Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-05-31)
Rejection types: 103 - Obviousness

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims:

The listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

1\. (Original) A tool for an offshore wind power foundation pile, comprising a foundation module (100) and a pile sinking module (200), wherein the foundation module (100) comprises a steel pipe pile (110) and a pile shoe (130), and the pile sinking module (200) comprises a pile core (220) and a pile cap (210);wherein a cutting shoe portion (120) is arranged at a bottom of the steel pipe pile (110), and an outer diameter of the pile shoe (130) is larger than an outer diameter of the cutting shoe portion (120); wherein the pile cap (210) is detachably connected to a top of the steel pipe pile (110); wherein the pile core (220) is located in the steel pipe pile (110), the pile core (220) is detachably connected to the pile shoe (130), and a length of the pile core (220) is larger than or equal to a length of the steel pipe pile (110);
wherein the pile cap (210) is further provided with a pile core limiting portion (214) and a pile core accommodating groove (213) extending in an axial direction;
wherein the pile core limiting portion (214) comprises a pile core limiting block (2141) and a limiting hole (2142), and the limiting hole (2142) communicates with the pile core accommodating groove (213) and an inner cavity of the steel pipe pile (110); wherein the pile core limiting block (2141) is configured to open and close the limiting hole (2142), and the pile core limiting block (2141) is configured to be arranged in three positions: upon the pile core limiting block (2141) being located in a first position, the limiting hole (2142) is fully opened, and the pile core (220) is available to freely pass through the pile core accommodating groove (213) and the inner cavity of the steel pipe pile (110); upon the pile core limiting block (2141) being located in a second position, the limiting hole (2142) is semi-closed, the pile core (220) is clamped in the limiting hole (2142), and part of the pile core (220) is located in the pile core accommodating groove (213); and upon the pile core limiting block (2141) being located in a third position, the limiting hole (2142) is fully closed, and the pile core (220) is located below the pile core limiting block (2141).

2\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the pile shoe (130) comprises a truncated cone section (132), and a diameter of the truncated cone section (132) is gradually increased from top to bottom.

3\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 2, wherein the pile shoe (130) further comprises a connecting section (131) connected to the pile core (220), and the connecting section (131) is located on the truncated cone section (132); and the pile core (220) is provided with a claw portion (223) configured to grasp or loosen the connecting section (131).

4\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 2, wherein the pile shoe (130) comprises a pile tip section (133) located at a bottom end of the truncated cone section (132).

5\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the pile cap (210) further comprises a driving portion (211) located at a top end and a lining portion (212) located at a bottom end and configured to be sleeved in the steel pipe pile (110), wherein the driving portion (211) is coaxial with the lining portion (212), and an outer diameter of the lining portion (212) is equal to an inner diameter of the steel pipe pile (110).

6\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the cutting shoe portion (120) comprises a plurality of cutting shoes (121) circumferentially arranged at intervals.

7\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 1, comprising a first servo linear motion control portion (2144) and a second servo linear
motion control portion (2231), wherein the first servo linear motion control portion (2144) is configured to control a positional change of the pile core limiting block (2141), and the second servo linear motion control portion (2231) is configured to control a disconnection or connection between the pile core (220) and the pile shoe (130).
8\. (Original) The tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 3, wherein the pile core (220) comprises a first pile core section (221) and a second pile core section (222) which are connected to each other, and an end of the second pile core section (222) away from the first pile core section (221) is provided with the claw portion (223).
9\. (Currently amended) A method for using the tool for the offshore wind power foundation pile according to claim 1,comprising:

1) connecting the pile core (220) to the pile shoe (130), and arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the first position, so that part of the pile core (220) is located in the pile core accommodating groove (213); arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the second position, so that the pile core (220) is fixed to the pile cap (210);

2) hoisting the tool to a position of the pile shoe (130) making contact with a top surface of a seabed; arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the first position, lifting the pile cap (210) till the top of the pile core (220) moves to a position below the pile core limiting block (2141), and arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the third position;

3) hammering the top of the pile cap (210), so that the foundation module (100) sinks to a preset position;

4) arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the first position, disconnecting the pile core (220) from the pile shoe (130), and hammering the top of the pile cap (210), so that the steel pipe pile (110) sinks, and the cutting shoes (121) of the bottom cutting shoe portion (120) are expanded outwards in a radial direction of the pile shoe (130);
and
5) uplifting the pile cap (210) and the pile core (220), and pouring concrete (300) into the steel pipe pile (110), so that a gap between the steel pipe pile (110) and the pile shoe (130) is closed.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: The claim recites “wherein the pile core is located in the steel pipe pile” when it should be “within the steel pipe pile”.  The claim also recites “wherein the pile cap is further provided with a pile core limiting portion and a pile core accommodating groove extending in an axial direction” when it should be “wherein the pile cap is further provided with a pile core limiting portion and a pile core accommodating groove within the pile cap extending in an axial direction”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Warrington et al (U.S. Patent No. 3,329,216) in view of Maclay (U.S. Patent No. 228,467).
As to Claim 1, Warrington discloses a tool for an offshore wind power foundation pile, comprising a foundation module and a pile sinking module, wherein the foundation module comprises a steel (Column 3, Lines 20-21: “strong metal such as steel”) pipe pile (14) and a pile shoe (54), and the pile sinking module comprises a pile core (16) and a pile cap (12); wherein a cutting shoe portion (56) is arranged at a bottom of the steel pipe pile; wherein the pile cap (12) is detachably connected to a top of the steel pipe pile (14); wherein the pile core (16) is located in the steel pipe pile, the pile core (16) is detachably connected to the pile shoe (54), and a length of the pile core (16) is larger than or equal to a length of the steel pipe pile (14); wherein the pile cap (12) is further provided with a pile core limiting portion (61, 66, 68, 70) and a pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3) extending in an axial direction; wherein the pile core limiting portion (61, 66, 68, 70) comprises a pile core limiting block (70) and a limiting hole (61, 66, 68), and the limiting hole (61, 66, 68) communicates with the pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3) and an inner cavity of the steel pipe pile (Interior of 14); wherein the pile core limiting block (70) is configured to (“Configured to” is being interpreted as “capable of” and the block is capable of being placed in the recited three positions) open and close the limiting hole (61), and the pile core limiting block (70) is configured to be arranged in three positions: upon the pile core limiting block (70) being located in a first position, the limiting hole is fully opened (The block 70 is capable of being removed from the hole 61, 66, 68 after unthreading plug 22), and the pile core (16) is available to freely pass (Arrow above 26 in Figure 3 shows how the core moves) through the pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3) and the inner cavity (Interior of 14) of the steel pipe pile (14); upon the pile core limiting block (70) being located in a second position (Position in Figure 2), the limiting hole is semi-closed, the pile core is clamped in the limiting hole (61), and part of the pile core is located in the pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3); and upon the pile core limiting block (70) being located in a third position (Position in Figure 3), the limiting hole is fully closed, and the pile core (16) is located below the pile core limiting block (70).
However, Warrington is silent about an outer diameter of the pile shoe is larger than an outer diameter of the cutting shoe portion. Maclay discloses a pile shoe (c) with a larger outer diameter than a cutting shoe portion (b, d). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to make the outer diameter of the pile shoe larger than an outer diameter of the cutting shoe portion with the motivation of better penetrating the ground.
As to Claim 2, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile shoe (Maclay: c) comprises a truncated cone section (Maclay: triangular wings between g and a), and a diameter of the truncated cone section is gradually increased from top to bottom.
As to Claim 3, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 2 (Refer to Claim 2 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile shoe (Maclay: c) further comprises a connecting section (Maclay: g) connected to the pile core (Maclay: f), and the connecting section (Maclay: g) is located on the truncated cone section (Maclay: triangular wings between g and a); and the pile core (Maclay: f) is provided with a claw portion (Maclay: Wedges between g and f) configured to grasp or loosen the connecting section (Maclay: g).
As to Claim 4, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 2 (Refer to Claim 2 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile shoe (Maclay: c) comprises a pile tip section (Maclay: a) located at a bottom end of the truncated cone section.
As to Claim 5, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile cap further comprises a driving portion (24e) located at a top end and a lining portion (34) located at a bottom end and configured to be sleeved in the steel pipe pile (14), wherein the driving portion is coaxial with the lining portion, and an outer diameter of the lining portion (34) is equal to an inner diameter of the steel pipe pile (14).
As to Claim 6, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the cutting shoe portion (Maclay: b, d) comprises a plurality of cutting shoes (Maclay: d) circumferentially arranged at intervals.
As to Claim 7, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches comprising a first servo linear motion control portion (136) and a second servo linearmotion control portion (132), wherein the first servo linear motion control portion (136) is configured to control a positional change of the pile core limiting block, and the second servo linear motion control portion (132) is configured to control a disconnection or connection between the pile core and the pile shoe.
As to Claim 8, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 3 (Refer to Claim 3 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile core (16) comprises a first pile core section (30) and a second pile core section (16) which are connected to each other, and an end of the second pile core section (16) away from the first pile core section (30) is provided with the claw portion (Maclay: Wedges between g and f).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 9 is 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.
Conclusion


NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
In response to remarks filed on 16 August 2024
Status of Claims
Claims 1-5 and 7-16 are pending;
Claims 1, 2 and 9 are currently amended;
Claims 3-5, 7 and 8 were previously presented;
Claim 6 is cancelled;
Claims 9-16 are allowed;
Claims 10-16 are new;
Claims 1-5, 7 and 8 are rejected herein.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed on 16 August 2024 have been fully considered. A new reference has been introduced to address the new limitations added to Claims 1-5, 7 and 8 thereby making the arguments moot. Claims 9-16 are deemed allowable.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-5, 7 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Warrington et al (U.S. Patent No. 3,329,216) in view of Maclay (U.S. Patent No. 228,467) and Kanjanavanit (U.S. Patent No. 3,832,859).
As to Claim 1, Warrington discloses a tool for an offshore wind power foundation pile, comprising a foundation module and a pile sinking module, wherein the foundation module comprises a steel (Column 3, Lines 20-21: “strong metal such as steel”) pipe pile (14) and a pile shoe (54), and the pile sinking module comprises a pile core (16) and a pile cap (12); wherein a cutting shoe portion (56) is arranged at a bottom of the steel pipe pile; wherein the pile cap (12) is detachably connected to a top of the steel pipe pile (14); wherein the pile core (16) is located in the steel pipe pile, the pile core (16) is detachably connected to the pile shoe (54), and a length of the pile core (16) is larger than or equal to a length of the steel pipe pile (14); wherein the pile cap (12) is further provided with a pile core limiting portion (61, 66, 68, 70) and a pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3) extending in an axial direction; wherein the pile core limiting portion (61, 66, 68, 70) comprises a pile core limiting block (70) and a limiting hole (61, 66, 68), and the limiting hole (61, 66, 68) communicates with the pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3) and an inner cavity of the steel pipe pile (Interior of 14); wherein the pile core limiting block (70) is configured to (“Configured to” is being interpreted as “capable of” and the block is capable of being placed in the recited three positions) open and close the limiting hole (61), and the pile core limiting block (70) is configured to be arranged in three positions: upon the pile core limiting block (70) being located in a first position, the limiting hole is fully opened (The block 70 is capable of being removed from the hole 61, 66, 68 after unthreading plug 22), and the pile core (16) is available to freely pass (Arrow above 26 in Figure 3 shows how the core moves) through the pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3) and the inner cavity (Interior of 14) of the steel pipe pile (14); upon the pile core limiting block (70) being located in a second position (Position in Figure 2), the limiting hole is semi-closed, the pile core is clamped in the limiting hole (61), and part of the pile core is located in the pile core accommodating groove (Cavity above 26 and 66 in Figure 3); and upon the pile core limiting block (70) being located in a third position (Position in Figure 3), the limiting hole is fully closed, and the pile core (16) is located below the pile core limiting block (70).
However, Warrington is silent about an outer diameter of the pile shoe is larger than an outer diameter of the cutting shoe portion. Maclay discloses a pile shoe (c) with a larger outer diameter than a cutting shoe portion (b, d). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to make the outer diameter of the pile shoe larger than an outer diameter of the cutting shoe portion with the motivation of better penetrating the ground.
Furthermore, Warrington as modified (See above paragraph) is silent about wherein the cutting shoe portion comprises a plurality of cutting shoes circumferentially arranged at intervals, wherein the plurality of cutting shoes is configured to radially expand outward upon a top of the pile cap being hammered downward. Kanjanavanit discloses a cutting shoe portion (12, 16) comprising a plurality of cutting shoes (16) circumferentially arranged at intervals, wherein the plurality of cutting shoes (16) is configured to radially expand outward (Figures 11 and 12) upon a top of the pile cap being hammered downward. Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have the cutting shoe portion comprise a plurality of cutting shoes circumferentially arranged at intervals, wherein the plurality of cutting shoes is configured to radially expand outward upon a top of the pile cap being hammered downward. The motivation would have been to better anchor the pile with the surrounding soil.
As to Claim 2, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile shoe comprises a truncated cone section (Kanjanavanit: Figures 11 and 12) that has a truncated cone shape, and a diameter of the truncated cone section is gradually increased from top to bottom (Kanjanavanit: Figures 11 and 12) to guide the plurality of cutting shoes ((Kanjanavanit: 16) to radially expand outward.
