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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group 1, Species II and Group 2, Species B in the reply filed on 10/24/2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 2-23 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Species I of Group 1, which requires each of the first tower assembly and the second tower assembly respectively comprises a first angle iron as a front leg and a second angle iron as a rear leg as shown in Fig. 1, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. The Applicant states that claim 1 and all dependents encompass Species II, Fig. 2. However, according to para. [0035], the angle iron assembly of fig. 1 may be replaced with a truss rod design. Since claim 2 is drawn to the angle iron legs of the embodiment of fig. 1, the claim and its dependents are not drawn to truss legs of fig. 2 and are therefore withdrawn.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because: i) reference character “28” has been used to designate both a leg connected to wall 40 via bolt 36 in Fig. 4 and a leg connected to wall 42 via bolt 38 in Fig. 6; and ii) reference character “30” has been used to designate both a leg connected to wall 42 via bolt 38 in Fig. 4 and a leg connected to wall 40 via bolt 36 in Fig. 6.
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.
Specification
The para. [0039] and [0044] are objected because of inconsistency.
According to [0039] and Fig. 4, the specification discloses leg 28 is coupled to wall 40 via bolt 36 and leg 30 is coupled to wall 42 via bolt 38. However, according to [0044] and Fig. 6, the specification discloses leg 28 is coupled to wall 42 via bolt 38 and leg 30 is coupled to wall 40 via bolt 36.
Applicant is required to correct such inconsistency.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Teeter 20160021835 in view of Hegemann 4090528 and NPL: Johnson - Angles, Angle Irons & V-Shapes, referred to as Johnson thereafter.
Regarding claim 1, Teeter teaches the invention as claimed: An irrigation span assembly (22, Fig. 1) for transferring water from a center pivot (32, Fig. 1 and [0033]), the irrigation span assembly comprising:
a central hose (comprising multiple 24s); wherein the central hose comprises a plurality of hose segments (24s, see Fig. 1); wherein the plurality of hose segments comprise: a first hose segment (annotated Fig. 1); a second hose segment (annotated Fig. 1); and a third hose segment (annotated Fig. 1);
a plurality of nozzle connectors (86, Fig. 6 and [0026 and 0054]); wherein the plurality of nozzle connectors comprise: a first nozzle connector (the 86 positioned in the first hose segment, see annotated Fig. 1), a second nozzle connector (the 86 positioned in the second hose segment, see annotated Fig. 1), and a third nozzle connector (the 86 positioned in the first hose segment, see annotated Fig. 1);
wherein the first, second and third nozzle connectors (annotated Fig. 1) each comprise: a front connection insert (the 92 in Fig. 6 fluidly upstream relative to flow direction in 24); a rear connection insert (the 92 in Fig. 6 fluidly downstream relative to flow direction in 24); a central connector body (88); and a central sprinkler outlet (46); wherein the central sprinkler outlet extends from the central connector body (see Fig. 6);
wherein the first hose segment (annotated Fig. 1) is connected at a first end (annotated Fig. 1) to the first nozzle connector (annotated Fig. 1); wherein the first hose segment (annotated Fig. 1) is connected at a second end (annotated Fig. 1) to the second nozzle connector (annotated Fig. 1);
wherein the second nozzle connector (annotated Fig. 1) is connected between the first hose segment (a portion of the first hose segment, annotated Fig. 1) and the second hose segment (annotated Fig. 1);
wherein the third nozzle connector (annotated Fig. 1) is connected between the second hose segment (annotated Fig. 1) and the third hose segment (a portion of the third hose segment, annotated Fig. 1); and
an assembly (36, Figs. 1-3), wherein the assembly comprises: a first wall (38, Fig. 3) and a second wall (39, Fig. 3).
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Teeter does not teach said assembly is an angle iron assembly, wherein said first wall and said second wall are joined at a central joint; wherein said first wall and said second wall intersect to form a central channel within the angle iron assembly having a central channel floor; wherein said central hose runs between said first wall and said second wall; wherein said central hose runs within the central channel; wherein said first and second walls are oriented to form an angle; wherein the central joint is oriented downward.
However, Hegemann teaches an angle iron assembly (45, Figs. 1-4 and col. 4, l. 66 to col. 5, l. 3), wherein the angle iron assembly comprises: a first wall (77) and a second wall (79, Figs. 2 and 4); wherein the first wall (77) and the second wall (79) are joined at a central joint (two 87s, Figs. 2 and 4); wherein the first wall (77) and the second wall (79) intersect (to 65 at 55s, see Fig. 2) to form a central channel (the triangle-shaped space formed between 65, 77, and 79, see Fig. 2) within the angle iron assembly (45) having a central channel floor (two 89s, see Figs. 2 and 4); wherein the central hose (11) runs between the first wall (77) and the second wall (79, see Fig. 4); wherein the central hose (11) runs within the central channel (see Fig. 2); wherein the first and second walls (77 and 79) are oriented to form an angle (a respective angle of the angle irons 77 and 79, col. 4, l. 66 to col. 5, l. 3); wherein the central joint (the two 89s part of 87s) is oriented downward (see Figs. 2 and 4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the assembly of Teeter to be the angle iron assembly as taught by Hegemann in order to equalize the forces applied to the supporting system from the pipeline during transporting across uneven terrain with less cost and system weight (Hegemann, col. 1, ll. 5-10 and col. 2, ll. 29-40).
Teeter in view of Hegemann does not teach said angle is a 90-degree angle.
However, Johnson teaches an angled iron wall is oriented to from various degree angles for desired applications, which includes 90-degree angle (para. 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the first wall and the second wall of Teeter in view of Hegemann to form a 90-degree angle as taught by Johnson because it is noted that the optimization of ranges, i.e., forming a 90-degree angle, as it is disclosed and claimed in the instant application, was an obvious extension of prior art teachings, as it would have taken only ordinary skill in the art to change the angle of the angle iron for desired applications as taught by Johnson, In re Aller, MPEP 2144.05(II)(A).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
PURTELL 3417766 teaches an irrigation span assembly comprising a central hose and an angle iron assembly, wherein the angle iron assembly comprises a first wall and a second wall intersect at a central joint to form a central channel, the central hose runs within the central channel, and the central joint oriented downward.
Shoap 20210190241, Kamerath 11274781, and Lemkin 4722481 teach a nozzle connector comprises a front connection inset, a rear connection insert, a central connector body, and a central outlet extends from the central connector body.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JINGCHEN LIU whose telephone number is (571)272-6639. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Devon Kramer can be reached at (571) 272-7118. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JINGCHEN LIU/ /GERALD L SUNG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3741 Examiner, Art Unit 3741
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