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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This is responsive to the claims filed 1/10/2025. Claims 1 – 20 are pending in this application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements filed 1/10/2025 and 10/10/2025 are acknowledged by the examiner.
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.
Claims 1 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent to Satoh et al. (4,948,091).
Regarding claims 1, 8 - 9, and 15, Satoh et al. disclose a shaft (10, Fig. 1) including a stopper (12, Fig. 1) at a first end, wherein the stopper is configured to block a pipe when the valve is in a closed position; a hollow cylindrical element (6, Fig. 1), including a bottom carrier surrounding a portion of the shaft; at least one inner magnetic element (54, Fig. 1) surrounding a top end of the hollow cylindrical element; a valve housing (1, Fig. 1) surrounding the shaft, the hollow cylindrical element, and the at least one inner magnetic element, wherein the valve housing is sealed and defines a pressure vessel of the valve; an outer magnetic cartridge (5, Fig. 1) surrounding a section of the valve housing around the at least one inner magnetic element; and an actuator configured to activate one or more electromagnets in the outer magnetic cartridge; wherein actuation of the one or more electromagnets does not physically rotate the outer magnetic cartridge relative to the valve housing; wherein an exterior surface of the shaft includes threading; and wherein an interior surface of the bottom carrier of the hollow cylindrical element includes threading – shown at 11 in figure 1 - configured to matingly interact with the threading on the exterior surface of the shaft, such that the hollow cylindrical element and the shaft are rotationally coupled.
Regarding claims 2, 10, and 16, Satoh et al. disclose the thread as a screw (Col. 3, Lines 12 – 19) – examiner maintains this reads on the limitation “helical threading”.
Regarding claims 3 - 4, 11 – 12, and 17 - 18, examiner is interpreting flanges 2 and 3 disclosed by Satoh et al. to be part of the housing.
Regarding claim 5, Satoh et al. disclose the at least one inner magnetic element (54, Fig. 1) includes at least one permanent magnet (Col. 3, Lines 43 – 48).
Regarding claims 6, 13, and 19, examiner maintains the hollow cylindrical element, the valve housing, and the outer magnetic cartridge disclosed by Satoh et al. can be designed and assembled to any rising stem threaded shaft.
Regarding claims 7, 14, and 20, examiner maintains the valve disclosed Satoh et al. is capable of transporting petroleum.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent to Fujita et al. (4,789,132) and US patent to Weldon (9,657,656) both disclosing magnetically operated rising stem valves.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to UMASHANKAR VENKATESAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5602. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner' s supervisors Craig Schneider can be reached at (571) 272-3607 or Ken 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.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
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) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form.
/UMASHANKAR VENKATESAN/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753