DETAILED ACTION
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the meter (claims 2 and 8) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(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, 3-5, 7, 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Anderson (US 4366919).
Claim 1, Anderson discloses a container having a first chamber for holding a first component (FIG 7; chamber limited by wall 57) and a second chamber for holding a second component (FIG 7; chamber limited by walls 57 and 58), wherein the first chamber is fluidly isolated from the second chamber (FIG 7);
an injector configured to receive the container (FIG 9), the injector including a first plunger and a second plunger wherein the first plunger aligns with the first chamber and the second chamber aligns with the second plunger when the container is positioned in the injector (121,123; FIG 11; Col 9, lines 8-22); and
a nozzle configured to engage a distal end of the container, the nozzle positioned to fluidly communicate with the first chamber and the second chamber when attached to the container (FIG 9; Col 8, lines 49-68), the nozzle having an internal labyrinth passage configured to fluidly connect to the first chamber and the second chamber (69; FIG 9; Col 8, lines 49-68),
wherein actuation of the injector causes the first plunger and the second plunger to force the first component and the second component out of the container and into the nozzle wherein the first component and the second component are mixed to form the expandable sealant for injection into the electrical fitting (Col 9, lines 1-7).
Claims 3 and 9, Anderson discloses the injector comprising a trigger (144, 161; FIG 11, 13) for actuating the first plunger and the second plunger (Col 9, line 57 to Col 10, line 3; Col 10, lines 37-62).
Claims 4 and 10, Anderson discloses wherein the trigger (144, 161; FIG 11, 13) is indexed to incrementally displace the first plunger and the second plunger (Col 9, line 57 to Col 10, line 3; Col 10, lines 37-62).
Claims 5 and 11, Anderson discloses a cap (61; FIG 7) configured to engage the container to seal both the first chamber and the second chamber when the nozzle is disconnected from the container.
Claim 7, Anderson discloses attaching the container to an injector (FIG 9), the injector including a first plunger and a second plunger wherein the first plunger aligns with the first chamber and the second plunger aligns with the second chamber when the container is positioned in the injector (121,123; FIG 11; Col 9, lines 8-22);
attaching a nozzle to a distal end of the container, the nozzle positioned to fluidly communicate with the first chamber and the second chamber when attached to the container (FIG 9; Col 8, lines 49-68), the nozzle having an internal labyrinth passage configured to fluidly connect to the first chamber and the second chamber (69; FIG 9; Col 8, lines 49-68); and
actuating the injector to cause the first plunger and the second plunger to force the first component and the second component out of the container and into the nozzle wherein the first component and the second component are mixed to form an expandable sealant for injection into an electrical fitting used in a hazardous or harsh environment (Col 9, lines 1-7).
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, 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.
Claim(s) 6 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Anderson as applied to claims 1 and 7 above.
Claims 6, and 12, Anderson substantially discloses the apparatus as claimed above but is silent on a first valve attached to the first chamber and a second valve attached to the second chamber, the first valve and the second valve configured to be normally closed and to open when the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, reach a predetermined internal pressure.
Anderson teaches a first valve attached to the first chamber and a second valve attached to the second chamber, the first valve and the second valve configured to be normally closed and to open when the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, reach a predetermined internal pressure (48-50; FIG 6; Col 7, lines 34 to 61).
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 device of Anderson with first and second valve as taught by Anderson in order to limit after-flow or drainage of compositions from the ends of the neck passageways.
Claim(s) 2 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Anderson as applied to claims 1 and 7 above, and further in view of Hurray et al (US 20020038826 A1).
Claims 2 and 8, Anderson substantially discloses the apparatus as claimed above but is silent on a meter for dispensing predetermined volumes of the first component and the second component.
Hurray teaches a meter (28; FIG 4; [0055] to [0058]) for dispensing predetermined volumes of the first component and the second component.
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 device of Anderson with meter as taught by Hurray in order to maintain ratio control of the A and B liquid components, and maximize flow output.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEREMY W CARROLL whose telephone number is (571)272-4988. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 AM - 5 PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Paul Durand can be reached at (571) 272-4459. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
JEREMY W. CARROLL
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3754
/Jeremy Carroll/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754