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 without traverse of Group I, claims 1-8, in the reply filed on August 28, 2026, is acknowledged.
Claims 9-11 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to nonelected inventions, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on August 28, 2026.
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 1-8 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.
Claims 1 and 8 are indefinite because it is not clear what is meant by the term “high-frequency wave”. The claims do not disclose what the “wave” is comprised of nor do the claims disclose what is meant by “high-frequency”. Based on Paragraph 0053 of the specification of the present application as originally filed, the term “high-frequency wave” will be considered to require “an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 1 MHz or more”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 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. It is suggested that line 14 of claim 1 be amended to recite “introducing a high-frequency wave comprising an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 1 MHz or more into the tubular member” in order to overcome the 112(b) rejection.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Boardman (U.S. Patent # 7,300,684) teaches a method for coating the internal surface of a tubular/piping workpiece with amorphous carbon in the form of diamond-like carbon (Abstract and Column 2 Line 62 through Column 3 Line 5). The method of Boardman comprised attaching lids in the form of anodes on each opening/end of the workpiece, depressurizing the inside of the workpiece, applying a negative voltage to the workpiece to generate plasma and introducing a raw material gas to deposit the coating (Column 3 Lines 6 through Column 4 Line 2). However, Boardman does not fairly teach or suggest that simultaneous with or after the step of generating plasma a high-frequency wave comprising an electromatic wave having a frequency of 1 MHz or more was introduced into the tubular member/workpiece.
Kobayashi (U.S. Patent # 9,994,957) taught a process depositing an amorphous carbon film in the form of diamond-like carbon on the inner surface of a cylinder workpiece (Column 1 Lines 6-10 and Column 10 Claims 1-5). The method of Kobayashi comprised attaching lids in the form of sealing member to each end of the cylinder workpiece (Column 3 Line 64 through Column 4 Line 22) followed by depressurizing the inside of the workpiece (Column 4 Lines 29-41 and Column 5 Lines 1-20). Kobayashi further teaches having applied a negative voltage to the workpiece to generate a plasma with argon gas followed by introducing a raw material gas in the form of acetylene to deposit the carbon film (Column 6 Line 25 through Column 7 Line 19). However, Kobayashi does not fairly teach or suggest that simultaneous with or after the step of generating plasma a high-frequency wave comprising an electromatic wave having a frequency of 1 MHz or more was introduced into the tubular member/workpiece.
Conclusion
Claims 1 through 8 have been rejected. Claims 9 through 11 have been withdrawn from consideration. No claims were allowed.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL P WIECZOREK whose telephone number is (571)270-5341. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 3:30 PM.
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/MICHAEL P WIECZOREK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1712
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