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 .
Response to Amendment
This Action is in response to Applicant’s Reply of May 1, 2026.
Applicant’s amendment to claim 13 overcomes the previously presented objection thereto.
Applicant’s amendment to claim 4 overcomes the previously presented 35 USC 112(b) rejection thereof. The 35 USC 112(b) rejection of claims 4-7 remains as it was not addressed via amendment or argument.
Applicant’s amendment to claims 1 and 13 overcomes the previously presented 35 USC 102(a)(1) rejection thereof.
Applicant’s amendment to claim 8 overcomes the previously presented 35 USC 103 rejection thereof.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments regarding the prior art of record not disclosing or suggesting a lock ring that was compressed to increase the outer diameter thereof to fill the space within a load shoulder have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35 USC 102(a)(1) rejection of claims 1 and 13 and the 35 USC 103 rejection of claim 8 have been withdrawn.
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 4-7 are rejected 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.
Claim 1 is directed to "A hanger assembly" and recites "a head" in line 11 merely to further define the "lock ring". However, claims 4-7 are specifically directed to further details of this head. It is unclear how details of the head further limit the hanger assembly itself. Correction and clarification are required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 8-16 are allowed.
Claims 4-7 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest a hanger assembly that includes a lock ring that is compressed by a tapered piston seal ring to increase the outer diameter of the lock ring to fill a space within a load shoulder of a cylindrical body in which the hanger assembly is located as recited in the claimed combination and method.
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 JENNIFER H GAY whose telephone number is (571)272-7029. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 6-3:30 and every other Friday 6-11.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Y Coupe can be reached at (571)270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JENNIFER H GAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
JHG
5/14/2026
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