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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group VIII, Figure 8, claims 1-4 and 10-14, in the reply filed on 6/22/26 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that “it should be no undue burden on the Examiner to consider all claims in the single application”. This is not found persuasive because (a) the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art in view of their different classification; (b) the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art due to their recognized divergent subject matter; (c) the inventions require a different field of search (e.g., searching different classes /subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search strategies or search queries); (d) the prior art applicable to one invention would not likely be applicable to another invention; and/or, (e) the inventions are likely to raise different non-prior art issues under 35 U.S.C. §§ 101 and/or 112.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 5-9 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 6/22/26.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 4, 10, 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Pfersmann et al. (EP0580017). Pfersmann et al. discloses an ignition system (Fig. 1), the ignition system comprising: a channel (16) that extends along a channel longitudinal direction and that is outwardly delimited by a wall (15); and a primary ignition material (10.1) in the form of powder granules (col. 2, line 22) or prepared fibers contained in the channel, wherein the powder granules or prepared fibers collectively fill the channel (col. 2, lines 33-34) such that, when ignited, a flash-through of the primary ignition material occurs (col. 2, lines 38-39).
2. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein the primary ignition material contains black powder or mixtures based on charcoal, sulfur, boron and oxygen carriers, nitrates, perchlorates, or boron potassium nitrate. (col. 2, lines 40-41)
4. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein the primary ignition material has such a high ignition power that this is sufficient for igniting the propellant charge. (col. 2, lines 13-16)
10. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein a further wall is provided that is arranged within the channel and surrounds a further channel to the outside, wherein the further channel extends within the channel, and wherein a further ignition material or a main ignition material is contained in the further channel. (Fig. 1, 4, 5)
12. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein one or more transitions are formed between the channel and a further channel or between a first channel portion and a second channel portion. (Fig. 1, 4, 5)
13. A propellant charge, the propellant charge comprising: a propellant powder; and an ignition system according to claim 1, the ignition system being arranged in or on the propellant powder. (Fig. 2)
14. A piece of ammunition comprising a projectile and a propellant charge according to claim 13. (Fig. 2)
Claim(s) 1, 3, 10, 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Ortmann et al. (EP0718591). Ortmann et al. discloses an ignition system for igniting a propellant charge for a projectile, the ignition system comprising: a channel that extends along a channel longitudinal direction and that is outwardly delimited by a wall (9); and a primary ignition material (10) in the form of powder granules or prepared fibers contained in the channel, wherein the powder granules or prepared fibers collectively fill the channel such that, when ignited, a flash-through of the primary ignition material occurs.
3. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein the prepared fibers are designed as textile synthetic or natural fibers partially or completely covered with ignition material. (col. 2, lines 13-16)
10. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein a further wall is provided that is arranged within the channel and surrounds a further channel to the outside, wherein the further channel extends within the channel, and wherein a further ignition material or a main ignition material is contained in the further channel. (Fig. 2)
12. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein one or more transitions are formed between the channel and a further channel or between a first channel portion and a second channel portion. (Fig. 2)
13. A propellant charge, the propellant charge comprising: a propellant powder; and an ignition system according to claim 1, the ignition system being arranged in or on the propellant powder. (col. 3, lines 56-57)
14. A piece of ammunition comprising a projectile and a propellant charge according to claim 13. (col. 3, lines 56-57)
Claim(s) 1, 10, 11, 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Schneiter et al. (US 4,358,998). Schneiter et al. discloses an ignition system, the ignition system comprising: a channel that extends along a channel longitudinal direction and that is outwardly delimited by a wall (20, 10); and a primary ignition material in the form of powder granules or prepared fibers contained in the channel, wherein the powder granules or prepared fibers collectively fill the channel such that, when ignited, a flash-through of the primary ignition material occurs. (Figs)
10. The ignition system according to claim 1, wherein a further wall (10) is provided that is arranged within the channel and surrounds a further channel to the outside, wherein the further channel extends within the channel, and wherein a further ignition material or a main ignition material is contained in the further channel.
11. The ignition system according to claim 10, wherein the further channel has at least two segments arranged axially one behind the other and separated from one another, the segments being spaced apart from one another (@12, 15) along a channel longitudinal direction. (Fig. 1; col. 3, lines 49-65)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHELLE CLEMENT whose telephone number is (571)272-6884. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10-6.
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, Troy Chambers can be reached at 571.272.6874. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MICHELLE CLEMENT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3641
