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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3, 5, 6 and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 20170304999, Broussard.
In regards to claim 1, in Figures 3A-D and paragraphs detailing said figures, Broussard discloses a fitting (UB) for installing screw-in-connectors to a pipe comprising: a tubular member having an outer circumference, an inner wall, a longitudinal axis and a length, the tubular member being configured to receive a pipe; multiple eves (AP) arranged on the outer circumference of the tubular member, each eve extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, each eve being a tubular protrusion having a blind hole extending into the protrusion yet spaced from the interior wall of the tubular member, each eve having an outer base providing a flat contact surface configured to receive a sensor; and a raised arcuate rib (R) on the outer circumference of the tubular member running between the eves configured to reinforce the fitting.
In regards to claim 3, in Figures 3A-D and paragraphs detailing said figures, Broussard discloses each eye extends cylindrically or conically along the central axis.
In regards to claim 5, in Figures 3A-D and paragraphs detailing said figures, Broussard discloses more than two eyes are arranged on the fitting.
In regards to claim 6, in Figures 3A-D and paragraphs detailing said figures, Broussard discloses four eyes are arranged on the outer circumference with a regular distribution.
In regards to claim 10, in Figures 3A-D and paragraphs detailing said figures, Broussard discloses the eyes are arranged in the middle of the length of the fitting.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9 and 11 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) above 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.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AARON M DUNWOODY whose telephone number is (571)272-7080. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AARON M DUNWOODY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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