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 .
35 USC 102 rejections
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) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by US 2012/0102996 (Freund).
Regarding Claim 2, Freund teaches a refrigeration system (power generation system 100; Abstract; Fig. 1) comprising: a refrigerant evaporator (condenser 136; Para. [0034]; Fig. 1) configured to extract heat from a cogeneration system (first loop 102; Fig. 1) using a Rankine cycle to pump working fluid (using pump 110; Para. [0020], [0030], [0032]; Fig. 1); and a refrigerant condenser (150; Para. [0036]; Fig. 1) operatively coupled to the cogeneration system (via desorber 128 and line with vaporized refrigerant 154 as shown in Fig. 1; Para. [0036]).
Regarding Claim 2, Freund teaches the refrigeration system of claim 1, and Freund teaches of wherein the working fluid is carbon dioxide (Para. [0030]).
Prior Art of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. McKenzie, Shirk, McWhirter, Lehar, and Kido disclose cogeneration systems in combination with refrigeration systems.
Conclusions
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the Examiner should be directed to Examiner Nguyen whose telephone number is (571) 272-4861. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday--Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
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The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HOANG M NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746
HOANG NGUYEN
PRIMARY EXAMINER
ART UNIT 3746
Hoang Minh Nguyen
2/9/2026