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 .
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) 1-2, 4, 6-7, 9-10, 12, 14, 16-17 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Haddox 9,057,463.
In regard to claims 1, 9 and 16, Haddox discloses a dynamic manifold locking system (DMLS), comprising:
a stinger assembly 11, the stinger assembly providing separate first 15 and second 21 stinger flow passages therethrough, the stinger assembly further providing a stinger seal surface 13, the stinger assembly further providing a stinger tapered engagement surface (bottom of flange 13) disposed on an exterior surface of the stinger assembly 11;
a connector assembly 57, 47 configured to receive the stinger assembly 11, the connector assembly providing separate first 61 and second connector flow passages 63 therethrough, the connector assembly further providing a connector seal surface 59, the connector assembly further providing a locking ring 25 and a plurality of rotatable locking elements 67;
wherein, when remotely-actuated positioning of the connector assembly causes the stinger assembly 15 to be received inside the connector assembly (top of 15, at 17 is received inside of locking elements 67) such that the stinger seal surface 13 sealingly engages the connector seal surface 59, remotely-actuated extension of the locking ring 25 causes the locking elements 67 to constrict towards the stinger tapered engagement surface 17 and thereby conjoin the stinger assembly within the housing assembly (see from fig. 2 to 3);
wherein, responsive to said conjoining of the stinger assembly and the connector assembly, the first stinger flow passage becomes continuous with the first connector flow passage and the second stinger flow passage becomes continuous with the second connector flow passage (see fig. 3).
In regard to claims 2, 10 and 17, in which the first stinger flow passage 15 is located centrally within the stinger assembly (see fig. 1).
In regard to claims 4, 12 and 19, in which the first stinger flow passage 15 is configured to transfer fluid at a different pressure than fluid transferred in the second stinger flow passage 21 (the flow passages are isolated from each other and therefore configured to transfer fluid at different pressures).
In regard to claim 6, in which said reception of the stinger assembly into the connector assembly is via remotely-actuated positioning of the connector assembly.
In regard to claims 7 and 14, in which said extension of the locking ring 25 is actuated remotely.
Claim(s) 1, 6-7, 9, 14 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kelly et al. 4,589,493
In regard to claims 1, 9 and 16, Kelly et al. discloses a dynamic manifold locking system (DMLS), comprising:
a stinger assembly 22, the stinger assembly providing separate first 64 and second 66 stinger flow passages therethrough, the stinger assembly further providing a stinger seal surface, the stinger assembly further providing a stinger tapered engagement surface (bottom of flange 40) disposed on an exterior surface of the stinger assembly 22;
a connector assembly 28 configured to receive the stinger assembly 22, the connector assembly providing separate first 68 and second connector flow passages 70 therethrough, the connector assembly further providing a connector seal surface, the connector assembly further providing a locking ring 48 and a plurality of rotatable locking elements 50;
wherein, when remotely-actuated positioning of the connector assembly causes the stinger assembly 22 to be received inside the connector assembly such that the stinger seal surface sealingly engages the connector seal surface, remotely-actuated extension of the locking ring 48 causes the locking elements 50 to constrict towards the stinger tapered engagement surface and thereby conjoin the stinger assembly within the housing assembly;
wherein, responsive to said conjoining of the stinger assembly and the connector assembly, the first stinger flow passage becomes continuous with the first connector flow passage and the second stinger flow passage becomes continuous with the second connector flow passage (see fig. 3).
In regard to claim 6, in which said reception of the stinger assembly into the connector assembly is via remotely-actuated positioning of the connector assembly.
In regard to claims 7 and 14, in which said extension of the locking ring 48 is actuated remotely.
Claim(s) 1-4, 6-7, 9-12, 14 and 16-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Miller 4,353,420.
In regard to claims 1, 9 and 16, Miller discloses (fig. 4) a dynamic manifold locking system (DMLS), comprising:
a stinger assembly 14, the stinger assembly providing separate first 140 and second 116 stinger flow passages therethrough, the stinger assembly further providing a stinger seal surface (top surface of 14 attached to flanged end of other element with bore 20), the stinger assembly further providing a stinger tapered engagement surface (bottom of the top fanged end of 14) disposed on an exterior surface of the stinger assembly 14;
a connector assembly (top element with bore 20 and 16) configured to receive the stinger assembly 14, the connector assembly providing separate first 40 and second 20 connector flow passages therethrough (see fig. 6), the connector assembly further providing a connector seal surface (bottom flanged end of 20 in contact with the top flanged end of 14), the connector assembly further providing a locking ring (where 16 is pointing) and a plurality of rotatable locking elements (elements between ring 16 and 14 that are in contact with the tapered surfaces of the top and bottom flanges of element with bore 20 and element 14);
wherein, when remotely-actuated positioning of the connector assembly causes the stinger assembly 14 to be received inside the connector assembly 16, 20 such that the stinger seal surface sealingly engages the connector seal surface, remotely-actuated extension of the locking ring 16 causes the locking elements to constrict towards the stinger tapered engagement surface 109a and thereby conjoin the stinger assembly within the housing assembly;
wherein, responsive to said conjoining of the stinger assembly and the connector assembly, the first stinger flow passage becomes continuous with the first connector flow passage and the second stinger flow passage becomes continuous with the second connector flow passage (see fig. 4).
In regard to claims 2, 10 and 17, in which the first stinger flow passage 140 is located centrally within the stinger assembly.
In regard to claims 3, 11 and 18, in which the second stinger flow passage 116 is located annularly around the first stinger flow passage 140.
In regard to claims 4, 12 and 19, in which the first stinger 116 flow passage is configured to transfer fluid at a different pressure than fluid transferred in the second stinger flow passage 140 (the flow passages are isolated from each other and therefore configured to transfer fluid at different pressures).
In regard to claim 6, in which said reception of the stinger assembly into the connector assembly is via remotely-actuated positioning of the connector assembly.
In regard to claims 7 and 14, in which said extension of the locking ring 16 is actuated remotely.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5, 8, 13, 15 and 20 are 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-4, 6-7, 9-12, 14 and 16-19 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID E. BOCHNA whose telephone number is (571)272-7078. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-5:30.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached at (571) 270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DAVID BOCHNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679