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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 13-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nichols US5,217,138.
13. A liner (Figs 3-4 at 26) configured to insert into a closed-head drum, the liner comprising: a liner wall (26); and a plurality of liner connectors (54 and 410) including: a first liner connector (40) configured to attach the liner to a first bung connector (20) of a drum body, and a second liner connector (54) configured to attach the liner to a second bung connector (22) of the drum body.
14. (Original) The liner of claim 13, wherein: a first radially inward annular surface of the first liner connector is configured to permanently attach to an interior surface of the liner; a second radially inward annular surface of the second liner connector is configured to permanently attach to the interior surface of the liner; and all edges of the liner are separated from an interior of the liner, thereby preventing a material located within the interior of the liner from contacting the edges (Nichols Figs 3-4).
Claim(s) 13-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Budenbender US5,169,019.
13. A liner (Figs 7 at 5 and 6) configured to insert into a closed-head drum, the liner comprising: a liner wall (Fig. 7 at 5 and 6); and a plurality of liner connectors (upper curve opposite 15’ on 6) including: a first liner connector (Fig. 7 at the upper curve portion on 15’) configured to attach the liner to a first bung connector (Fig. 7 at 12) of a drum body, and a second liner connector (similar to the first) configured to attach the liner to a second bung connector (similar to the first) of the drum body.
14. (Original) The liner of claim 13, wherein: a first radially inward annular surface of the first liner connector is configured to permanently attach to an interior surface of the liner; a second radially inward annular surface of the second liner connector is configured to permanently attach to the interior surface of the liner; and all edges of the liner are separated from an interior of the liner, thereby preventing a material located within the interior of the liner from contacting the edges (Budenbender, Fig. 7).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Budenbender or Nichols.
15. (Original) The liner of claim 13, Budenbender or Nichols DIFFERS in that it does not disclose at least a portion of an exterior liner surface of the liner is configured to adhesively bond to one or more interior wall surfaces of the drum body upon thermal activation. Official Notice is taken that it is old and well known to adhesively bond liners. Therefore, it would have been obvious, to one of ordinary skill within the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify Budenbender or Nichols, by employing an adhesive bond to the liner in order to have an alternative way to securely connect the liner.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claims 1-12 are allowable. Regarding claim 1, lines 11-22 is not obvious, in light of the other claim limitations of claim 1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KAREEN KAY THOMAS whose telephone number is (571)270-5611. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00am-5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Orlando E. Aviles can be reached at 571-270-5531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KAREEN K THOMAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736
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