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
Figure 3A should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g). Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. 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 § 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) 1-9 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lemmon et al. (U.S. Patent No. 4,096,880) in view of Olmsted (U.S. Patent No. 3,435,851).
Regarding claim 1, Lemmon et al. disclose a fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), comprising: a cavity (11) having an annular wall (Fig. 1); a plurality of valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) each comprising a sloped ridge (Fig. 1) disposed within the annular wall (Fig. 1) and at least one fluid opening (opening connected to main lines 16, 17, and 18) disposed along the sloped ridge (Fig. 1); and a plurality of main fluid lines (16, 17 and 18), each of the plurality of main fluid lines (16, 17, and 18) in fluid communication with one of at least one fluid opening (Fig. 1) of at least one of the plurality of valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1); wherein the fluid manifold (10) is configured for additive manufacturing (product by process) and the sloped ridge (Fig. 1) is compliant with a design-for-additive-manufacturing constraint (product by process), but lacks disclosure of a plurality of sub-fluid lines, wherein each of the plurality of main fluid lines in fluid communication with one of at least one fluid opening of at least one of the plurality of valve receptacles via at least one of the plurality of sub-fluid lines, the plurality of sub-fluid lines being in fluid communication therebetween.
The manifold produced by additive manufacturing does not limit the claim. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product in the prior art, the claim in unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (see MPEP 2113).
Olmsted teach a fluid manifold (Figs. 1-3) comprising a cavity (14) having a plurality of valve receptacles (50), wherein each valve receptacle (50) is connected to a main fluid line (34, 36, 38, 40, or 42) via a plurality of sub-fluid lines (46, Fig. 3) that connect to a plurality of fluid openings (Fig. 3, Column 2 lines 45-72) at the respective valve receptacle (50).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the main fluid lines of Lemmon et al. with a plurality of sub-fluid lines as taught by Olmsted, for the advantage of directing fluid flow from a plurality of sides to reduce the imbalance of fluid forces on the valve and improve valve flow characteristics (Column 1 lines 11-16).
Regarding claim 2, Lemmon et al. disclose the fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), wherein at least one of the plurality of valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) is configured to engage with a cartridge valve (20) and seat the cartridge valve (Fig. 1) when the cartridge valve (20) is disposed within the cavity (11).
Regarding claim 3, Lemmon et al. disclose the fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), wherein the cartridge valve (20) is further configured to lock in place (Column 3 lines 23-40) when engaged by at least one of the plurality of valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1).
Regarding claim 4, Lemmon et al. disclose the fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), wherein the cartridge valve (20) comprises a plurality of ports (46) and each of the at least one fluid opening (openings to main lines 16, 17, and 18) of the plurality of valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) is configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of ports (Column 3 lines 41-66).
Regarding claim 5, Lemmon et al. disclose the fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), wherein the fluid manifold (10) comprises three valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) and three main fluid lines (16, 17, and 18).
Regarding claim 6, Olmsted (modified above) teach wherein each of the main fluid lines (34, 36, 38, 40, or 42) is in fluid communication with three sub-fluid lines (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 7, Lemmon et al. disclose the fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), wherein the cartridge valve (20) further comprises a gasket (33) and at least one sloped ridge (Fig. 1) is configured to (“configured to” merely limits the claim to capable of performing the claimed function, and the disclosed sloped ridge is capable of reducing damage to the gaskets in the same manner as applicant’s sloped ridge) reduce damage to the gasket (33).
Regarding claim 8, Lemmon et al. disclose the fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), wherein the fluid manifold (10) is configured for a fluid flow (encompassed by the disclosed pressurized fluid, Column 2 lines 4-17) selected from the group consisting of a liquid flow, a gaseous flow, or a mixture of a liquid flow and a gaseous flow.
