DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it begins with the implied phrase “Provided is” and contains more than 150 words. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because line 12 contains a dash after “screw” that should be deleted. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Oh (KR 10-2012-0097915A).
In regards to claim 1, Oh discloses a fluid connector, the fluid connector being coupled to a coupling hole (650) formed by perforating a main pipe (600),
wherein the fluid connector comprises:
a socket (200), at least a portion of which is inserted into the coupling hole;
an elastic bushing (70) movably mounted on the socket such that at least a portion of the elastic bushing is inserted into the coupling hole together with the socket (shown in fig. 2);
a washer (100) movably mounted on the socket to be disposed outside the main pipe in a state of facing the elastic bushing; and
a tightening nut screw (400) coupled to the socket to be disposed outside the main pipe in a state of facing the washer,
wherein the elastic bushing is provided to pressurize each of an inner corner (at 73), positioned at a lower end of an inner peripheral surface of the coupling hole, and an outer corner (see upper corner in fig. 2), positioned at an upper end thereof, in a height direction of the main pipe and, at the same time, in at least one direction of a longitudinal direction and circumferential direction of the main pipe while being elastically deformed by pressure delivered through the socket and the washer when the tightening nut is screw-coupled to the socket (elastic deformation shown between figs. 1-2 at “73”).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Each of the remaining cited prior art shows a similar fluid connector.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH whose telephone number is (571)270-0505. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:30 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew D. 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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/ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679 12/19/2025
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