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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 21-26 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species/invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 05/06/2026. Applicant's election with traverse of species A, figures 1-6, 7-11, claims 15-20 in the reply filed on the above date is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) of serious burden. This is not found persuasive because, as stated in the restriction requirement, applicant must submit evidence or identify such evidence now of record showing the inventions to be obvious variants or clearly admit on the record that this is the case, which the applicant has not provided. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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) 15-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McKinney (US 20160002876 A1).
McKinney discloses:
15. (New) A riser for use in a riser assembly (figs 1-38, such as with figs 24-28 and fig 1), wherein the riser comprises: an angled wall connecting a first end and a second end spaced apart along a central lengthwise axis (Adjacent 302 with two ends, also shape in fig 1); wherein the first end is circular (as in fig 1) and comprises: a first diameter (as in fig 1); a first plurality of tabs spaced apart around a circumference of the first end (320s on bottom 302 for example in figs 24-26), wherein each of the first plurality of tabs comprises angled circumferential direction-facing opposing ends and a radially extending lip (as in fig 25, such as with adjacent 326); and a first plurality of rim segments spaced apart around the circumference of the first end wherein each of the first plurality of rim segments is positioned in a space between each of the first plurality of tabs (segments of device between bottom 320s that receive top 320s as in fig 25); wherein the second end is circular (as in fig 1) and comprises: a second diameter (as in shape in fig 1); a second plurality of tabs spaced apart around a circumference of the second end (end comprises same features as already provided above, as for example in paragraph 90), wherein each of the second plurality of tabs comprises angled circumferential direction-facing opposing ends and a radially extending lip (end comprises same features as already provided above, as for example in paragraph 90); and a second plurality of rim segments spaced apart around the circumference of the second end, wherein each of the second plurality of rim segments is positioned in a space between each of the second plurality of tabs (end comprises same features as already provided above, as for example in paragraph 90).
16. (New) The riser of claim 15, wherein the first end of the riser is configured to mate to a first end of an identical second riser to form a joint between the first end of the riser and the first end of the identical second riser (capable of performing the above intended use, such as in fig 25).
17. (New) The riser of claim 15, wherein the second end of the riser is configured to mate to a second end of an identical second riser to form a joint between the second end of the riser and the second end of the identical second riser (capable of performing the above intended use, such as in fig 25, fig 1).
18. (New) The riser of claim 16, wherein each of the first plurality of tabs of the first end are configured to engage with each of a plurality of rim segments of the identical second riser and each of the first plurality of rim segments of the first end are configured to engage with each of a plurality of tabs of the identical second riser (capable of performing the above intended use, such as in fig 25, fig 1).
19. (New) The riser of claim 17, wherein each of the second plurality of tabs of the second end are configured to engage with each of a plurality of rim segments of the identical second riser and each of the second plurality of rim segments of the second end are configured to engage with each of a plurality of tabs of the identical second riser (capable of performing the above intended use, such as in fig 25, fig 1, paragraph 90).
20. (New) The riser of claim 15, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter (as in fig 1, fig 24-28, paragraph 90).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW D PERREAULT whose telephone number is (571)270-5427. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:00am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony Stashick can be reached at (571)272-4561. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANDREW D PERREAULT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3735
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