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 .
The claims filed 1/26/26 are still pending; claims 1-20 are currently pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-5, 8-11, 14, and 16-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weidecke (EP 3176362, as cited by Applicant) in view of Zheng (US 20160290073).
CLAIM 1: Weidecke discloses an elevator (20) for use with a subterranean well. The elevator comprises an elevator housing (23); a slip assembly axially displaceable relative to the elevator housing (via pistons 21), the slip assembly comprising multiple slips (22) configured to grip an outer surface of a tubular disposed in the slip assembly, the slip assembly having open and closed configurations (see Fig. 1A); and a load indicator (27, sensor 1050 as shown in Fig. 9A-D) configured to prevent actuation of the slip assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration when at least a predetermined load is supported (via indicator 1057 and signals to control system).
Weidecke fails to disclose the load indicator configured to transfer load between the slip assembly and elevator housing, or the load indicator supporting the load.
Zheng discloses an instrumented drilling rig slip.
Zheng discloses load cells (700) placed to support slips (308) and the associated load, transferring the load to the support beneath them (structure 702) (see Fig. 7).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the placement of the load cells in Weidecke to be transfer the load with a reasonable expectation of success as Zheng teaches that such a configuration allows for accurate measurement of the weight (paragraph 0065).
CLAIM 2: The slip assembly further comprises an outer housing having a radially enlarged flange, and the load indicator is positioned axially between the flange and the elevator housing (see Fig. 8A).
CLAIM 3: The load indicator comprises a first ring that contacts the slip assembly, a second ring that contacts the elevator housing (see Fig. 9A). A position indicator (sensor 1050) configured to indicate when the predetermined load is applied to the first and second rings.
CLAIM 4: The position indicator includes a valve (such as 45, 47, 49).
CLAIM 5: The load indicator further comprises at least one spring configured to bias the first and second rings away from each other (spring in valve 49).
CLAIM 8: A control system (40) configured to apply pressure to the slip assembly to actuate the slip assembly from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and in which the load indicator is configured to prevent the pressure from being applied to actuate the slip assembly to the open configuration when the predetermined load is supported by the structure.
CLAIMS 9-11, 14: These methods are inherent to the above structures.
CLAIM 16: Weidecke discloses a system for use with a subterranean well. The system comprises a spider (30) configured to support a tubular and an elevator (20) axially displaceable relative to the spider. The elevator being configured to support the tubular, and the elevator comprising a slip assembly (see above), an elevator housing (23) and a load indicator (see above), the load indicator being configured to prevent actuation of the slip assembly to an open configuration when the elevator supports the tubular.
Zheng discloses load cells (700) placed to support slips (308) and the associated load, transferring the load to the support beneath them (structure 702) (see Fig. 7).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the placement of the load cells in Weidecke to be transfer the load with a reasonable expectation of success as Zheng teaches that such a configuration allows for accurate measurement of the weight (paragraph 0065).
CLAIM 17: The load indicator comprises a valve configured to prevent application of pressure from a control system to the slip assembly to actuate the slip assembly to the open configuration when the elevator supports the tubular (such as valves 45, 47, 49).
CLAIM 18: The load indicator comprises first and second rings that surround the slip assembly (see Fig. 9A).
Claim(s) 6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 19, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weidecke in view of Zheng in further view of Brown (US 20150034335).
CLAIM 4: Weidecke-Zheng discloses the elements of claim 3 as discussed above.
Weidecke further discloses in which the position indicator comprises a valve, but the valve is different than the valve of the further dependent claims.
Brown discloses a spider (10).
Brown discloses a load indicator (sensor 28) that is connected to the control system 100. The sensor comprises a valve (28).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the position indicator of Weidecke to include the valve of Brown with a reasonable expectation of success as the substitution of one known activation means for another in which the sensor would serve the same function of determining the load present.
CLAIM 6: The spring comprises a fluid spring (Brown, paragraph 0038).
CLAIM 7: The fluid spring is pressurized when the slip assembly is in the open configuration (Brown, paragraph 0038).
CLAIM 12: Weidecke-Zheng discloses the elements of claim 11 as described above.
Weidecke fails to disclose in which the spring comprises a fluid spring, and the compressing further comprises expelling fluid from the fluid spring.
Brown discloses an indicator with a fluid spring (28) compressed (Fig. 4, paragraph 0038).
CLAIM 13: The compressing comprises reducing a distance between first and second rings of the load indicator, each of the first and second rings surrounding the slip assembly (Brown, paragraph 0038; Fig. 4).
CLAIM 15: This method is inherent to the above structure.
CLAIM 19: Weidecke-Zheng discloses the elements of claim 18 as described above.
Weidecke fails to disclose in which the load indicator further comprises a spring that biases the first and second rings away from each other.
Brown discloses a spring (28) to bias the plates.
CLAIM 20: The spring comprises a fluid spring (paragraph 0038).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/17/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant asserts the prior art fails to teach “a load indicator configured to transfer load between the slip assembly and the elevator housing…” Weidecke teaches a slip assembly with a load indicator (sensors 27, 1050). The sensors send a signal corresponding to the load being borne by the slip assembly (paragraph 0013). The sensors are between the slips and the housing (Fig. 1A), but do not transfer load between the two. Zheng teaches load cells (700) that transfer the weight from the slip assemblies to the rig below. Thus, the combination of the two references takes the teaching of Zheng that load indicators can transfer load between components. That is combined with the teaching of Weidecke to place the load indicators between the slips and the housing. The result of the teachings is having load indicators in the place taught by Weidecke transferring load as taught by Zheng.
Applicant’s arguments are not persuasive as they focus on the two references individually instead of what is taught by the prior art as a whole. One cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986). Applicant’s focus on the parts of Zheng misses the combination of the teachings.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK F LAMBE whose telephone number is (571)270-1932. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 10-4.
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/PATRICK F LAMBE/Examiner, Art Unit 3676
/TARA SCHIMPF/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3676
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