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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/03/2023, 08/07/2023, 09/21/2023, 10/14/2024, 03/14/2025, 05/05/2025, 05/20/2025, 09/24/2025, 11/26/2025, and 01/15/2026. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Norrie (US 5142971).
Regarding claim 15, Norrie discloses
A system (apparatus, fig.5) for processing green pork bellies (intended use), comprising:
a first injection system (needles 18, fig.5) for injecting a protein composition comprising a mixture of pork protein and water into the pork belly (intended use), the first injection system (needles 18) comprising a plurality of longitudinal first injection needles (needles 18) supported by a needle carrier (injection head 16, fig.5) during injection of the mixture of pork protein and water into the pork belly; and
wherein the first injection needles (needles 18) comprise a hollow needle body (tubular body 19, fig.6) having a proximal inlet end for receiving the protein composition, a distal tapered tip portion (offset point 20, fig.6) for delivering the protein composition into the pork belly, an inlet top port (semi-flexible hoses 30, fig.5) at the top inlet end of the needle (needles 18), the inside diameter of the inlet top port (semi-flexible hoses 30) being beveled or curved outwardly in the direction that the inlet top port (semi-flexible hoses 30) extends outwardly from the interior of the hollow needle (tubular body 19).
Regarding claim 16, Norrie discloses
a second injection system (needles 18 back side, fig.5) for injecting curing brine into the pork belly, the second injection system (needles 18 back side) comprising a plurality of longitudinal second injection needles (needles 18 back side) supported by a needle carrier (valve operating bar 34, fig.4) during injection of the curing brine into the pork belly.
Regarding claim 17, Norrie discloses
the relative composition of pork protein and water in the mixture in the protein composition corresponds to that of a green pork belly (intended use).
PNG
media_image1.png
745
468
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 18, Norrie discloses
the injection system (apparatus, fig.5) further comprising a feed chamber (transverse header tube 29, fig.5) for supplying the protein composition to the injection needles (needles 18, fig.5).
Regarding claim 19, Norrie discloses
an emulsifier to emulsify the protein composition prior to injection into the pork belly (intended use).
Regarding claim 20, Norrie discloses
a curing brine production unit (supply tank 46, fig.1) for producing curing brine for injection into the pork belly (intended use).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHUONG T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-1834. The examiner can normally be reached 9.00am-5.00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Steven Crabb can be reached on 571-270-5095. 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.
/PHUONG T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
01/25/2026