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
Claim 15 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on June 8, 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)(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) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hasenberg et al. (US 10, 040,584 B2).
Regarding claim 1, Hasenberg et al. discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device for producing hydrogen sulfide by reacting sulfur vapor with hydrogen gas, the hydrogen sulfide producing device comprising: a reactor (reaction vessel, 110) having a liquid sulfur filling part inside; a first heating unit (internal heating system, 180) for heating liquid sulfur to produce the sulfur vapor; and a hydrogen supply member (hydrogen containing gas inlet, 130) connected to the reactor (110) (see Abstract; figure 1; and column 3, line 58 through column 5, line 58).
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wölfert et al. (US 7,833,509 B2).
Regarding claim 1, Wölfert et al. discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device for producing hydrogen sulfide by reacting sulfur vapor with hydrogen gas, the hydrogen sulfide producing device comprising: a reactor (1) having a liquid sulfur filling part inside; a first heating unit (tube, 21) for heating liquid sulfur to produce the sulfur vapor; and a hydrogen supply member (feed device, 11) connected to the reactor (1) (see Abstract; figure 1; and column 13, line 58 through column 15, line 56).
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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP H03103311 A.
Regarding claim 1, JP H03103311 A discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device for producing hydrogen sulfide by reacting sulfur vapor with hydrogen gas, the hydrogen sulfide producing device comprising: a reactor (1) having a liquid sulfur filling part inside; a first heating unit (heat exchange, 5) for heating liquid sulfur to produce the sulfur vapor; and a hydrogen supply member (pipeline, 4) connected to the reactor (1) (see Abstract; figure 1; and description).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-14 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.
The closest prior art references are JP H03103311 A and Li et al. (CN 102500285 B)
Regarding claim 2, JP H03103311 A discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device wherein an interior of the reactor (1) includes a heat-insulating member (heat exchanging part, 14); and separately reactor (9) includes a catalyst support member (see Abstract; figure 1; and description).
Li et al. discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device (a sulfureted hydrogen synthesis device) wherein an interior of the reactor includes a catalyst support member (catalyst bed layer) provided above the liquid sulfur filling part, the hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprises a second heating unit (each section catalyst bed layer are provided with at least more than two layers of heat exchange coil (21)) for heating a space formed by the catalyst support member, and an inner wall of the reactor (see Abstract; figures 1-3 and paragraphs 0028-0039).
The prior art references fail to disclose or suggest the combination of a hydrogen sulfide producing device wherein an interior of the reactor includes a catalyst support member provided above the liquid sulfur filling part and a heat-insulating member provided above the catalyst support member, the hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprises a second heating unit for heating a space formed by the catalyst support member, the heat-insulating member, and an inner wall of the reactor, and an upper space and a lower space of the heat-insulating member communicate with each other in a part of the heat-insulating member or around the heat-insulating member.
Claims 3-5 depend on claim 2.
Regarding claim 6, JP H03103311 A discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device wherein an interior of the reactor (1) includes a heat-insulating member (heat exchanging part, 14); and separately reactor (9) includes a catalyst support member (see Abstract; figure 1; and description).
Li et al. discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device (a sulfureted hydrogen synthesis device) wherein an interior of the reactor includes a catalyst support member (catalyst bed layer) provided above the liquid sulfur filling part, the hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprises a second heating unit (each section catalyst bed layer are provided with at least more than two layers of heat exchange coil (21)) for heating the catalyst support member and an upper space of the catalyst support member (see Abstract; figures 1-3 and paragraphs 0028-0039).
The prior art references fail to disclose or suggest the combination of a hydrogen sulfide producing device wherein an interior of the reactor includes a catalyst support member provided above the liquid sulfur filling part and a heat-insulating member provided between the catalyst support member and the liquid sulfur filling part, the hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprises a second heating unit for heating the catalyst support member and an upper space of the catalyst support member, and an upper space and a lower space of the heat-insulating member communicate with each other in a part of the heat-insulating member or around the heat-insulating member.
Claims 7-9 depend on claim 6.
Regarding claim 10, JP H03103311 A discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprising: a liquid sulfur supply member connected to the liquid sulfur filling part; and separately reactor (9) includes a catalyst support member (see Abstract; figure 1; and description).
Li et al. discloses a hydrogen sulfide producing device (a sulfureted hydrogen synthesis device) wherein an interior of the reactor includes a catalyst support member (catalyst bed layer) provided above the liquid sulfur filling part, the hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprises a second heating unit (each section catalyst bed layer are provided with at least more than two layers of heat exchange coil (21)) for heating the catalyst support member and an upper space of the catalyst support member (see Abstract; figures 1-3 and paragraphs 0028-0039).
The prior art references fail to disclose or suggest the combination of a hydrogen sulfide producing device
JP H03103311 A fails to disclose or suggest a device wherein the hydrogen sulfide producing device further comprises a second heating unit for heating a space formed by the catalyst support member and an inner wall of the reactor.
Claims 11-14 depend on claim 10.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATASHA E YOUNG whose telephone number is (571)270-3163. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00 am - 6:00 pm.
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NATASHA E. YOUNG
Examiner
Art Unit 1774
/NATASHA E YOUNG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774
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