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 of Group I, claims 1-14, in the reply filed on 2/16/2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
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) 1-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Stachowiak (20230399903)
Stachowiak discloses a cone, comprising:
Re claim 1:
a cone body 82 (i.e., pgh. 29, “cone body”, fig. 5B) having a longitudinal axis, the cone body comprising a frustoconical outer portion with an exterior surface that tapers radially inward along the length of the cone body to a narrow end, the cone body comprising at least one of (A) and (B),
wherein (A) comprises an upper portion of the cone 82 with a substantially circular outer perimeter (i.e., fig. 5C) having at least one flat or cutout 85 to reduce the maximum cross-sectional area of the cone to facilitate increased fluid flow around the cone; and
(B) comprises at least one flow passage 85 to allow fluid to flow around or through the cone body, the at least one flow passage extending along only a portion of the length of the cone body 82.
Re claim 2, the cone body comprises (A), and wherein there are at least two circumferentially spaced apart flats or cutouts 85 (i.e., fig. 5C).
Re claim 3, the at least one flat or cutout 85 comprises a flat area that is oriented in a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (i.e., fig. 5A).
Re claim 4,the at least one flow passage is oriented at an angle from greater than 0° and less than 90° in a longitudinal-radial (L-R) plane relative to the longitudinal axis (i.e., fig. 5B see the tapered angle of 83a, 83b).
Re claim 5, the at least one flow passage is oriented at an angle from 10° to 40° in a L-R plane relative to the longitudinal axis (i.e., fig. 5B, see the tapered angle of 83a, 83b).
Re claim 6, the at least one flow passage 85 is a channel or groove formed in the exterior surface of the cone body (i.e., fig. 5A) .
Re claim 7, the channel or groove has a bottom that is a concave curve (i.e., fig. 5C) along at least a portion of the length of the channel or groove.
Re claim 8, the channel or groove 85 has a bottom that is a flat surface (i.e., fig. 5C, top and bottom of 85) at least a portion of the length of the channel or groove.
Re claim 9, wherein the at least one flow passage is an internal port 88 (i.e., figs. 5A-5B) formed in the cone body.
Re claim 10, there are at least two circumferentially spaced apart internal ports 9i.e. fig. 5A) formed in the cone body.
Re claim 11, the internal port is cylindrical (i.e. fig. 5B).
Re claim 12, the cone body comprises (B) wherein the at least one flow passage comprises (i) a channel or groove 85 formed in an exterior surface of the cone body and (ii) an internal port 88 formed in the cone body.
Re claim 13, the cone body comprises (A) and (B) (see claim 1).
Re claim 14, the cone body comprises (A) and (B), and wherein the at least one flow passage comprises (i) a channel or groove 85 formed in an exterior surface of the cone body and (ii) an internal port 88 formed in the cone body, wherein the channel or groove is circumferentially spaced from the internal port (i.e., fig. 5A), and wherein the channel or groove passes through the at least one flat or cutout 85.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art all show similar features to those of the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YONG-SUK (PHILIP) RO whose telephone number is (571)270-5466. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tara Schimpf can be reached at 571-270-7741. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/YONG-SUK (PHILIP) RO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3676
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