DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
2. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 7/19/2024 & 1/29/2024 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
4. 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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a(1) as being anticipated by Nagaoka et al. (US 7937990 B2).
Regarding claim 1 Nagaoka et al teaches a first member 210 having a first flow path 910, a second member 310 having a second flow path 920 and aligning the first flow path 910 and the second flow path 920 with each other (Fig. 1), the first flow path 910 open toward a first end face (fig. 1) of a first member 210 , and an enlarged diameter portion 360 whose inner diameter gradually increases (See tapering of upper / lower member 360 fig. 1) toward the first end face is formed at an end of the first flow path 910, and the second flow path 920 is open toward a second end face of the second member 310.
Regarding claim 2 Nagaoka et al teaches an inner surface of the enlarged diameter portion (See tapering of upper / lower member 360 fig. 1) is formed in a tapered shape, and a taper angle of the tapered shape is from 30° to 90° (Interpreted as angled taper) (see tapering of upper / lower member 360 fig. 1).
Regarding claim 3 Nagaoka et al teaches a crimping mechanism (Interpreted as support 130) that joins the first flow path 910 and the second flow path 920 by causing the first end face and the second end face to approach each other (fig. 1).
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claim 4 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The cited prior art does not anticipate nor render obvious a crimping mechanism that joins the first flow path and the second flow path by causing the first end face and the second end face to approach each other.
Claims 5-6 are objected too based on their dependency of claim 4
6. Claims 7-9 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The cited prior art does not anticipate nor render obvious a joining structure comprising an enlarged diameter portion formed at an end of each of liquid passage flow paths and having an inner diameter that gradually increases toward a respective placement portion; and a crimping mechanism causing a pair of pedestals to approach the two end faces to join the liquid passage flow paths and a column flow path.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20240252953 A1 FLOW PATH MEMBER JOINING STRUCTURE AND COLUMN
US 20080245716 A1 Separation column for use in liquid chromatography system, has holder with monolithic rod coated with coat material, and potting media filled between coat material and holder, and potting media
US 20240033657 A1 LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMN
US 3975946 A Liquid chromatography sample measuring and introducing apparatus
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDRE J ALLEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2174. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 9am-5PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina M Deherrera can be reached at (303) 297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANDRE J ALLEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855