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 I, claims 1-15 in the reply filed on 3/11/2026 is acknowledged.
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.
Claims 1-15 are 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 1 recites the limitation "the fissionable uranium of the block" in line 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Is the Applicant referring to the block of fissionable uranium?
Claim 1 is indefinite because it is unclear if heat pipe members are the same as the heat pipe or if they are different. Furthermore, if they are the same what is the difference between the heat pipe and the heat pipe members? The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify.
Claim 1 is indefinite because it is unclear if “fissionable material” is the same as the fissionable uranium or if this is a different fissionable material. The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify this limitation.
The term “near liquidus point” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “near” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. How close does the heat have to be for it to be considered “near” the liquidus point? The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify.
Claim 2 is indefinite because it is unclear if “fissionable material” is the same as the fissionable uranium or if this is a different fissionable material. The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify this limitation.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the at least heat pipe" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Is the Applicant attempting to state “the at least one heat pipe”, or is the Applicant attempting to state that at least the heat pipe is cooled? The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify this limitation.
Claim 15 is indefinite because it is unclear if “fissionable material” is the same as the fissionable uranium or if this is a different fissionable material. The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify this limitation.
Claim 15 is indefinite because it is unclear if “of selected heat and pressure” are the same heat and pressure from claim 1 or if these are different heat and pressure. If they are the same, the limitation should read “of the heat and pressure”. The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Prior art was not found that taught or suggested the method as claimed that included providing at least one heat pipe of specified length and circular cross section having a first diameter with an outer wall, coating at least a portion of the heat pipe length with a sandwich of successive layers of copper, molybdenum and copper extending the heat pipe first diameter to a greater diameter with metallurgical bonds having extents allowing thermal strain and expansion between heat pipe outer wall material and the fissionable uranium of the block, providing for each heat pipe an opening in the block of fissionable material to receive the greater diameter of the coated heat pipe in a slip fit relation, at least the coated portion of the heat pipe length to be inserted into the opening in the block of fissionable uranium, applying selected heat and pressure in an inert environment to the combined block of fissionable material and coated heat pipe members to bring the copper layers to a near liquidus point to complete metallurgical joinder therebetween whereby the slip fit relation between members is replaced by said joinder.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIN B SAAD whose telephone number is (571)270-3634. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 7:30a-6p.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Keith Walker can be reached at 571-272-3458. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERIN B SAAD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1735
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