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 .
Drawings
The replacement drawings filed 6/29/26 have been considered and entered.
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, 2, 5, 7, and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Scarammucci (3,292,653).
Regarding claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8 Scarammucci teaches (claim 1) a removable lid 36 (fig. 1) adapted for fluid tight sealing engagement with an opening 32 in a closed system where a pressure on an outside of the closed system is higher than a pressure on an inside of the closed system (adapted for language is seen as functional language in which the lid is capable of performing the function of a fluid tight seal in a closed system), wherein the lid 36 is arranged to perform a pivoting movement around a pivot axis for opening the lid, and the lid 36 is provided with a fluid tight sealing element 42 around a periphery of the lid for sealing engagement of the lid in the opening; (claim 2) the lid 36; wherein the lid 36 is fluid tight held in place in the opening by balancing the forces on the lid due to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the closed system (the lid is held in a sealing position due to the spring 58; however, backflow of fluid pressure would further force the lid against the seat); (claim 5) wherein the pivot axis (at shaft 38 fig. 2) is provided by a longitudinal element, a geometry in the lid or a geometry in the opening (provided by shaft 38); (claims 7 and 8) wherein the opening in the system is an opening in a pipe or a tank (pipe that connects to inlet 24); wherein the pivoting movement for opening the lid is initiated by a force applied on a part of the lid in an area near or on a periphery of the lid away from the pivot axis (force applied via inlet 24).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 4, 6, 10-16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 30, and 32 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Scaramucci fails to disclose (claim 3) wherein the pivot axis is arranged in a middle part of the lid; (claim 4) wherein the pivot axis divides an area of the lid in a first area and a second area, and wherein the first area is equal to or about equal to the area of the second area; (claim 6) wherein the closed system is a vacuum system; (claim 10) the periphery of the lid is arranged to be able to slide on a surface of the opening for at least a part of the pivoting movement; (claims 11 and 24) where a pressure on an outside of the closed system is larger than a pressure on an inside of the closed system; (claim 30) use of the lid as an inspection opening in a vacuum sewage system.
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 P. MACADE NICHOLS whose telephone number is (571)270-5428. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00 P.M..
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/P. MACADE NICHOLS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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