DETAILED ACTION
Citation to the Specification will be in the following format: (S. # : ¶/L) where # denotes the page number and ¶/L denotes the paragraph number or line number. Citation to patent literature will be in the form (Inventor # : LL) where # is the column number and LL is the line number. Citation to the pre-grant publication literature will be in the following format (Inventor # : ¶) where # denotes the page number and ¶ denotes the paragraph number.
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 .
Status of Application
The response dated 6/2/2026 has been received and will be entered.
Claim(s) 1-11 is/are pending.
Claim(s) 1 and 3 is/are currently amended.
Claim(s) 7-11 is/are new.
The action is FINAL.
Response to Arguments
Claim Rejections – 35 U.S.C. §§ 102-103
I. With respect to the rejection of Claim(s) 1-5 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by WO 2020/138379 to Fujimori, et al. (cited by Applicants, 07-02-2020, C01B 32/158), as discussed in the interview, addition of the “funnel-shaped” language obviates the rejection. The rejection is WITHDRAWN.
II. With respect to the rejection of Claim(s) 1-6 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by WO 2020/138378 to Fujimori, et al. (cited by Applicants, 07-02-2020, C01B 32/162), as discussed in the interview, addition of the “funnel-shaped” language obviates the rejection. The rejection is WITHDRAWN.
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.
I. Claim(s) 7-9 – or as stated below - is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2005/0170089 to Lashmore, et al.
With respect to Claim 7, this claim requires “a tubular carbon nanotube synthesis furnace.” Lashmore teaches a tubular furnace. (Lashmore 2: [0024]; 3: [0037] – 5: [0047]; Fig. 1 – quartz tube, heater).
Claim 7 further requires “a carbon-containing gas supply port provided on one end side of the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace.” A carbon-containing gas supply port is taught. (Lashmore 4: [0044]; Fig. 1 – Inlet 193).
Claim 7 further requires “a porous body having a plurality of through holes.” A porous body is taught. (Lashmore 3: [0036]; Fig. 1 – porous substrate 13).
Claim 7 further requires “a plurality of guiding tubes arranged downstream from the porous body, and positioned to receive a plurality of carbon nanotube assembled wires exiting the porous body from the through holes.” A plurality of guiding tubes are so-positioned. (Lashmore 4: [0046] – 5: [0047]; Fig. 1 – exhaust ports 195, 196).
Claim 7 further requires “the guiding tubes are provided in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace, and the guiding tubes each have a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the carbon nanotube synthesis furnace.” The tubes are in parallel in the longitudinal direction, and the diameter is smaller than the diameter of the furnace. Figure 1 of Lashmore is reproduced below:
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(Lashmore “Fig. 1”) (annotations added).
As to Claim 8, through holes are more than reasonably depicted. (Lashmore Fig. 2, accompanying text).
As to Claim 9, the guide tubes are so positioned; see discussion above. (Lashmore “Fig. 1”).
Allowable Subject Matter
I. Claims 1-6, 10 and 11 are allowed.
US 2022/0064002 to Fujimori, et al., US 2022/0064003 to Fujimori, et al., US 2022/0153585 to Hikata, et al. (and their corresponding WIPO publications) have been discussed in the Non-Final Office Action. These references are the closest prior art. These references do not teach the “funnel-shaped” portions added to Claims 1 and 3.
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 DANIEL C. MCCRACKEN whose telephone number is (571) 272-6537. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (9-6).
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, Anthony J. Zimmer can be reached on 571-270-3591. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL C. MCCRACKEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1736
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