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
Claims 16-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 06/12/2026.
Applicant's election with traverse of claims 16-20 in the reply filed on 06/12/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that a search for any of Groups I, II, or III and Species 1, 2, or 3 would yield references applicable to all of Groups I, II, and III and Species 1, 2, or 3, if any such references exist. Thus, examination of the combined claim set is more efficient as there is no serious search burden imposed on the Examiner. This is not found persuasive because the Groups and Species would still require a different field of search (e.g., searching different classes/subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search strategies or search queries).
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Status of claims
The action is in reply to the Application filed on 06/12/2026. Claims 1-20 are currently pending. Claims 16-20 are withdrawn and claims 1-15 are being examined.
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.
(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, 5-8, and 12-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a(1)(2) as being anticipated by Lubomirsky (US 20240290638 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Lubomirsky (US 20240290638 A1) discloses a lift pin system (700; fig. 7a; para. 65), comprising:
a plunger housing (706; fig. 7a; para. 65);
a plunger (730 and as annotated in fig. 7a below; para. 65) disposed in the plunger housing (as shown in fig, 7a; para. 65), the plunger axially movable with respect to the plunger housing (figs. 7A and 7B; para. 65);
a bushing (as annotated in fig. 7A below) disposed around the plunger (as seen in fig. 7a), the bushing axially movable with respect to the plunger housing (bushing portion moves upward with the plunger; figs. 7A and 7B; para. 65); and
a lift pin (720; fig. 7A; para. 66) disposed in a lift pin housing (715; fig. 7A; para. 66) above the plunger housing (as shown in fig. 7A), the lift pin axially movable by movement of the plunger (para. 68; fig. 7B);
wherein the bushing limits upward movement of the plunger (bushing contacts member 712 and prevents the plunger from leaving the housing; para. 65; fig. 7A).
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Regarding claim 5, Lubomirsky teaches the limitations of claim 1, as described above and further teaches wherein the bushing limits upward movement of the plunger by engagement with a flange of the plunger (the bushing acts as a flange to limit movement by contacting member 712 and prevents the plunger from leaving the housing; para. 65; fig. 7A).
Regarding claim 6, Lubomirsky teaches the limitations of claim 1, as described above and further teaches wherein an upper portion of the plunger (730; fig. 7A; para. 69) is disposed around the lift pin housing (as seen in fig. 7A; para. 69).
Regarding claim 7, Lubomirsky teaches the limitations of claim 6, as described above and further teaches wherein an axial length of the upper portion is adjustable (reference figs. 7A and 7C, it is seen the upper portion 730 expands and contracts axially lengthwise; para. 69).
Regarding claim 8, Lubomirsky (US 20240290638 A1) discloses a lift pin system (700; fig. 7a; para. 65), comprising:
a plunger housing (706; fig. 7a; para. 65);
a lift pin (720; fig. 7A; para. 66) disposed in a lift pin housing (715; fig. 7A; para. 66) above the plunger housing (as shown in fig. 7A);
a plunger (707,710, 711, and 730; fig. 7A; para. 65) axially movable with respect to the plunger housing (figs. 7A and 7B; para. 65), and including:
a lower portion (707,710, 711; fig. 7A; para. 65) disposed in the plunger housing (fig. 7A; para. 65); and an upper portion disposed around the lift pin housing (730; fig. 7A; para. 69);
wherein an axial length of the upper portion is adjustable (reference figs. 7A and 7C, it is seen the upper portion 730 expands and contracts axially lengthwise; para. 69).
Regarding claim 12, Lubomirsky discloses the limitations of claim 8, as disclosed above, and further teaches wherein a spring (708; fig. 7A; para. 65) in the plunger housing (fig. 7A; para. 65) biases the plunger upwards (figs. 7A-7C; paras. 65, 67, 68).
Regarding claim 13, Lubomirsky discloses the limitations of claim 12, as disclosed above, and further teaches wherein the lift pin is axially movable by movement of the plunger (para. 68; fig. 7B).
Regarding claim 14, Lubomirsky discloses the limitations of claim 8, as disclosed above, and further teaches wherein the lift pin system further comprises a bushing (as annotated in fig. 7A below) disposed around the plunger (as seen in fig. 7a), the bushing axially movable with respect to the plunger housing (bushing portion moves upward with the plunger; figs. 7A and 7B; para. 65).
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Regarding claim 15, Lubomirsky discloses the limitations of claim 15, as disclosed above, and further teaches wherein the bushing limits upward movement of the plunger by engagement with a flange of the plunger (the bushing acts as a flange to limit movement by contacting member 712 and prevents the plunger from leaving the housing; para. 65; fig. 7A).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-4, and 9-11 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 2, the closest art of record, Lubomirsky, discloses the limitations of claim 1, as described above, however does not teach, suggest or make obvious wherein axial movement of the bushing is via rotation of the bushing (axial movement is via vertical translation of the plunger; figs. 7A and 7B; para. 65).
Regarding claim 3, the closest art of record, Lubomirsky, discloses the limitations of claim 1, as described above, however does not teach, suggest or make obvious wherein the bushing is coupled to a support housing in the plunger housing (the bushing identified in the closest are of record is axially movable, which would not be possible for it to be coupled to a support housing, furthermore Lubomirsky does not disclose a support housing within the plunger housing).
Claim 4 is objected to as it is dependent on claim 3.
Regarding claim 9, the closest art of record, Lubomirsky, discloses the limitations of claim 6, as described above, however does not teach, suggest or make obvious wherein the axial length of the upper portion is adjusted by including a shim in the upper portion (substantial search of prior art does not disclose this feature pertaining to the mapped version of the closest art of record).
Claims 10 and 11 are objected to as it is dependent on claim 9.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL T. FARRELL whose telephone number is (571)270-0401. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00AM - 5PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Keller can be reached at (571) 272-8548. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL THADDUES FARRELL JR/ Examiner, Art Unit 3723
/MAHDI H NEJAD/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
