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 .
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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 7 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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) 1-5, 7-11 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Leslie et al. (US 10,502,059 B2) hereinafter Leslie.
Regarding claim 1, Leslie teaches a gas turbine engine (Fig. 1), comprising:
an annular engine flange having an engine flange attachment flange (EFAF) (58) that includes a plurality of EFAF apertures (100) (Fig. 3; Col. 6, lines 4-19) each of the plurality of EFAF apertures having an EFAF aperture inner diameter (Fig. 3);
an annular center body having a center body assembly (68), the center body assembly extending axially between a forward end and an aft end (Fig. 3, Col. 6, lines 4-19) the center body assembly having a center body assembly attachment flange (CBAAF) (68) disposed at the forward end of the center body assembly, the CBAAF including a plurality of CBAAF apertures (94) (Figs. 2-3), each of the plurality of CBAAF apertures having an CBAAF aperture inner diameter (Figs. 2-3), wherein the CBAAF aperture inner diameter is greater than the EFAF aperture inner diameter (Fig. 3 shows the inner diameter of aperture 94 larger than inner diameter of aperture 100), and wherein the EFAF is disposed forward from the CBAAF (Fig. 3; Col. 6, lines 4-19); and
a plurality of fastener assemblies, each of the plurality of fastener assembly assemblies including:
a fastener having a collar (80) disposed axially between a first attachment segment and a second attachment segment (Figs. 3-4; (Fig. 3; Col. 6, lines 4-19), wherein the collar has an outer radial surface disposed at a collar outer diameter, and wherein the collar outer diameter is greater than the EFAF aperture inner diameter and lesser than the CBAAF aperture inner diameter (Figs. 3-4 shows the outer diameter of collar greater that the inner diameter of aperture 100);
a first nut (74) (Fig. 3, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3); and
a second nut (72) (Fig. 3, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3);
wherein in an assembled form, the collar of each of the plurality of fastener assemblies said fastener assembly is are disposed within a respective said CBAAF aperture and is in contact with the engine flange (Col. 7, lines 1-18) and the first nut is threadedly engaged with the first attachment segment to fix the fastener to the engine flange, and the second nut is threadedly engaged with the second attachment segment to fix the center body assembly attachment flange to the engine flange (Figs. 3-4, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3).
Regarding claim 2, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 1. Leslie further teaches each of the plurality of fastener assemblies includes a first washer (118) disposed between the first nut and the engine flange, the first washer (FW) having an FW inner diameter that receives the first attachment segment of the respective fastener and a FW outer diameter that is greater than the EFAF aperture inner diameter of the respective EFAF aperture (Fig. 3; Col. 7, lines 1-18).
Regarding claim 3, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 2. Leslie further teaches each of the plurality of fastener assemblies includes a second washer (76) disposed between the second nut and the center body assembly attachment flange, the second washer (SW) having an SW inner diameter that receives the second attachment segment of the respective fastener and a SW outer diameter that is greater than the CBAAF aperture inner diameter of the respective CBAAF aperture (Fig. 3, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3).
Regarding claim 4, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 1. Leslie further teaches the collar of each said fastener has a collar axial thickness and the center body assembly attachment flange has a CBAAF axial thickness, and the collar axial thickness is less than the CBAAF axial thickness (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 5, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 1. Leslie further teaches the collar the second attachment segment (SAS) has a SAS outer diameter, and the SAS outer diameter is less than the collar outer diameter (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 7, Leslie teaches A fastener assembly for attaching a first flange (FF) (58) to a second flange (SF) (68), the first flange having a plurality of FF apertures (100) each having a FF aperture inner diameter (Fig. 3; Col. 6, lines 4-19 , and the second flange having a plurality of SF apertures (94) each having an SF aperture inner diameter, wherein the SF aperture inner diameter is greater than the FF aperture inner diameter (Fig. 3 shows the inner diameter of aperture 94 larger than inner diameter of aperture 100), the fastener assembly comprising:
a fastener having a collar (80) disposed axially between a first attachment segment and a second attachment segment (Figs. 3-4), wherein the collar has an outer radial surface disposed at a collar outer diameter, and wherein the collar outer diameter is greater than the FF aperture inner diameter and lesser than the SF aperture inner diameter (Fig. 3 show the outer diameter of collar 80 is greater than inner dimeter of aperture 100 and lesser than the inner diameter of aperture 94);
a first nut; and
a second nut;
wherein in an assembled form, the collar of the fastener is disposed within a respective said SF aperture and is in contact with the first flange and the first nut is threadedly engaged with the first attachment segment to fix the fastener to the first flange, and the second nut is threadedly engaged with the second attachment segment to fix the second flange to the second flange (Figs. 3-4, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3).
