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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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) 1-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Simpkins 3,079,178.
In regard to claim 1, Simpkins discloses (fig. 13) a pipe joint unit comprising:
a first joint member 98a having a pipe part 216 in a tubular shape extending through a case through-hole provided in a case wall 10a, and a flange part 152a integrated with the pipe part and extending radially outward at a position in an extending direction of the pipe part;
and a second joint member 16a having a plate part in a plate shape, the plate part being provided with a plate through-hole 79a that the pipe part 216 penetrates and opposing the flange part with the case wall interposed therebetween, the second joint member 16a being capable of performing relative rotation with respect to the first joint member 98a, wherein
the first joint member and the second joint member have a pipe mounting structure 214, 220 configured to fix the pipe part to the case wall with a relative distance, in the extending direction between the flange part and the plate part, reduced by the first joint member and the second joint member performing relative rotation in a first direction of a circumferential direction of the pipe part in a state where the flange part and the plate part oppose each other with the case wall 10 interposed therebetween in the extending direction.
In regard to claim 2, wherein the pipe mounting structure has:
a first inclined surface 214 formed at the first joint member so as to extend along the circumferential direction, and
having a height position, in the extending direction, that changes in accordance with a circumferential position; and
a second inclined surface 220 formed at the second joint member so as to extend along the circumferential direction, and having a height position, in the extending direction, that changes in accordance with a circumferential position, the second inclined surface being configured to come close to be in contact with the first inclined surface through relative rotation in the first direction between the first joint member and the second joint member.
In regard to claim 3, wherein the first inclined surface 214 is inclined, in the first joint member, toward a direction opposite to a disposition side of the second joint member with respect to the first joint member in the extending direction, and
the second inclined surface 220 is inclined, in the second joint member, toward a direction opposite to a disposition side of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member in the extending direction.
Claim(s) 1, 4 and 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Davis 3,986,734.
In regard to claim 1, Davis discloses a pipe joint unit comprising:
a first joint member 10 having a pipe part in a tubular shape extending through a case through-hole 11 provided in a case wall 12, and a flange part 19 integrated with the pipe part and extending radially outward at a position in an extending direction of the pipe part;
and a second joint member 13 having a plate part in a plate shape, the plate part being provided with a plate through-hole that the pipe part 10 penetrates and opposing the flange part 19 with the case wall interposed therebetween, the second joint member 13 being capable of performing relative rotation with respect to the first joint member 10, wherein
the first joint member and the second joint member have a pipe mounting structure 23, 27 configured to fix the pipe part to the case wall with a relative distance, in the extending direction between the flange part and the plate part, reduced by the first joint member and the second joint member performing relative rotation in a first direction of a circumferential direction of the pipe part in a state where the flange part and the plate part oppose each other with the case wall interposed therebetween in the extending direction (see fig. 1).
In regard to claim 4, wherein the first joint member and the second joint member have a rotation stop structure 31 or 32 and 25 configured to restrict the first joint member 10 and the second joint member 13 from performing relative rotation in a second direction reverse to the first direction of the circumferential direction in a state where the pipe part is fixed to the case wall by the pipe mounting structure.
In regard to claim 6, wherein the second joint member 13 has a handle part (any surface of 13 which can be grasped by a user) configured to assist assembling work of the second joint member to the first joint member.
Claim(s) 1 and 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Matin et al. 4,732,415.
In regard to claim 1, Matin et al. discloses a pipe joint unit comprising:
a first joint member 30 having a pipe part in a tubular shape extending through a case through-hole (hole in 80) provided in a case wall, and a flange part 10 integrated with the pipe part and extending radially outward at a position in an extending direction of the pipe part;
and a second joint member 50 having a plate part in a plate shape 71, the plate part being provided with a plate through-hole that the pipe part penetrates and opposing the flange part with the case wall interposed therebetween, the second joint member being capable of performing relative rotation with respect to the first joint member, wherein
the first joint member and the second joint member have a pipe mounting structure 16, 20 configured to fix the pipe part to the case wall with a relative distance, in the extending direction between the flange part and the plate part, reduced by the first joint member and the second joint member performing relative rotation in a first direction of a circumferential direction of the pipe part in a state where the flange part 10 and the plate part 71 oppose each other with the case wall 80 interposed therebetween in the extending direction.
In regard to claim 5, comprising a seal member 14, in an annular shape, configured to seal a space between the case wall 80 and the flange part 10.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Avnon, Bauer, Cheatham, Garrigus and Dunlop disclose similar couplings that are common and well known in the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID E. BOCHNA whose telephone number is (571)272-7078. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached at (571) 270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAVID BOCHNA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679