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 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, 2, and 6-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hosodah et al. (JP 2000-257659).
In Re claims 1 and 9, Hosodah et al. disclose a piston (17) for a hydraulic buffer device (10), the piston comprising: a cylindrical body (17) including a central hole (39) to allow a rod (13) to be inserted therethrough, and a plurality of first through-holes (31) and a plurality of second though-holes (32); and a seat protruding from an end face (45) of the body in an axial direction, the seat allowing a planar valve (18) to be seated thereon, wherein the seat comprises: an opening (entrance of 31); a seating surface (35) including a central portion, a pair of radial portions, and a circumferential portion (see 35 surrounding 42) surrounding a recess (axially facing surface adjacent 42); and an intermediate portion (see radially inside and adjacent to 32) provided between the end face and the seating surface and opposite the recess, the intermediate portion having a smaller radial size than the radial portions.
In Re claim 2, see alternating four first though-holes (31) and four second through-holes (32).
In Re claims 6 and 10, the intermediate portion is shorter, in the axial direction, than the radial portions.
In Re claim 7, the intermediate portion decreases in axial height at the second through-hole (see adjacent 32).
In Re claim 8, see curved radially inner end wall of the intermediate portion (see circular radially outwardly facing wall between 35 and 32).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS W IRVIN whose telephone number is (571)270-3095. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.
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/THOMAS W IRVIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3616
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