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 Invention I (claims 1-7) and Species I (embodiment of figures 2A-2C) in the reply filed on 4/24/2026 is acknowledged. Applicant has not identified the claims that correspond to the elected Species I in the embodiment of figures 2A-2C. The Examiner has determined that claims 1-4 and 7 correspond to the elected Species I. Accordingly, claims 5-6 and 8-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Invention and Species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 4/24/2026.
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 (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) 1-4 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Askestad (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2016/0169433).
As per claim 1, Askestad discloses an air duct interface, comprising: a first air duct including a first outer wall; a mating interface disposed circumferentially around the first outer wall, the mating interface including: a first angled portion extending away from the first outer wall in a first direction; and a second angled portion extending away from the first outer wall in a second direction that is opposite the first direction; a second air duct including a second outer wall; a gasket interface disposed circumferentially around the second outer wall, the gasket interface including: a first portion extending away from the second outer wall in the first direction, wherein the first portion is configured to engage the first angled portion; and a second portion extending away from the second outer wall in the second direction, wherein the second portion is configured to engage the second angled portion; and a first fastener configured to secure the second angled portion to the second portion (see annotated figure 7 below).
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As per claim 2, Askestad discloses the air duct interface of claim 1, and further discloses a first clamp configured to be coupled to the first portion, the first clamp configured to receive the first angled portion when coupled to the first portion; and a second clamp configured to be coupled to the second portion, the second clamp engaging the second angled portion and securing the mating interface to the gasket interface (see annotated figure 7 above).
As per claim 3, Askestad discloses the air duct interface of claim 2, and further discloses wherein the first angled portion has a top surface having a first angle with respect to the first direction and the first clamp having a second angle with respect to the first direction, the first angle and the second angle being complementary (see annotated figure 7 above).
As per claim 4, Askestad discloses the air duct interface of claim 2, and further discloses wherein the second angled portion has a first top surface having a first angle with respect to the second direction and the second portion has a second top surface having the first angle, wherein the second clamp is configured to engage the first top surface and the second top surface (see annotated figure 7 above).
As per claim 7, Askestad discloses the air duct interface of claim 2, and further discloses wherein the first fastener is configured to be inserted through the second clamp and into the second portion (see annotated figure 7 above).
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Karram (U.S. Patent No. 10,612,418).
As per claim 1, Karram discloses an air duct interface, comprising: a first air duct including a first outer wall; a mating interface disposed circumferentially around the first outer wall, the mating interface including: a first angled portion extending away from the first outer wall in a first direction; and a second angled portion extending away from the first outer wall in a second direction that is opposite the first direction; a second air duct including a second outer wall; a gasket interface disposed circumferentially around the second outer wall, the gasket interface including: a first portion extending away from the second outer wall in the first direction, wherein the first portion is configured to engage the first angled portion; and a second portion extending away from the second outer wall in the second direction, wherein the second portion is configured to engage the second angled portion; and a first fastener configured to secure the second angled portion to the second portion (see annotated figure 6 below).
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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.
Claim(s) 2, 3, and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karram in view of Farabow (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2022/0235673).
As per claim 2, Karram discloses the air duct interface of claim 1. Karram further discloses a first clamp configured to be coupled to the first portion, the first clamp configured to receive the first angled portion when coupled to the first portion (see annotated figure 6 above). Karram does not explicitly teach a second clamp configured to be coupled to the second portion, the second clamp engaging the second angled portion and securing the mating interface to the gasket interface.
Farabow (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2022/0235673) is a related prior art in that it also deals with a high temperature flange joint for a gas turbine engine. Farrabow teaches a clamp (42; figure 3) that is disposed between the bolt head (46a) and the flange (34). Farrabow further teaches this clamp enhances bearing surface and thereby reduces flange thermal gradients, reduces crrep deformation, maintains preload and improves component fatigue life (paragraphs [0021], [0022]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date, to modify Karram’s fastener to incorporate Farrabow’s clamp between the bolt head and the flange because as Farrow teaches, this clamp enhances bearing surface and thereby reduces flange thermal gradients, reduces crrep deformation, maintains preload and improves component fatigue life (paragraphs [0021], [0022]).
As per claim 3, Karram, in view of Farrabow, discloses the air duct interface of claim 2. Karram further discloses wherein the first angled portion has a top surface having a first angle with respect to the first direction and the first clamp having a second angle with respect to the first direction, the first angle and the second angle being complementary (as shown; figure 6).
As per claim 7, Karram, in view of Farrabow, discloses the air duct interface of claim 2. Karram further discloses wherein the first fastener is configured to be inserted into the second portion (see figure 6). Karram does not explicitly teach wherein the first fastener is inserted through the second clamp. However, by the combination of claim 2 above modifying Karram’s fastener to have a clamp wherein the fastener extends through the clamp, the modified structure would have all claimed features.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Blanton (U.S. Patent No. 8,079,773) teaches flange connection for a gas turbine engine component having a load spreader.
Jakobcic (U.S. Patent No. 10,570,778) teaches a coupling system for turbocharger conduits forming angled flanges.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SANG K KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-1324. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Courtney Heinle can be reached at (571)270-3508. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SANG K KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745
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