Detailed Action
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim 1 of U.S. Application 18/742,594 filed on June 13, 2024 are presented for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/06/2024 and 08/06/2024 has been considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
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 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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Burkhardt et al (US Pat No 7683611) in view of Sutherland et al (USPGPub 20110167914).
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Prior Art: Burkhardt
Regarding claim 1, Burkhardt discloses an apparatus (shown in figs 1-9) for testing within a pipe (col 3 lines 1-20 discloses testing within a pipe), comprising: an exciter (such as 140) for generating an electromagnetic (EM) field (AC magnetic field) for exciting a wall of the metal pipe (col 2 lines 55-65 discloses generating magnetic fields in a pipe wall); an extendable and retractable sensor assembly (130) comprising a plurality of sensor bars (135) arranged in an angled manner with respect to an axis of the pipe (col 3 lines 15-32 discloses being on multiple angles) for sensing residue EM field on the wall of the pipe (col 2 lines 52-67 discloses sensing eddy currents in a pipe wall and retractable assembly); a plurality of guide wheel assemblies (shown but not fully disclosed) for supporting and moving the apparatus along an axis of the pipe (col 7 lines 6-27 discloses transport system which would include the wheels to propel the system along the pipe); and a control unit (inside of 200)for processing the sensed residue EM field from the sensor assembly (col 3 lines 31-49 discloses circuitry that processes the sensor data. Therefore, it would process the sensed residue EM field). Burkhardt does not fully disclose being a metal pipe.
However, Sutherland discloses being a metal pipe (abstract discloses non-destructive testing of metallic structures). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Burkhardt in view of Sutherland in order to detect defects that occur in metallic structures to determine the health of a pipeline.
Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Neidhardt et al (US Pat No. 7698937): discloses detecting defects in tubular members.
Hosohara et al (US Pat No 5623203): discloses flaw sensor parallel to the pipe.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DOMINIC E HAWKINS whose telephone number is (571)272-2647. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:00pm EST.
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/DOMINIC E HAWKINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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