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 and 8-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lawson 222,713.
In regard to claim 1, Lawson discloses a pipe assembly, comprising:
a male fitting (B), comprising:
an annular portion (B’) of pipe having a radially inner side and a radially outer
side;
at least one circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth (b);
at least one circumferentially-discontinuous land (d); and
a proximal end (B’) and a distal end (end closer to B2), wherein the at least one circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth includes a section of teeth having at least one biased tooth (sloped tooth surface of b angled toward B’) extending circumferentially along the circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth, and
wherein the biased tooth includes an engagement surface biased toward the proximal end of the male fitting at an angle relative to a radial direction of the pipe assembly; and
a female fitting (A), comprising:
an annular portion of pipe having a radially inner side and a radially outer
side;
at least one circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth (a);
at least one circumferentially-discontinuous groove (C);
a proximal end (A2) and a distal end, wherein the at least one circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth includes a section of teeth (sloped surface of (a) angled toward A2) having at least one biased tooth extending circumferentially along the circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth, and wherein the biased tooth includes an engagement surface biased toward the proximal end of the female fitting at an angle relative to a radial direction of the pipe assembly.
In regard to claim 2, wherein the male fitting and the female fitting include the same number of circumferentially-discontinuous sections of teeth (see fig. 4).
In regard to claim 3, wherein the male fitting includes the same number of circumferentially-discontinuous lands as the female fitting includes circumferentially-discontinuous grooves (see fig. 4).
In regard to claim 8, wherein each male fitting circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth engages each female fitting circumferentially-discontinuous section of teeth (see fig. 4).
In regard to claim 9, wherein each male fitting circumferentially-discontinuous land engages each female fitting circumferentially-discontinuous groove (see fig. 4).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4, 6 and 10-15 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-3 and 8-9 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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
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