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 .
Status
Claims(s) 1-20, is/are filed on 1/6/2026 are currently pending. Claim(s) 1-15 is/are withdrawn without traverse, 16-20 is/are rejected.
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 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 pre-AIA 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.
(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.
Claim(s) 16-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by THOMAS (DE 102017005797 A1).
[AltContent: connector][AltContent: textbox (Seal surface for the support pipe)]
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Regarding claim 16, THOMAS teaches a filter element for a filter system, the filter element comprising: a filter medium (12) formed to a hollow body about a longitudinal axis (L); a first end disk (14) arranged at a first end face (26) of the filter medium (12) and a second end disk (16) arranged at an oppositely positioned second end face (28) of the filter medium (12); the first end disk (14) comprising a first central opening (15) and extending in an annular shape about the first end face (26); the second end disk (16) comprising a second central opening (17) and extending in an annular shape about the second end face (28); wherein a seal surface (20) of a seal interface or a region of a seal interface is arranged at the second end face (28) configured to be positioned as intended opposite an outlet (108) of the filter system in an installed state of the filter element (10) in the filter system (100) (p. 2-5).
Regarding claim 17, THOMAS teaches further comprising a support pipe (30), wherein the filter medium is arranged about the support pipe, and wherein the support pipe comprises the seal surface of the seal interface (see fig. above).
Claim(s) 16-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by MOSCARITOLO (US 20040065602 A1).
[AltContent: textbox (Socket)][AltContent: textbox (Seal surface for the support pipe)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Seal surface for the support pipe)]
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Regarding claim 16, MOSCARITOLO teaches a filter element for a filter system, the filter element comprising: a filter medium (140) formed to a hollow body about a longitudinal axis; a first end disk (151) arranged at a first end face (top) of the filter medium and a second end disk (153) arranged at an oppositely positioned second end face of the filter medium; the first end disk comprising a first central opening (top central opening which 110 is connected to) and extending in an annular shape about the first end face; the second end disk comprising a second central opening (bottom central opening where 110 is connected to) and extending in an annular shape about the second end face; wherein a seal surface (115) of a seal interface or a region of a seal interface is arranged at the second end face configured to be positioned as intended opposite an outlet (125) of the filter system in an installed state of the filter element in the filter system [0025-0052].
Regarding claim 17, MOSCARITOLO teaches further comprising a support pipe (110), wherein the filter medium is arranged about the support pipe, and wherein the support pipe comprises the seal surface (inner lateral surface of groove where 115 seal is formed) of the seal interface.
Regarding claim 18, MOSCARITOLO teaches wherein the support pipe comprises a radially inwardly projecting rim and wherein the seal surface of the seal interface is arranged at the radially inwardly projecting rim (inner radial surface of the groove where 115 seal is formed).
Regarding claim 19, MOSCARITOLO teaches a filter element comprising: a support pipe (110); a filter medium arranged as a single layer on the support pipe; a circumferentially extending socket (see fig. above) arranged at a first end face of the filter medium and projecting in an axial direction; a cover (116) arranged at the oppositely positioned second end face of the filter medium; wherein the cover comprises a seal surface or a seal element (115), which seal surface or seal element, in an installed state of the filter element in the filter system, is configured to form as intended a seal interface together with another filter element [0025-0052].
Regarding claim 20, MOSCARITOLO teaches wherein the cover comprises a circumferentially extending projection (111) projecting in the axial direction away from the cover, wherein the circumferentially extending projection carries the seal element.
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It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2123.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Waqaas Ali whose telephone number is (571) 270-0235. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9-5 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Claire Wang can be reached on 571-270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/WAQAAS ALI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1777