DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-15 are pending.
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
US 3,215,157, US 3,827,673, and CN 205504049, cited in the IDS filed 3/5/2026 have been indicated as “not considered” because they are cited in the IDS filed 8/1/2025, in which they have been considered.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-15 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claims 1-15, it is suggested that the recitations of the “channel” (in reference to the channel introduced in claim 1 as “a channel positioned between the inward-facing axial surface and the outward-facing axial surface”) be changed to a more detailed name to distinguish the “channel” from the other types of channels recited, such as the at least one axial “lubrication channel.”
In claim 9, second to last line, “a lubricant” should be changed to --the lubricating substance-- to maintain the same name for the lubricant.
In claim 12, line 6, “a lubricating substance” should be changed to --the lubricating substance-- because the substance was antecedently introduced.
In claim 14, line 5, “a lubricating substance” should be changed to --the lubricating substance-- because the substance was antecedently introduced.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 3-4, 11, and 13-15 are rejected (wherein claim 14 inherits its rejection) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In claim 3, line 2, it is unclear whether the “at least one radial channel” is different from the channels introduced in claim 1. As understood, the radial channel(s) refers to radial channel(s) 108, the at least one axial lubrication channel refers to axial channel(s) 114, and the channel introduced in claim 1 refers to channel 106 and/or is the same as the radial channel(s).
In claim 4, line 2, it is unclear whether the “at least one radial channel” is different from the channels introduced in claim 1. As understood, the radial channel(s) refers to radial channel(s) 108, the at least one axial lubrication channel refers to axial channel(s) 114, and the channel introduced in claim 1 refers to channel 106 and/or is the same as the radial channel(s).
In claim 11, line 3, it is unclear which of the two lubricating annular members “the lubricating annular member” refers to. As understood, the recitation refers to both members, so the recitation should be made plural.
In claim 11, line 4, it is unclear which of the flanges “the flange of the pipeline” refers to. As understood, the recitation refers to both flanges, which are recited as pipe flanges everywhere else, so the recitation should be changed to pipe flanges of the pipeline.
In claim 11, last line, it is unclear which of the pipe flanges “the pipe flange” refers to. As understood, the recitation refers to both pipe flanges, so the recitation should be made plural.
In claim 13, line 2, it is unclear whether the “at least one radial lubrication channel” is different from the various channels antecedently introduced. As understood, the radial channel(s) refers to radial channel(s) 108, the at least one axial lubrication channel refers to axial channel(s) 114, and the channel introduced in claim 1 refers to channel 106 and/or is the same as the radial channel(s). Note that the “at least one radial lubrication channel” is recited again in the last line.
In claim 15, lines 2-3, it is unclear whether the “at least one radial lubrication channel” is different from the various channels antecedently introduced. As understood, the radial channel(s) refers to radial channel(s) 108, the at least one axial lubrication channel refers to axial channel(s) 114, and the channel introduced in claim 1 refers to channel 106 and/or is the same as the radial channel(s).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 5-10, and 12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the claim objections set forth in this Office action.
Claims 3-4, 11, and 13-15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, and claim objections set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter. The prior art fails to disclose or render obvious, in combination with the other limitations recited, an annular bevelled portion that extends from the radially extending portion (on the second surface of the annular member) to the outward-facing axial surface, and wherein the opening of the at least one axial lubrication channel at the second surface is positioned in the annular bevelled portion of the second surface.
Regarding claim 1, Houlgrave et al. (US 3,827,673) discloses in Figs. 1-4 a lubricating annular member 30 for use in a gate valve, the annular member 30 comprising:
a first side providing a first surface (facing away from the gate 38 and toward the direction of the respective inlet 22 or outlet 24) oriented to couple (because all structures are coupled together directly/indirectly because they’re in the same valve body) with a pipe flange (with flanges 26 extending radially therefrom) of a pipeline (defining inlet and outlet passages 22, 24),
a second side providing a second surface oriented for intermittently contacting a valve gate 38,
an inward-facing axial surface extending between the first side and the second side of the annular member 30, the inward-facing axial surface providing a fluid pathway for passage of a working fluid therethrough (between inlet and outlet passages 22, 24),
and an outward-facing axial surface extending between the first side and second side of the annular member 30, the outward-facing axial surface providing a support surface for registration against an inner circumferential surface (into which the channel 60 opens, as shown in Fig. 2) of a valve body 11;
a channel (comprising any portion of L-shaped lubricant bore 56 and grooves 54, 58, or any portion(s) thereof) positioned between the inward-facing axial surface and the outward-facing axial surface of the annular member 30 and positioned for receiving a lubricating substance (via lubricant fitting 62); and
at least one axial lubrication channel (comprising opening 58 and the portion of the lubricant bore 56 aligned with, and directly connected to, opening 58) in fluid communication with the channel, the at least one axial lubrication channel having an opening 58 at the second side of the annular member 30; and
wherein the second surface of the second side of the annular member 30 comprises a radially extending portion (facing in the direction of the gate 38 when it opens passage between the inlet 22 and outlet 24), defining an annulus and defining a contact surface for intermittently contacting the valve gate 38.
Olson (US 2,230,600) discloses in Figs. 1-4 valve seats 33 for sealing with a gate 4, 31, and each valve seat 33 has an annular bevelled portion (delimiting grooves 45) that extends from a radially extending portion of a surface that seats against the gate 4, 31 to an outward-facing axial surface of the respective valve seat. Olson lacks teaching that a valve seat comprises a channel extending between its outward and inward-facing axial surfaces, and an opening of said channel that opens to a respective annular bevelled portion.
Ohlson et al. (US 2010/0224816) discloses in Figs. 1-2 a valve seat 60 for sealing with a gate 14, wherein the valve seat 60 has a bevelled portion (comprising the bevelled surface connecting the groove 137 to the rib 136 at the opening of channel 130) that extends from a radially extending portion of a surface of the seat 60 that seats against the gate 14, and a channel 130 extends between an outward-facing axial surface and an inward-facing axial surface of the seat 60, and opens into the bevelled portion. Ohlson lacks teaching that the valve seat is annular, the bevelled portion is annular, and bevelled portion extends to the outward-facing axial surface of the seat.
Specht (US 1,980,768) discloses in Figs. 1-4 valve seats 12 for sealing with a gate 11, and each valve seat 12 has an annular bevelled portion (comprising the bevelled surface at the opening 37 of channel 36, or at least a portion of said opening 37) that extends from a radially extending portion of a surface that seats against the gate 11, and a channel 36 extends between an outward-facing axial surface and an inward-facing axial surface of the seat 12, and opens into the bevelled portion. Olson lacks teaching that the bevelled portion extends to the outward-facing axial surface of the respective valve seat.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Examiner Jonathan Waddy, whose telephone number is 571-270-3146. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (10:00AM-6:00PM EST).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisors can be reached by phone. Kenneth Rinehart can be reached at 571-272-4881 or Craig Schneider can be reached at 571-272-3607. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J. W./
Examiner, Art Unit 3753
/KENNETH RINEHART/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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