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 .
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
Claim Objections
Claim 10 objected to because of the following informalities: Line 2 which reads “forms integral part at least a part of” is grammatically incorrect and confusing. Appropriate correction is required.
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) 1-7, 9, 10, 13-15, 17-21, 23, 24 and 26 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Massicot (FR 2,454,986).
Massicot shows a modular insulating system which is fully capable without any modification of connecting two environments which are separated by an open air area. The system includes an upper casing 16 and a lower casing 10 which are connected and include a foamed polymer material and when connected the casings form an insulated channel having first and second ends.
Re claim 2, the casings have complementary coupling profiles which mutually connect.
Re claim 3, see Figure 2.
Re claim 4, casing profiles extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the insulated channel.
Re claim 5, see Figure 2.
Re claim 6, shown is a lock 12 for coupling profiles together.
Re claim 7, polyurethane foam is anticipated by the disclosure of foam material.
Re claim 9, shown is an outer rigid layer 10a.
Re claim 10, the rigid skin layer 10a is an integral part of the casing.
Re claim 13, the outer hard layer has a greater density than the form insulating material.
Re claim 14, the upper and lower casings form an insulated channel having first and second openings.
Re claim 15, the outer layer serves as shielding.
Re claim 17, Figure 2 shows a widened section 8.
Re claim 18, a partial overlap is shown in Figure 2.
Re claim 19, shown is a coupling 12.
Re claim 20, Figure 2 shows open spaces which would allow for thermal expansion.
Re claim 21, shown is sealing element 7.
Re claim 23, shown is a support structure 3.
Re claim 24, see Figure 2.
Re claim 26, the system is modular.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES R BIDWELL whose telephone number is (571)272-6910. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8 to 4.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gene Crawford, can be reached at telephone number (571)272-6911. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Examiner interviews are available via a variety of formats. See MPEP § 713.01. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/InterviewPractice.
/JAMES R BIDWELL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651 12/15/2025