Regarding claim 9, Lemmon et al. disclose the essential features of the claimed invention but lack disclosure wherein the fluid flow comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of: a liquid fuel for engines or launch vehicles, a gaseous fuel for engines or launch vehicles, an igniter gas for engines, an inert gas, a cooling liquid, a cooling gas, a cryogenic liquid, a cryogenic gas, a cryogenic inert gas, liquid oxygen, cryogenic liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, cryogenic liquid hydrogen, kerosene, hydrazine, and hydrogen peroxide.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the pressurized fluid of Lemmon et al. to a fluid selected from the group consisting of: a liquid fuel for engines or launch vehicles, a gaseous fuel for engines or launch vehicles, an igniter gas for engines, an inert gas, a cooling liquid, a cooling gas, a cryogenic liquid, a cryogenic gas, a cryogenic inert gas, liquid oxygen, cryogenic liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, cryogenic liquid hydrogen, kerosene, hydrazine, and hydrogen peroxide, since the Examiner takes Official Notice that it is well known in the art to use any of the claimed pressurized fluids in a fluid manifold for their desired intended use.
Regarding claim 20, Lemmon et al. disclose a fluid manifold (Figs. 1-5), comprising: a cavity (11) having an annular wall (Fig. 1); three valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) each comprising a sloped ridge (Fig. 1) disposed within the annular wall and at least one fluid opening (openings leading to main lines 16, 17, and 18, Fig. 1) disposed along the sloped ridge (Fig. 1); three main fluid lines (16, 17, and 18) each in fluid communication (Column 3 lines 41-66) with one of the at least one fluid opening (Fig. 1) of at least one of the three valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1); and a cartridge valve (20) comprising a plurality of ports (46) and at least one gasket (33); wherein each of the three valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1 and 18.1) is configured to engage with the cartridge valve (20) and seat (Fig. 1) the cartridge valve when the cartridge valve (20) is disposed within the cavity (11), each of the at least one fluid opening is configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of ports (46, Column 3 lines 41-66), the cartridge valve (20) is configured to lock in place (Column 3 lines 23-40) when engaged by at least one of the three valve receptacles (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1), and each sloped ridge (Fig. 1) is configured to (“configured to” merely limits the claim to capable of performing the claimed function, and the disclosed sloped ridge is capable of reducing damage to the gaskets in the same manner as applicant’s sloped ridge) reduce damage to the at least one gasket (33), but lacks disclosure of a plurality of sub-fluid lines, wherein each of the plurality of main fluid lines in fluid communication with one of at least one fluid opening of at least one of the plurality of valve receptacles via at least one of the plurality of sub-fluid lines, the plurality of sub-fluid lines being in fluid communication therebetween.
Olmsted teach a fluid manifold (Figs. 1-3) comprising a cavity (14) having a plurality of valve receptacles (50), wherein each valve receptacle (50) is connected to a main fluid line (34, 36, 38, 40, or 42) via a plurality of sub-fluid lines (46, Fig. 3) that connect to a plurality of fluid openings (Fig. 3, Column 2 lines 45-72) at the respective valve receptacle (50).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the main fluid lines of Lemmon et al. with a plurality of sub-fluid lines as taught by Olmsted, for the advantage of directing fluid flow from a plurality of sides to reduce the imbalance of fluid forces on the valve and improve valve flow characteristics (Column 1 lines 11-16).
Claim(s) 10-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lemmon et al. (U.S. Patent No. 4,096,880) in view of Olmsted (U.S. Patent No. 3,435,851), and further in view of DÃœRNER (Pub. No. US 2024/0035493).
Regarding claim 10, Lemmon et al. disclose an article (Figs. 1-5) comprising: a central cavity (11) having a plurality of annular cavity walls (Fig. 1) disposed around a central axis (Fig. 1), wherein the plurality of annular cavity walls (Fig. 1) are disposed at a first radial distance (Fig. 1) from the central axis; at least one valve receptacle (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) recessed within the central cavity (11), the at least one valve receptacle (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) comprising an annular receptacle wall (Fig. 1) disposed at a second radial distance (Fig. 1) from the central axis, the second radial distance being greater (Fig. 1) than the first radial distance; the at least one valve receptacle (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) further having a pair of annular sloped ridges (Fig. 1) connecting the annular receptacle wall (Fig. 1) of the at least one valve receptacle (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1) with at least one adjacent annular cavity wall (Fig. 1); a plurality of fluid openings (openings leading to main lines 16, 17, and 18) disposed in the annular receptacle wall (Fig. 1) of the at least one valve receptacle (16.1, 17.1, and 18.1), but lacks disclosure of each fluid opening having a teardrop cross-section oriented such that an axis of the teardrop cross-section is arranged in a direction parallel to the central axis of the central cavity; and a plurality of sub-fluid lines in fluid communication between the plurality of fluid openings and at least one main fluid line.
