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 Status
Claims 1-7 are pending:
Claims 1-7 are rejected.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. JP 2021-092755 filed on 06/02/2021.
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.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hirozawa (US 2017/0361280).
Regarding claim 1, Hirozawa teaches a filter (separation membrane element, see ABS) comprising a filter element (Figs. 10-12, separation membrane elements 100A-C) having a filter member with a tubular shape disposed on an outer side of a porous tube (Figs. 10-12, water collection tube 6) (see ¶81), wherein the filter member has an embossed portion formed on a surface of the filter member (the separation membrane can include one which is embossed, see ¶36 and ¶107-¶112).
Regarding claim 2, Hirozawa teaches the filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter member is a sheet-like member, and is wound around the porous tube (see Figs. 8 and 10-12 wherein sheets around surrounding water collection tube 6).
Regarding claim 3, Hirozawa teaches the filter according to claim 2, wherein the filter element includes a wound laminated sheet of the filter member and a net-like substrate (the laminate including the porous supporting layer, see ¶71; a member such as a net, see ¶139).
Regarding claim 4, Hirozawa teaches the filter according to claim 2, wherein in the filter element, the filter member is continuously laminated (the separation membrane is continuously formed, see ¶70; the laminate including the porous supporting layer, see ¶71) in a radial direction (see Figs. 8 and 10-12 wherein the separation membrane has a circular or cylindrical membrane which defines a radius extends in a radial direction).
Regarding claim 5, Hirozawa teaches the filter according to claim 2,wherein, in the filter element, a plurality of the filter members having different ventilation resistances are laminated in the radial direction and wound (see ¶41).
Regarding claim 6, Hirozawa teaches the filter according to claim 2, wherein the filter member has pores (the porous sheet having pores, see ¶78).
Regarding claim 7, Hirozawa teaches the filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter member is disposed on the outer side of the porous tube (see Figs. 8 and 10-12 wherein sheets around surrounding water collection tube 6), the filter member being folded into a pleated shape (the separation functional layer has a pleated structure, see ¶43).
Claims 1-2 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Barger (USPN 6,632,357).
Regarding claim 1, Barger teaches a filter (permeable membrane system, see ABS) comprising a filter element (Figs. 1-6, permeable membrane system 10) having a filter member with a tubular shape disposed on an outer side of a porous tube (Figs. 1-6, product tube 30; the product tube 30 receives a plurality of laminated compositions forming a porous structure), wherein the filter member has an embossed portion (Figs. 1-6, projections 24 on outside surfaces 20, 22 defined by a plurality of embossed islands) formed on a surface of the filter member.
Regarding claim 2, Barger teaches the filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter member is a sheet- like member (sheets 14, 16), and is wound around the porous tube (see Figs. 3 and 6 of wound configuration).
Regarding claim 4, Barger teaches the filter according to claim 2, wherein in the filter element, the filter member is continuously laminated in a radial direction (i.e. laminated compositions) (see Figs. 3 and 5 wherein the separation membrane has a circular or cylindrical membrane which defines a radius extends in a radial direction).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EKANDRA S. MILLER-CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7849. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 7 am - 6 pm EST.
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/EKANDRA S. MILLER-CRUZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1773