (US 1,709,813).
Regarding claim 5, the claim depend from claim 1, such that the reasoning applied to claim 1 above with reference to Henry is applied herein for the dependent portion of the claim. The reference Henry does not specifically disclose wherein the catalyst is arranged on surfaces of the pores of the porous material. However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the catalyst arranged on surfaces of the pores of the porous material as claimed by applicant, since the reference Henry teaches that a multiplicity of pieces of catalytic metal (17) may suitably be arranged in the space (16) between the inner part (8) and the shell structure (1) (see col. 3, lines 31-51 and lines 96-99; Figs 1-2).
Regarding claim 11, the claim depend from claim 10, such that the reasoning applied to claim 10 above with reference to Henry is applied herein for the dependent portion of the claim. The reference Henry does not specifically disclose wherein all reactants are fed into the inner part (8). However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have all reactants fed into the inner part (8), since the reference Henry teaches that catalyzable material other than hydrogen may suitably be fed into the reactor through the inner part (8) (see page 2, lines 111-128).
Regarding claim 14, the claim depend from claim 10, such that the reasoning applied to claim 10 above with reference to Henry is applied herein for the dependent portion of the claim. The reference Henry does not specifically disclose wherein carbon dioxide and hydrogen are fed as reactants to the inner part (8) of the reactor. However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to feed carbon dioxide and hydrogen as reactants to the inner part of the reactor, since the reference Henry teaches that catalyzable material other than hydrogen may suitably be fed into the reactor through the inner part (8) (see page 2, lines 111-128).
Regarding claim 15, the claim depend from claim 10, such that the reasoning applied to claim 10 above with reference to Henry is applied herein for the dependent portion of the claim. The reference Henry does not specifically disclose wherein at least hydrocarbon is fed as the reactant to the inner part (8) of the reactor. However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to feed hydrocarbon as the reactant to the inner part of the reactor, since the reference Henry teaches that the reactor may suitably be utilized for catalytically cracking hydrocarbons (see page 1, lines 1-27).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Lessanework T Seifu whose telephone number is (571)270-3153. The examiner can normally be reached M-T 9:00 am - 6:30 pm; F 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Claire Wang can be reached at 571-270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LESSANEWORK SEIFU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774