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 § 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) 1-3 and 5-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Okada et al. 2011/0241340.
In regard to claim 1, Okada et al. discloses a screw-threaded joint for pipes comprising a first pipe length 1 having a pin screw threaded portion 11 at one end and a second pipe length 2 having a box portion at one end, the ends each having a screw thread 11, 21 complementary to that on the other pipe length, the threads being adapted to inter-engage along the greater part of the axial length thereof, the threads being inclined in the same direction and at an acute angle to the central longitudinal axis of the joint, the pin thread extending at least to a stop shoulder 14 having a head portion having a substantially conical cross-section which is positioned adjacent a complementary stop shoulder 24 on the box portion, the head portion comprising a sealing surface 18, a torque surface 14 and a link surface 15 linking the sealing surface to the torque surface, the complementary stop shoulder 24 comprising a cone receiver having a substantially conical cross-section, the cone receiver adapted to sealingly receive the head portion and comprising a sealing surface (surface on 2 facing surface 18), a torque surface 24 and a link surface 25 linking the sealing surface to the torque surface, a link surface 15 on the pin section having a planar cross-section to sealingly engage a corresponding substantially planar link surface 25 on the cone receiver of the box section, wherein the angle 43 subtended by each of the substantially planar link surfaces to the joint axis is from 29.5° — 30.5° (see paragraph 51).
In regard to claim 2, wherein the final pin thread is cropped by removal of the foremost surface of the final crest (see the last pin thread 11 in fig. 1(A) where a corner of the thread is removed).
In regard to claim 3, wherein the lengths of the sealing surface and link surface on the pin section are different from the lengths on the corresponding sealing and link surfaces of the box section (see fig. 1 where the planar surface 18 is shown to be shorter than the planar surface of the box member facing 18).
In regard to claim 5, wherein the angle 42 subtended by the torque shoulders 14, 24 with respect to the perpendicular to the pin and box sections’ axes is 20° +/- 0.5° (see paragraph 50).
In regard to claim 6, wherein the angle subtended by each of the substantially planar link surfaces to the joint axis is 30.0° (see paragraph 51).
In regard to claim 7, wherein the sealing surfaces on the pin and box sections are substantially planar (see 18 and the surface of the box facing surface 18 in fig. 1(A)).
In regard to claim 8, wherein there is clearance between sealing surfaces of the pin and box sections on make-up of the joint (see the space at 18 in fig. 1(A)).
In regard to claim 9, Okada et al. discloses a pipe section 1 having at an end a pin screw threaded portion, the thread being adapted to interengage along the greater part of the axial length thereof with a complementary thread 21 on a pipe section having a box screw-threaded portion, the pin thread extending at least to a stop shoulder having a head portion comprising a substantially conical cross-section having a substantially planar surface 15, wherein the angle subtended by the substantially planar surface to the pipe section axis is from 29.5°-30.5° (see paragraph 51).
In regard to claim 10, Okada et al. discloses a pipe section having at an end a box screw threaded portion 2, the thread being adapted to interengage along the greater part of the axial length thereof with a complementary thread on a pipe section having a pin screw-threaded portion, the box thread extending at least to a stop shoulder having a head portion comprising a complementary stop shoulder on the box portion, the complementary stop shoulder comprising a cone receiver 24 having a substantially conical cross-section, the cone receiver adapted to sealingly receive a head portion of a pin section, the cone receiver of the box section having a substantially planar surface 25, wherein the angle subtended by the substantially planar surface to the pipe section axis is from 29.5° - 30.5° (see paragraph 51).
Claim(s) 1 and 3-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Noel et al. 5,137,310.
In regard to claim 1, Noel et al. discloses a screw-threaded joint for pipes comprising a first pipe length 6 having a pin screw threaded portion 12 at one end and a second pipe length 8 having a box portion at one end, the ends each having a screw thread 11, 12 complementary to that on the other pipe length, the threads being adapted to inter-engage along the greater part of the axial length thereof, the threads being inclined in the same direction and at an acute angle to the central longitudinal axis of the joint, the pin thread extending at least to a stop shoulder 15 having a head portion having a substantially conical cross-section which is positioned adjacent a complementary stop shoulder 16 on the box portion, the head portion comprising a sealing surface 24, a torque surface 15 and a link surface 18 linking the sealing surface to the torque surface, the complementary stop shoulder 17 comprising a cone receiver having a substantially conical cross-section, the cone receiver adapted to sealingly receive the head portion and comprising a sealing surface (surface on 8 facing surface 24), a torque surface 16 and a link surface 20 linking the sealing surface to the torque surface, a link surface 18 on the pin section having a planar cross-section to sealingly engage a corresponding substantially planar link surface 20 on the cone receiver of the box section, wherein the angle subtended by each of the substantially planar link surfaces to the joint axis is from 29.5° — 30.5° (see col. 6, line 22).
In regard to claim 3, wherein the lengths of the sealing surface and link surface on the pin section are different from the lengths on the corresponding sealing and link surfaces of the box section (see fig. 2 where surface 24 is shown to be longer than the surface of the box member facing 24 and contacting surface 24).
In regard to claim 4, wherein the combined axial lengths of the sealing surface and the link surface of the pin section are greater than the combined axial lengths of the corresponding sealing surface and the link surfaces on the box section (see fig. 2 where surface 24 is shown to be longer than the surface of the box member facing 24 and contacting surface 24).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 7/25/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding Okada, Applicant argues that Okada fails to disclose a sealing surface because surface 18 of Okada is a non-contacting surface that does not contact the opposing surface of the box. However, this appears to be no different than the present invention, as the drawings of the present invention disclose a space between the sealing surfaces 18, 28 of the pin and box and claim 8 of the present invention claims that there is a clearance between sealing surfaces of the pin and box sections on make-up of the joint. Okada discloses similar structure as that of the present invention and is therefore maintained.
The link surfaces 15 and 25 are disclosed as contacting one another in paragraph 52, and would create a seal. Therefore the Okada rejection has been maintained.
Regarding Noel, Applicant argues that Noel fails to disclose a sealing surface because surface 24 of Noel is described as a guide surface. The Examiner disagrees, as fig. 1 of Noel discloses a sealing surface 24 in contact with a sealing surface portion of box member 8 axially outward of the link surface 18, and link surfaces 19 and 20 on the pin and box members, respectively. Additionally, the sealings surfaces of the present invention do not appear to be in contact, as the drawings of the present invention disclose a space between the sealing surfaces 18, 28 of the pin and box and claim 8 of the present invention claims that there is a clearance between sealing surfaces of the pin and box sections on make-up of the joint. Noel discloses similar structure as that of the present invention and is therefore maintained.
Claim 1 does not recite that the cross-section of the sealing surface has a planar cross-section. Claim 7 recites the limitation of the sealing surface having the planar cross-section. Therefore the Noel rejection has been maintained.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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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/DAVID BOCHNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679