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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, “the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are toroidal where such interference occurs” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claims 1-3 and 5-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Elder et al. (US 2014/0084582 hereinafter “Elder”).
In regards to claim 1, Elder discloses a sealing system comprising:
a first tubular member (101) having a first thread set (105) and a first curvilinear sealing surface (152); and
a second tubular member (102) having a second thread set (107) and a second curvilinear sealing surface(162); wherein:
the first tubular member and the second tubular member are configured to connect when the first thread set engages with the second thread set (shown in fig. 1);
the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are configured to interfere at an interference region when the first and second tubular members connect (shown in fig. 1);
both the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are toroidal where such interference occurs (see paragraph [0066]).
In regards to claim 2, Elder further discloses a first relief recess (at 212) disposed on the first tubular member between the first thread set and the first curvilinear sealing surface.
In regards to claim 3, Elder further discloses a second relief recess (at 212) disposed on the second tubular member between the second thread set and the second curvilinear sealing surface.
In regards to claim 5, Elder further discloses the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are symmetrical when the first and second tubular members connect (shown in fig. 2).
In regards to claim 6, Elder further discloses the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are asymmetrical when the first and second tubular members connect (shown in fig. 2 about the longitudinal axis).
In regards to claim 7, Elder further discloses the interference region forms an annular seal between the first and second tubular members, wherein the sealing system is configured such that an axis of the annular seal may change without forming discontinuities in the annular seal (fig. 2 shows this capability).
In regards to claims 8 and 16, Elder further discloses the first tubular member comprises a pin member including a pin nose (top in fig. 1); and the first curvilinear sealing surface is located between the first thread set and the pin nose (shown in fig. 1).
In regards to claims 9 and 17, Elder further discloses the first curvilinear sealing surface is the only curvilinear sealing surface disposed on the first tubular member (shown in fig. 1).
In regards to claims 10 and 18, Elder further discloses the first thread set and the second thread set comprise wedge threads (see fig. 1 and paragraph [0058]).
In regards to claim 11, Elder discloses a method comprising:
moving a first tubular member (101) relative to a second tubular member (102), such that a pin end of the first tubular member enters and axially overlaps with a box end of the second tubular member (shown in fig. 1);
rotating the first tubular member relative to the second tubular member, such that a first threading on the first tubular member engages with a second threading on the second tubular member (shown in fig. 1) and
connecting the first tubular member to the second tubular member, such that a first curvilinear sealing surface (152) on the first tubular member contacts a second curvilinear sealing surface (162) on the second tubular member; wherein:
the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces interfere at an interference region when the first and second tubular members connect; and
both the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are toroidal where such interference occurs (see paragraph [0066]).
In regards to claim 12, Elder further discloses rotating the first tubular member relative to the second tubular member comprises displacing lubricant between the pin end and the box end into a first recess (212) on the first tubular member between the first threading and the first curvilinear sealing surface (see paragraph [0078]).
In regards to claim 13, Elder further discloses rotating the first tubular member relative to the second tubular member comprises displacing lubricant between the pin end and the box end into a second recess (212) on the second tubular member between the second threading and the second curvilinear sealing surface (see paragraph [0078]).
In regards to claim 14, Elder further discloses the contact force comprises a compressional force between the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces (shown in fig. 2).
In regards to claim 15, Elder further discloses the contact force comprises a radial force extending along an annular dimension between the first and second tubular members to form an annular seal (shown in fig. 2).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Elder as applied to claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 4, Elder discloses the system of claim 1 and further discloses the sealing surfaces comprising a curve radius of between 10 mm to 100 mm (.39 to 3.9 inches). Elder does not expressly disclose the radius being .5 to 50 inches. However, it is noted that in the case where the claimed ranges "overlap or lie inside ranges disclosed by the prior art" a prima facie case of obviousness exists. In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 191 USPQ 90 (CCPA 1976); In re Woodruff, 919 F.2d 1575, 16 USPQ2d 1934 (Fed. Cir. 1990).
Therefore, while Elder does not expressly disclose the curve radius being .5 to 50 inches; the curve radius may be determined through the use of routine experimentation during the engineering design process to optimize the functionality of the device, suited to the intended use and desired parameters.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date to one having ordinary skill in the art to modify Elder to have the curve radius be .5 to 50 inches, as the curve radius may be optimized to the desired operational parameters through the use of routine experimentation. A person of ordinary skill in the art undertaking such experimentation would have had a reasonable expectation of success and the results would have been predictable.
Conclusion
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 03/24/2026