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 .
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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) comprising a socket head (202) configured to be inserted into the coupling hole and a flange portion extending radially outward from a lower end of the socket head;
an elastic bushing (70) movably mounted on the socket, the elastic bushing comprising an inner sealing part (at 73) and an outer sealing part (see upper corner in fig. 2), wherein at least a portion of the elastic bushing is inserted into the coupling hole together with the socket head such that the inner sealing part is positioned adjacent an inner corner of the coupling hole and the outer sealing part is positioned adjacent an outer corner of the coupling hole (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 (400) screw coupled to the socket to be disposed outside the main pipe in
a state of facing the washer,
wherein, when the tightening nut is screw coupled to the socket, the inner sealing part and the outer sealing part of the elastic bushing are configured to pressurize the inner corner and the outer corner, respectively, in a height direction of the main pipe and, at the same time, in at least one direction of a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction of the main pipe by elastic deformation of the elastic bushing caused by axial compression between the flange portion of the socket and the washer (elastic deformation shown between figs. 1-2 at "73").
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 15 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Oh fails to disclose an elastic bushing having distinct inner and outer sealing parts. This is not found persuasive. It is first noted that the inner and outer sealing parts of the elastic bushing of the instant invention are simply two portions of the same element (see fig. 12) and not two separate elements. The same is true of Oh. As shown in fig. 2, there is an inner sealing portion that seals on the inner corner of the main pipe “600” and an outer sealing portion that seals on the outer corner of the main pipe “600” and thus the limitation has been met.
Applicant argues that Oh does not disclose that the elastic bushing is configured to “pressurize the inner corner and the outer corner, respectively, in a height direction of the main pipe and, at the same time, in at least one direction of a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction of the main pipe by elastic deformation of the elastic bushing caused by axial compression between the flange portion of the socket and the washer” as required by claim 1. The examiner disagrees. It can be seen between figures 2 and 3 of Oh that as the nut is tightened, both the outer corner of the bushing (see corner between “100” and 600”) and the inner corner of the bushing (at “73”) are deformed and pressurized at the same time and thus the limitation has been met.
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 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 07/10/2026
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