Olmsted teach a fluid manifold (Figs. 1-3) comprising a cavity (14) having a plurality of valve receptacles (50), wherein each valve receptacle (50) is connected to a main fluid line (34, 36, 38, 40, or 42) via a plurality of sub-fluid lines (46, Fig. 3) that connect to a plurality of fluid openings (Fig. 3, Column 2 lines 45-72) at the respective valve receptacle (50), wherein the fluid openings have an albeit unknown shape (Column 3 lines 1-17).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the main fluid lines of Lemmon et al. with a plurality of sub-fluid lines as taught by Olmsted, for the advantage of directing fluid flow from a plurality of sides to reduce the imbalance of fluid forces on the valve and improve valve flow characteristics (Column 1 lines 11-16).
In regards to the teardrop, DÃœRNER teaches a valve (Figs. 1-5) having openings (8 and 9) that have a teardrop shape (paragraph 35).
It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to further modify the shape of the openings of Lemmon et al. with a teardrop shape as taught by DÃœRNER, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the form or shape of a component. A change in form or shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1976).
Regarding claim 11, Olmsted (modified above) teach wherein at least one of the plurality of sub-fluid lines (Fig.3) is co-axial with the at least one main fluid line (34, 36, 38, 40, and 42).
Regarding claim 12, Olmsted (modified above) teach wherein at least one of the plurality of sub-fluid lines (Fig. 3) is disposed along a curved path (Fig. 3) between the at least one main fluid line (34, 36, 38, 40, and 42) and the central cavity (14).
Regarding claim 13, Lemmon et al. disclose the article (Figs. 1-5), wherein the at least one main fluid line (16, 17, or 18) is configured with a uniform cross-section geometry (Fig. 1) across a length of the at least one main fluid line (16, 17, or 18).
Regarding claim 14, Lemmon et al. disclose the article (Figs. 1-5), wherein the at least one main fluid line (16, 17, or 18) is configured with a cross-section geometry selected from the group consisting of: teardrop shape, circular (circular bore, Column 2 lines 4-17), ovular, and polygon.
Regarding claim 15, Lemmon et al. modified above disclose the article (Figs. 1-5), wherein a degree of slope of an edge of the teardrop cross-section (modified above) is compliant with a design-for-additive-manufacturing constraint (product by process).
The manifold produced by additive manufacturing does not limit the claim. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product in the prior art, the claim in unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (see MPEP 2113).
Regarding claim 16, Lemmon et al. disclose the article (Figs. 1-5), wherein a degree of slope of the pair of annular sloped ridges (Fig. 1) is compliant with a design-for-additive-manufacturing constraint (product by process).
The manifold produced by additive manufacturing does not limit the claim. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product in the prior art, the claim in unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (see MPEP 2113).
Regarding claim 17, Olmsted (modified above) teach wherein each of the plurality of fluid openings (Fig. 3) spans substantially all (Fig. 3) of the annular receptacle (50) wall between the annular sloped ridges.
Regarding claim 18, Lemmon et al. disclose the article (Figs. 1-5), further comprising a cartridge valve (20) configured to be inserted in and disposed (Fig. 1) within the central cavity (11).
Regarding claim 19, Lemmon et al. disclose the article (Figs. 1-5), wherein the cartridge valve (20) comprises a port (46) and the cartridge valve (20) and the central cavity (11) are further configured such that the port (46) of the cartridge valve (20) is aligned opposite (Fig. 1, Column 3 lines 41-66) the valve receptacle (16.1, 17.1, or 18.1) when the cartridge valve (20) is disposed within the central cavity (11).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Clark (U.S. Patent No. 2,675,024) disclose a similar manifold having valve receptacles with sloped ridges.
Nakamura et al. (Pub. No. US 2003/0024581) disclose a similar manifold for a cartridge valve having valve receptacles with sloped ridges.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Reinaldo Sanchez-Medina, telephone number 571-270-5168, fax number 571-270-6168. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (7:30AM-4:00PM EST).
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/REINALDO SANCHEZ-MEDINA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753