As to Claim 3, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 2 (Refer to Claim 2 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile shoe (Maclay: c) further comprises a connecting section (Maclay: g) connected to the pile core (Maclay: f), and the connecting section (Maclay: g) is located on the truncated cone section (Maclay: triangular wings between g and a); and the pile core (Maclay: f) is provided with a claw portion (Maclay: Wedges between g and f) configured to grasp or loosen the connecting section (Maclay: g).
As to Claim 4, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 2 (Refer to Claim 2 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile shoe (Maclay: c) comprises a pile tip section (Maclay: a) located at a bottom end of the truncated cone section.
As to Claim 5, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile cap further comprises a driving portion (24e) located at a top end and a lining portion (34) located at a bottom end and configured to be sleeved in the steel pipe pile (14), wherein the driving portion is coaxial with the lining portion, and an outer diameter of the lining portion (34) is equal to an inner diameter of the steel pipe pile (14).
As to Claim 7, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 1 (Refer to Claim 1 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches comprising a first servo linear motion control portion (136) and a second servo linearmotion control portion (132), wherein the first servo linear motion control portion (136) is configured to control a positional change of the pile core limiting block, and the second servo linear motion control portion (132) is configured to control a disconnection or connection between the pile core and the pile shoe.
As to Claim 8, Warrington as modified teaches the invention of Claim 3 (Refer to Claim 3 discussion). Warrington as modified also teaches wherein the pile core (16) comprises a first pile core section (30) and a second pile core section (16) which are connected to each other, and an end of the second pile core section (16) away from the first pile core section (30) is provided with the claw portion (Maclay: Wedges between g and f).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9-16 are allowable as the method steps are detailed enough and were not found in the prior art.
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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US3329216A: [content unavailable]
Ref US0228467A: [content unavailable]
Ref US3329216: Claims:
1. A MANDREL FOR DRIVING PILE SHELLS, SAID MANDREL COMPRISING A CORE, LEAF MEANS ARRANGED AROUND AND GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID CORE, WEDGE MEANS FOR EXPANDING AND COLLAPSING SAID LEAF MEANS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID CORE WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEAF MEANS, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSURIZED FLUID TO MOVE SAID CORE WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEAF MEANS TO EXPAND AND COLLAPSE SAID LEAF MEANS.
Ref US228467: Claims:
I, W. MAGLAY. Iron Pile.
0. 228,467. Patented June 8,1880. dB 19 d \Mwss $3 lwe who m am N, PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WAH|NGTON, D. c. supporting the flange. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ISAAC W. MAOLAY, OF METUGHEN, NEW JERSEY. IRON PlLE. SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 228,467, dated June 8, 1880, Application filed April .27, 1880. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ISAAC W. MAGLAY, of Metuchen, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Iron Piles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification. The object of my invention is to penetrate with iron piles clay, gravel, and other hard soils by means of a cutting-disk attached to the foot of the pile when sunk by the waterjet process. This I accomplish by notching or cutting teeth on the edge or outer rim of the circular disk, and also on the outer edges of the ribs of the disk. This enables the clay or soil to be loosened by the rotation of the piles, and greatly facilitates the sinking of the pile. In thev drawings, Figure I is a plan of the disk attached to the pile; Fig. 2, an elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of same. Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views. a is the flange of the disk. I) b are the ribs 0 c are the teeth of the (N0 model.) flange, and d d the teeth of the rib, f being the pile to which the collar g of the disk is attached. I am aware that James Brunlee used flat disks with radiating projections on the bottom in the construction of the Levan viaduct, England. (Trautwines Engineers Pocket-Book, page 325.) I am also aware that Letters Patent No. 225,061 were granted to Job Johnson, Brooklyn, New York, March 2, 1880, for tubular pile, in which a claim is made for a drill-point of a shoe. I therefore do not claim a pile with a disk or pointed shoe broadly but What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- A shoe for a pile having a disk and radial ribs, eitheror both being provided with notches upon their outer edges, as and for the purpose set forth. I. W. MAOLAY. Witnesses: WILLIAM E. DAVIES, WILLIAM S. MAnDooK.