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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the height adjusting mechanism, height lifting cylinder, vertically oriented height adjustment holes, and a pig supporting device with a plurality of locking pins must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 9 and 11 – 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a (2) as being clearly anticipated by Hepburn (US PUB 20090152520 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Hepburn teaches, a pig-handling device comprising:
a sled including (fig. 1 – (1) shows a sled:
a container designed to carry one or more pigs (fig. 2 – (20)),
a pig-supporting device connected to the container (fig. 2 – (10)- frame connected to container),
a pair of front wheels connected to the pig-supporting device (fig. 2 – (60)),
a pair of rear wheels connected to the pig-supporting device (fig. 2 – (57)),
and a plurality of fasteners ([0018] – bolts used for construction).
Regarding claim 9, Hepburn teaches, A pig-handling device comprising:
a sled including (fig. 2 – (20)):
a container having a half hollow cylinder, designed to carry one or more pigs, (fig. 2 – (20))
a pig-supporting device having one or more hydraulic lifting cylinders (fig. 2 - (30), [0023]),
connected to the container (fig. 2 – (11) – connection of container and lifting frame),
a pair of front wheels connected to the pig-supporting device (fig. 2 – 60)),
a pair of rear wheels connected to the pig-supporting device (fig. 2 – (57)),
and a plurality of fasteners ([0018]).
Regarding claim 11, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the pig-supporting device includes a height adjustment component (fig. 2 – (30)).
Regarding claim 12, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 11,
wherein the height adjustment component includes a plurality of vertically oriented height adjustment holes extending therethrough (fig. 2 – (32) – holes in the lifting cross member, [0023] – hole for shackle and clevis pin).
Regarding claim 13, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the height adjustment component includes a locking pin (fig. 2 – (32) – holes in the lifting cross member, [0023] – shackle and clevis pin).
Regarding claim 14, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the height adjustment component includes rectangular cross-sections ([0017] – frame constructed of steel square tubes).
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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.
Claims 2 – 8, 10, and 15 -20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hepburn (US PUB 20090152520 A1) in view of Kyung-Lyong (WIPO PCT 2017/052311 A1).
Regarding claim 2, Hepburn does not teach,
the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pig-supporting device includes a plurality of locking pins.
However, Kyung-Lyong teaches a plurality of locking pins on a pig supporting device (fig. 9 – (250/252))
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Hepburn and Kyong-Lyong are both considered to be analogous to the claimed invention because they are both in the same field of Pipeline manufacturing and maintenance. Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Hepburn’s pig-handling device to include the locking pins taught by Kyong-Lyong. Doing so would increase safety and capacity of the system by adding secondary braking/stability measures when loading and unloading pigs.
Regarding claim 3, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the container includes a half hollow cylinder (fig. 2 – 20)).
Regarding claim 4, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the pig-supporting device includes a height adjustment component (fig. 2 – (30) – lifting assembly).
Regarding claim 5, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the pig-supporting device includes one or more hydraulic lifting cylinders (fig. 2 – (30), [0021] – describes hydraulic cylinder and motor).
Regarding claim 6, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 3,
wherein the height adjustment component includes a plurality of vertically oriented height adjustment holes extending therethrough (fig. 2 – (32) – holes in the lifting cross member, [0023] – hole for shackle and clevis pin).
Regarding claim 7, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the height adjustment component includes a locking pin ([0023] – describes use of shackle and clevis pin).
Regarding claim 8, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the height adjustment component includes rectangular cross-sections ([0017] – frame constructed of steel square tubes).
Regarding claim 10, Hepburn does not teach,
the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pig-supporting device includes a
plurality of locking pins.
However, Kyung-Lyong teaches a plurality of locking pins on a pig supporting device (fig. 9 – (250/252))
Regarding claim 15, Hepburn teaches, a pig-handling device comprising:
a sled including (fig. 1 – (1)):
a container having a half hollow cylinder, designed to carry one or more pigs fig. 2 – (20)),
a pair of front wheels connected to the pig-supporting device (fig. 2 – (60)),
a pair of rear wheels connected to the pig-supporting device (fig. 2 – (57)),
and a plurality of fasteners ([0018]).
Hepburn does not teach, a pig-supporting device having a plurality of locking pins, connected to the container,
however, Kyung-Lyong teaches a pig supporting device having a plurality of locking pins, connected to the container (fig. 9 – (250/252))
Regarding claim 16, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 15,
wherein the pig-supporting device includes a height adjustment component (fig. 2 – (30)).
Regarding claim 17, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 15,
wherein the pig-supporting device includes one or more hydraulic lifting cylinders ([0023]).
Regarding claim 18, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 17,
wherein the height adjustment component includes a plurality of vertically oriented height adjustment holes extending therethrough (fig. 2 – (32) – holes in the lifting cross member, [0023] – hole for shackle and clevis pin).
Regarding claim 19, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 18,
wherein the height adjustment component includes a locking pin ([0023] – shackle and clevis pin).
Regarding claim 20, Hepburn teaches, the pig-handling device as claimed in claim 19,
wherein the height adjustment component includes rectangular cross-sections ([0017] – frame constructed of steel square tubes).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Olivier (US PUB 20110174387 A1) – teaches a pig extractor and transport apparatus.
Pierre (WO 2010036932 A2) – Teaches a portable device for transporting pipeline pig.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUAN SALVADOR MOSCOSO whose telephone number is (571)272-8604. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Saul Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 272-7097. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JUAN S MOSCOSO/Examiner, Art Unit 3652
/SAUL RODRIGUEZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3652