Regarding claim 8, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 7. Leslie further teaches a first washer (118) configured to be disposed between the first nut and the first flange, the first washer (FW) having an FW inner diameter that receives the first attachment segment of the fastener and a FW outer diameter that is greater than the FF aperture inner diameter of the respective FF aperture (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 9, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 8. Leslie further teaches a second washer (76) disposed between the second nut and the second flange, the second washer (SW) having an SW inner diameter that is configured to receive the second attachment segment of the fastener and a SW outer diameter that is greater than the SF aperture inner diameter of the respective SF aperture (Fig. 3, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3).
Regarding claim 10, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 7. Leslie further teaches the collar of the fastener has a collar axial thickness and the second flange has a SF axial thickness, and the collar axial thickness is less than the SF axial thickness (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 11, Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 7. Leslie further teaches the second attachment segment (SAS) has a SAS outer diameter, and the SAS outer diameter is less than the collar outer diameter (Fig. 3).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Leslie in view of Cochran (US 11,390,393 B2).
Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 1. Leslie including the center body includes an interior region.
Leslie fails to teach an acoustic element disposed in the interior region.
However, Cochran teaches a center body having an interior region (Fig. 4) which is coupled to an engine case (50) by a fastener assembly (Fig. 4). Leslie further teaches the interior region of the center body includes an acoustic element (64) (Fig. 4, Col. 4, lines 38-50).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Leslie by providing an acoustic element in the interior region of the center body as taught by Leslie for the purpose of attenuate noise.
Claim(s) 18, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Leslie in view of Farabow, III et al. (US 2022/0235673 A1) hereinafter Farabow.
Leslie teaches all the claimed limitations as stated above in claim 1. Leslie further teaches an exhaust assembly (32) (Fig. 1; Col. 7, lines 10-15). Leslie fails to teach the annular flange and the annular center body form the exhaust assembly.
However, Farabow teaches a gas turbine engine comprising an annular flange (34a) and a center body flange (34b) each comprising a plurality of apertures (Figs. 3) and a plurality of fasteners passing the apertures to connect the annular flange and the center body flange (Fig. 3) (para. 0021). Farabow teaches that the annular flange and the center body flange form an exhaust assembly (Fig. 2; para. 0016).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Leslie such that the annular flange and the center body flange form an exhaust assembly as all claimed parts were known and would have yielded none but an expected result; namely connecting components in an exhaust assembly.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12-17 are allowed.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
With respect to claim 12, Leslie teaches a method of assembling an annular engine flange to an annular center body assembly (58) (Figs. 3-4), the engine flange (EF), having a plurality of EF apertures, each EF aperture having an EF aperture inner diameter (Figs. 3-4; Col. 6, lines 4-19), a center body assembly (CBA) (68) having a plurality of CBA apertures (94) (Figs. 3-4), each CBA aperture having an CBA aperture inner diameter, wherein the CBA aperture inner diameter is greater than the EF aperture inner diameter (Figs. 3-4; Col. 6, lines 4-19),
the method comprising:
providing a plurality of fastener assemblies (Figs. 3-4), each said fastener assembly including:
a fastener having a collar (80) disposed axially between a first attachment segment and a second attachment segment (Figs. 3-4), wherein the collar has an outer radial surface disposed at a collar outer diameter, and wherein the collar outer diameter is greater than the FF aperture inner diameter and lesser than the SF aperture inner diameter (Figs. 3-4);
a first nut (74); and a second nut (72) (Fig. 3, Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 3);
inserting a first attachment segment of a respective fastener into an EF aperture and fixing the respective fastener to the engine flange using a respective said first nut (Figs. 3-4), wherein when the respective said fastener is fixed to the engine flange, the first nut holds a lateral side surface of the collar of the respective fastener in contact with the engine flange; coupling the center body to the engine flange by receiving each said second attachment segment within a respective said CB aperture, wherein when said center body and said engine flange are coupled, the collar of each said fastener is received within a respective said CB aperture; (Figs. 3-4); and fixing the center body to the engine flange using a respective said second nut threadedly engaged with a respective said second attachment segment (Figs. 3-4).
Leslie fails to teach: mounting a thread protector sleeve over the second attachment segment of each said fastener; receiving said threaded protector sleeve within a respective said CB aperture and removing the threaded protector sleeve from said second attachment segment. There is no teaching or suggestion in the art to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Shillings to arrive at the combination of elements in claim 12.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAXIME M ADJAGBE whose telephone number is (571)272-4920. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8-6.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NATHANIEL E WIEHE can be reached at 571-272-8648. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MAXIME M ADJAGBE/Examiner, Art Unit 3745
/NATHANIEL E WIEHE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3745