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
Applicant's amendment filed on 8/7/26 is acknowledged.
The applicant has overcome the rejection to claims 21-26, 28-31, 33, 34, 36-40, and 42-44 under 35 USC 102(a)(1) by amending claims 21, 37, and 42. The rejection of claims 21-26, 28-31, 33, 34, 36-40, and 42-44 under 35 USC 102(b) is withdrawn.
The applicant has overcome the rejections to claims 27, 32, 35, and 41 under 35 USC 103(a) by amending claims 21, 37, and 42. The rejections of claims 27, 32, 35, and 41 under 35 USC 103(a) is withdrawn.
The applicant has overcome the nonstatutory double patenting rejection of claims 21, 24-29, and 32-44 by timely filing a terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 42-44 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
DETAILED ACTION
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.
Claims 42-44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (9,422,948). Regarding claim 42, Kim et al discloses a method of an energy storage system comprises generating a first pressure energy by flowing a working liquid (through valve 155) entering an opening (see fig. 1) of a liquid compartment (liquid portion W of tank 100) of an energy storage 100 thereby compressing an initial gas (A) in a gas compartment (gas portion 102 of tank 100) of the energy storage (supplied via pump 410), discharging the working liquid out of the opening of the liquid compartment and flowing into the generator 420, and driving the generator 420 to generate electricity with the discharged working fluid (Figs. 2 and 7, )
Regarding claim 43, Bell discloses that the liquid compartment stores an initial liquid W.
Regarding claim 44, Bell discloses that the second pressure energy drives the initial liquid in a second direction (out via valve 155) that is opposite the first direction (in via valve 155) to discharge the working liquid out of the liquid compartment of the energy storage 100.
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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 21-42 are allowed. The improvement comprises the at least one energy storage, the liquid source, and the converter forming a closed loop system; wherein, during a first operation of the closed loop system, the working liquid flows within the closed system and enters the liquid compartment via an opening of the liquid compartment thereby compressing the initial gas in the gas compartment forming a first pressure energy, and during a second operation of the closed loop system, the initial gas forces the working liquid out of the opening flowing into the converter generating electricity and forming a second pressure energy.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communication from the examiner should be directed to Thomas Lazo whose telephone number is (571) 272-4818. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor Nathaniel Wiehe, can be reached on (571) 272-8648. The fax phone number for this Group is (571) 273-8300.
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/THOMAS E LAZO/Primary Examiner,
Art Unit 3745
September 30, 2026
