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 drawings are objected to because Figure 3 has the outlet 26 pointing to a closed end and numeral 22 which is supposed to be the burst disc is pointing to empty space.
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 burst disc 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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 3 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 3, the limitation “a burst disc” is line 3 is unclear and indefinite. It is unclear and indefinite if the burst disc in line 3 is the same as the burst disc in line 2. For examination purposes, the limitation will be read as the same burst disc.
Claims not specifically mentioned are rejected as being dependent on a rejected base claim.
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) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Aguilar (U.S. Patent No. 9,841,114).
Regarding claim 1, Aguilar discloses:
A check valve (100, 110) comprising:
a housing (100) and a burst disc 110 (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25; see Figure 3AA)
wherein the check valve (100, 110) is configured to prevent fluid from passing through the check valve (100, 110) when the burst disc (110) is in an unruptured state (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
wherein the burst disc (110) is configured to burst upon the application of a pre-set amount of pressure to the burst disc 110 (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
wherein the check valve (100, 110) is configured to allow fluid to pass through the check valve (100, 110) when the burst disc (110) is in the ruptured state (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
Regarding claim 2, Aguilar discloses:
wherein the fluid is gas (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
Regarding claim 3, Aguilar discloses:
A method of providing artificial gas lift comprising:
determining an amount of pressure that will cause a burst disc (110) to rupture (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
integrating the burst disc (110) configured to rupture at the determined amount of pressure into a check valve (100, 110) wherein the burst disc (110) is initially in an unruptured state (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
wherein the check valve (100, 110) prevents the flow of fluid through the check valve (100, 110) when the burst disc (110) is in an unruptured state (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
rupturing the burst disc (110) by applying the determined amount of pressure that will cause the burst disc (110) to rupture to the burst disc (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
wherein the check valve (100, 110) allows fluid to flow through the check valve (100, 110) when the burst disc (110) is in a ruptured state (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
Regarding claim 4, Aguilar discloses:
wherein the fluid is gas (Col. 4, line 60 - Col. 5, line 25)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Banks et al. (U.S. 2013/0126152) and Ross et al. (U.S. 2022/0154552) disclose a check valve having a burst disc which blocks flow until the disc is ruptured by a predetermined amount of pressure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KELSEY E CARY whose telephone number is (571)272-9427. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors, Craig Schneider can be reached at (571)-272-3607 or Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881.. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KELSEY E CARY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753