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 Group II (claims 17-20) in the reply filed on 5 January 2026 is acknowledged.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 150, 122 (Specification, paras. [0058], [0062]). Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claims 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Poole (US 2,077,057).
Regarding claim 17, the reference Poole teaches a method of hydrocarbon desulfurization (see page 1, left column, lines 1-31) comprising:
- providing a plurality of cells (S1-S6) including a lower cell portion and an upper cell portion, the cells defining an uppermost cell (S1) and a lowermost cell (S2) (see page 4, left column, lines 65-74; Fig. 3);
- directing reagent (44) in a downward from the uppermost cell (S1) to the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 18-30; Fig. 3);
- maintaining at least some reagent in the lower cell portion or each of the uppermost and lowermost cell (S1-S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 42-52; Fig. 3);
- introducing fuel (45) to the lower cell portion of the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 18-30; Fig. 3);
- mixing fuel with reagent in the lower cell portion of the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 21-24; Fig. 3);
- directing fuel into the upper cell portion of the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 42-52; Fig. 3);
- directing fuel into the lower cell portion of the uppermost cell (S1) (see page 4, right column, lines 31-41; Fig. 3);
- mixing fuel with reagent in the lower cell portion of the uppermost cell (S1) (see page 4, right column, lines 42-52; Fig. 3);
- directing fuel into the upper cell portion of the uppermost cell (S1) (see page 4, right column, lines 31-41; Fig. 3);
- removing fuel at or near an upper end of the upper cell portion of the uppermost cell (see page 4, right column, lines 31-41; Fig. 3);
- overflowing reagent in the lower cell portion of the uppermost cell (S1) into the upper cell portion of the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 42-52; Fig. 3);
- overflowing reagent in the lower cell portion of the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 42-52; Fig. 3); and
- removing the reagent that has overflowed from the lower cell portion of the lowermost cell (S6) (see page 4, right column, lines 52-58; Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 18, the reference Poole discloses the method, wherein a plurality of central cells (S2-S5) is positioned between the uppermost cell (S1) and the lowermost cell (S6), with the reagent traveling from the uppermost cell to the lowermost cell sequentially, and the fuel traveling from the lowermost cell to the uppermost cell sequentially (see page 4, right column, lines 18-41; Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 19, the reference Poole teaches the method, wherein the reagent travels from the uppermost cell to the lowermost cell by way of gravity (see page 4, right column, lines 42-58; Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 20, the reference Poole teaches the method, wherein the plurality of cells define a reaction column that is vertically oriented (see page 4, left column, 65-74; Fig. 3).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Lessanework T Seifu whose telephone number is (571)270-3153. The examiner can normally be reached M-T 9:00 am - 6:30 pm; F 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Claire Wang can be reached at 571-270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LESSANEWORK SEIFU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774
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