CTNF 18/267,534 CTNF 88785 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 1-15 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. With respect to claims 1-14, the claims are indefinite. The claimed irreversible growth, fails to particularly pointing out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Irreversible growth in this case, could refer to coke deposition within walls or a suggested lengthening of the riser , disclosed in the specification and suggested by claim 8-9. Clarity of the claims is required. With respect to claim 15, the claim is indefinite. The claim appears to be had been accidentally truncated in the amendment to the claims. Allowable Subject Matter 07-43-01 AIA Claim s 1-14 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. 13-03-01 AIA The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: With respect to claims 1-14, the closest prior art Tammera et al (US 8,349,170) discloses a method for operating a riser, the method comprising: a riser comprising: a lower riser portion (220) comprising a riser wall comprising an interior surface and an upper section comprising an upper end (see figure 2 and col 9 lines 15-30), wherein the lower riser portion terminates at the upper end of the upper section of the lower riser portion (see figure 2, section 230, col 9 lines 20-30); and an upper riser portion (215) comprising a riser wall comprising an interior surface, an upper section, and a lower section (see col 9 lines 15-35, figure 2), wherein a diameter of the lower section of the upper riser portion is from 1 to 4 inch larger than the diameter of the upper section of the lower riser portion (see col 9 lines 40-67), and the upper section of the lower riser portion and lower section of the upper riser portion vertically overlap one another such that the lower section of the upper riser portion is positioned around the upper section of the lower riser portion (see figure 2, col 9 lines 15-40), and wherein the lower riser portion and upper riser portion are not directly connected to one another (see col 9 lines 30-35). Haddad et al (US 4,606,814) further discloses repeatedly heating and cooling a riser between an operational temperature and a non- operational temperature, wherein when the riser is heated from a non-operational temperature to an operational temperature, the riser undergoes thermal expansion (see col 5 lines 10-25); when the riser is cooled from an operational temperature to a non-operational temperature, the riser undergoes thermal contraction (see col 5 lines 10-25); and a length of the lower section of the upper riser portion is sized to accommodate the thermal expansion from repeated heating and cooling cycles of the lower riser portion and the upper riser portion (see col 6 lines 5-20). The closest prior art does not teach or suggest to one with ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the process, such that a length of the lower section of the upper riser portion is sized to accommodate irreversible growth of the riser occurs over repeated heating and cooling cycles . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUAN C VALENCIA whose telephone number is (571)270-7709. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm. 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, Prem C Singh can be reached at 571 272-6381. 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. /JUAN C VALENCIA/Examiner, Art Unit 1771 /Randy Boyer/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1771 Application/Control Number: 18/267,534 Page 2 Art Unit: 1771 Application/Control Number: 18/267,534 Page 3 Art Unit: 1771 Application/Control Number: 18/267,534 Page 4 Art Unit: 1771 Application/Control Number: 18/267,534 Page 5 Art Unit: 1771
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