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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 19 recites, “the two retaining arms are arranged in the at least one slot in the pre-assembly position and abut an outer casing wall of the locking sleeve in a biased manner”. However, it is not clear to the Examiner how the two retaining arms are arranged in the at least one slot in the pre-assembly position. The Examiner is unable to determine the metes and bounds of the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 and 15-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 11796099, Gocha.
In regards to claim 1, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses a fluid coupling apparatus for coupling two fluid lines along an axial direction, the fluid coupling apparatus comprising: a tubular socket element (16, 40) having at least one slot (70), a conduction side and a coupling side, wherein a locking sleeve (80) which is axially displaceable in a direction of the conduction side is arranged in the socket element and fixes a pre-assembly position, wherein the locking sleeve includes at least one inner catching element (82) for fixing the pre-assembly position and at least one outer catching element (92) for fixing the locking sleeve in a final assembly position; a tubular plug element (12) having a conduction side and a coupling side and a retaining groove (13), wherein a retaining groove is formed on an outside of the tubular plug element; and a retaining element (60) configured to enter the at least one slot, wherein the retaining element is arranged orthogonally to the axial direction and is C-shaped and has two retaining arms.
In regards to claim 15, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses the at least one inner catching element extends radially inward and is arranged in the locking recess in the pre-assembly position.
In regards to claim 16, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses the at least one outer catching element extends radially outward and is arranged in the locking recess in the final assembly position.
In regards to claim 17, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses the socket element comprises a second slot, the at least one slot and second slot extending orthogonally to an axial direction and arranged opposite one another are formed in the socket element.
In regards to claim 18, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses the retaining groove extends orthogonally to the axial direction, in which, in a final assembly position, retaining arms of the retaining element are receivable.
In regards to claim 19, as best understood, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses the two retaining arms are arranged in the at least one slot in the pre-assembly position and abut an outer casing wall of the locking sleeve in a biased manner.
In regards to claim 20, in Figures 3-8 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Gocha discloses the retaining arms are received in the retaining groove in the final assembly position after release by the locking sleeve and thereby fix a complete coupling of the socket element and the plug element in the final assembly position.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-6 and 9-12 are allowed.
Claims 13-14 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) above 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
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AARON M DUNWOODY whose telephone number is (571)272-7080. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
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.
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/AARON M DUNWOODY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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