Appeal No. 97-3345
Application 08/332,936
The rejection of claim 19
The rejection of claim 19 is affirmed since it
stands or falls with claim 14, as earlier indicated.
The rejection of claim 35
We affirm the rejection of this claim under 35
U.S.C. § 103.
Claim 34 depends from claim 14 and requires, inter
alia, that the pipelaying method is trenchless excavation
pipelaying with the pipes advanced through a generally
horizontally bored hole.
It is significant to note that the patent to McGugan
(column 1, lines 7 through 11) expressly acknowledges that the
disclosed pipe connectors are particularly, “but not
exclusively” designed and adapted for use in connecting pipes
in the drilling and/or completion of off-shore oil and/or gas
wells. Further, the patents to Shibahara (plastic or cast
11
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