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 .
Applicant’s election without traverse of group I, claims 1-9 in the reply filed on 8/19/26 is acknowledged. Claims 10-20 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Brugger et al (US 2026/0210656) (based on the filing date of provisional application 63/746549). Brugger et al. discloses a spacer assembly comprising: a spacer (3, 15) comprising a spacer material defining a spacer material density (disclosed as preferably titanium), the spacer comprising a spacer body and a spacer baffle formed monolithically with the spacer body (par. 0037), the spacer defining a bore therethrough; and an independent cover baffle (21) formed separately from the spacer and comprising a baffle material (disclosed as preferably Iconel, par. 0038) defining a baffle material density that is different from the spacer material density, the independent cover baffle mounted over the spacer baffle.
2. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer body defines a narrowed portion and a widened portion, and wherein the spacer baffle is formed monolithically with the narrowed portion of the spacer body, distal to the widened portion. (Figs. 1 and 2)
3. The spacer assembly of claim 2, wherein the narrowed portion of the spacer body defines a rearward shoulder extending radially inward at a rearward spacer end of the spacer body, and wherein the spacer baffle extends rearwardly from the rearward shoulder. (Figs. 1 and 2)
4. The spacer assembly of claim 3, wherein an outer surface of the spacer body defines an annular intermediate shoulder extending radially outward from the narrowed portion to the widened portion, and wherein the annular intermediate shoulder is configured to confront a forward spacer end of a second spacer. (Figs. 1 and 2)
5. The spacer assembly of claim 4, wherein: the spacer is a first spacer and the spacer baffle is a first spacer baffle; the spacer assembly further comprises a second spacer, wherein: the second spacer comprises a second spacer body and a second spacer baffle formed monolithically with the spacer body; the second spacer body defines a second narrowed portion and a second widened portion; and the second spacer defines a second bore therethrough; the narrowed portion of the first spacer engages the second bore at the second widened portion; and each of the first spacer baffle and the independent cover baffle are received within the second bore. (Figs. 1 and 2)
6. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the spacer baffle and the independent cover baffle comprises: a first cone section tapering in width from a forward baffle end towards a rearward baffle end; a second cone section tapering in width from the first cone section to the rearward baffle end; and a bore defined through the first cone section and the second cone section. (Figs. 1 and 2)
7. The spacer assembly of claim 6, wherein: the second cone section of each of the spacer baffle and the independent cover baffle defines a rearward opening at the rearward baffle end; the rearward opening of the spacer baffle is axially spaced from rearward opening of the independent cover baffle; and a diameter of the rearward opening of the spacer baffle is different than a diameter of the rearward opening of the independent cover baffle. (Figs. 1 and 2)
8. The spacer assembly of claim 6, wherein: the independent cover baffle further defines a baffle flange extending radially outward from the first cone section at the forward baffle end; and the baffle flange confront a rearward shoulder of a narrowed portion of the spacer body. (Figs. 1 and 2)
9. The spacer assembly of claim 8, wherein a width of the baffle flange is about equal to or less than a width of the narrowed portion of the spacer body. (Figs. 1 and 2)
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.
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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.
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/MICHELLE CLEMENT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3641
