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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/03/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. While Applicant’s argument that the blind bore 30 creates a small interruption in the thread is accurate, the interconnecting portion, first region, and second region can be defined as laid out in fig. 1 below which leaves out the blind bore 30 and reads on the amended claimed limitations as discussed infra.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Wong (US 4240652 A).
With respect to claim 1, Wong discloses a drilling component (40) configured to interconnect a first section (12) and a second section (24) of a drill string, the drilling component comprising: a first end portion (right end of fig. 4) configured to be arranged to face the first section (shown in fig. 5) wherein the first end portion includes a first interconnecting portion (shown in fig. 1 below) configured to engage a corresponding interconnecting portion (16) of the first section of the drill string (fig. 5); a hollow interior configured to extend along a length direction of the drill string and to form a part of a passage through the drill string (shown in figs. 4, 5); and a wall defining the hollow interior (shown in figs. 4, 5), wherein a part of the passage is formed by a first region (shown in fig. 1 below) having a first cross-section and a second region (shown in fig. 1 below) having a second cross-section wherein the first region is arranged at the first end portion and extends at least partially along the first interconnecting portion wherein the second region extends between the first region and a second end portion (near 42, fig. 4) of the drilling component wherein the wall in the first region has a cylindrical profile wherein the wall in the first region is parallel to the wall in the second region wherein the area of a first cross-section (corresponding to the first region, shown in fig. 1 below) of the wall is smaller than the area of a second cross-section (corresponding to the second region, shown in fig. 1 below) of the wall and wherein the first cross-section is arranged between the second cross-section and the first end portion (shown in figs. 4, 5, fig. 1 below), wherein the first and second cross sections of the first interconnecting portion include a continuous external thread configured to engage the corresponding interconnecting portion of the first section of the drill string (shown in fig. 1 below, figs. 4, 5) and wherein the first cross section and the second cross section are directly interconnected (via a tapered portion in the same way as in the instant invention) and disposed within the first interconnecting portion (shown in figs. 4, 5, fig. 1 below). The first interconnecting portion being continuous between the first and second cross sections such that there is no non-threaded gap within the first and second cross sections (shown in figs. 4, 5, fig. 1 below, fig. 4 having a gap in the threads for ease of illustration, fig. 5 showing the full thread).
Fig. 1
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With respect to claim 2, Wong further discloses wherein the first interconnecting portion includes an externally threaded section (shown in figs. 4, 5) configured to engage the corresponding interconnecting portion (16) of the first section of the drill string.
With respect to claim 3, Wong further discloses a second interconnecting portion (42) configured to engage a corresponding interconnecting portion (26) of a second section of the drill string.
With respect to claim 4, Wong further discloses wherein the second interconnecting portion comprises includes an internally threaded section (42) configured to engage the corresponding interconnecting portion (26) of the second section of the drill string.
With respect to claim 5, Wong further discloses a second interconnecting portion (42) configured to be connected to a rock-drill piston interface (capable of this by way of being threaded).
With respect to claim 6, Wong further discloses a shank (between 30 and 42 in fig. 4) positioned adjacent to the first interconnecting portion wherein the first interconnecting portion is arranged between the shank and the first end portion (shown in fig. 4)
With respect to claim 7, Wong further discloses a radially outward protruding shoulder (38) configured to transfer a force to the first section of the drill string along the length direction of said drill string (it is capable of this by way of extending radially outwardly).
With respect to claim 8, Wong further discloses wherein the first end portion comprises includes an end surface (rightmost end of fig. 4) configured to transfer a force to the first section of the drill string along the length direction of said the drill string (capable of this since the end of any metallic member is capable of this).
With respect to claim 9, Wong further discloses wherein a cross-sectional area of the first region is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second region (the ID cross sectional area first region is larger than second region, see fig. 1 above, figs. 4, 5).
With respect to claim 10, Wong further discloses wherein the second region of the part of the passage comprises a cylindrical bore (shown in figs. 4, 5, unless stated otherwise all interior passages of drill strings are assumed to be circular in cross section and sidewalls in figs. 1 and 2 are straight except for areas of diameter change).
With respect to claim 11, Wong further discloses wherein the first region of the part of the passage comprises includes a cross-sectional shape conforming to a circle, an oval or a polygon (unless stated otherwise all interior passages of drill strings are assumed to be circular in cross section).
With respect to claim 12, Wong further discloses a percussion drill string (all drill strings encounter axial vibrations and could be considered percussion drill strings in this regard, furthermore, this language appears in the preamble and is not deemed limiting, also recited in col. 1 ll. 29-31) comprising at least one drilling component as claimed in claim 1.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 KIPP CHARLES WALLACE whose telephone number is (571)270-1162. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
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/KIPP C WALLACE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3674 01/30/2026
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