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 .
The response of 01 July 2026 is acknowledged and has been entered. With the response, claims 1 and 5 have been amended. Claim 4 has been cancelled and new claims 8-14 have been added. In view of the amendments, claims 1-3 and 5-7 are considered to be ready for allowance, as the disconnection device configured as claimed including the hammer and hydraulic motor, is not disclosed, taught or suggested by the prior art.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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(s) 8-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2015/0136423 A1 (Wright).
As concerns claim 8, Wright discloses a device for disconnecting subsea connectors, comprising: an upstanding upper portion with a handle 57; two parallel side niches in a plane perpendicular to a plane of the of the upstanding portion (figure 1A, figure 1B); support elements 74 parallel to the side niches, the support elements sized and configured to engage with a connector; two double-acting hydraulic cylinders 75,76 connected in parallel to each other, each hydraulic cylinder having a piston, each hydraulic cylinder fixed in each niche by a fixing structure 91 within each niche; an extractor base 70 comprising two separate portions 70a, 70b, each portion located on a side niche; and hydraulic fluid delivery tubes interconnected with the hydraulic cylinders (0047, “In order to actuate the hydraulic cylinders (74, 75, 76, 77, 96, 97) depicted in FIG. 3A, the female connector (60) also requires a plurality of fluid fittings (not shown) and fluid hoses (not shown) to deliver and evacuate pressurized fluids to and from said hydraulic cylinders. Although these fittings and hoses are not shown, such fluid connectors and conduits are known in the industry, and are included within the scope of the present disclosure”); wherein each niche includes space for displacement of the piston and the extractor base in the longitudinal direction of the niches (as illustrated).
As concerns claim 9, Wright discloses the device for disconnecting subsea connectors according to claim 8, wherein the extractor base further comprises one or more projections 71 positioned between a connector and a panel to which it is attached.
As concerns claim 10, Wright discloses the device for disconnecting subsea connectors according to claim 8, wherein the extractor base further comprises one or more extenders 77a to engage a connector.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-14 are objected to as depending from a rejected base claim, but may be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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 JAMES G. SAYRE whose telephone number is (571)270-7045. The examiner can normally be reached from 9:30-6:00 Monday-Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicole Coy can be reached at 571-272-5405. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JAMES G. SAYRE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3672
/JAMES G SAYRE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3672
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