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 .
The amendment dated 4 September 2024 is entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-6 and 8-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 is indefinite regarding “two or more main tooth seats” because the claim previously specified “the …wing plate and the main tooth seat are connected in one piece”—do the two or more tooth seats each have a wing plate? Are they all connected to the same wing plate? Examiner suggests amending to recite “at least one” lateral discharging tooth wing plate in claim 1 line 4 and amending each instance of “the” lateral discharging tooth wing plate to “each … wing plate ” or “corresponding…wing plate” as context requires ; and amending line 6 to read “wherein each main tooth seat is connected in one piece to a lateral discharging tooth wing plate”
Furthermore, the claims continue to recite “the” main tooth seat, even though the claim explicitly allows for two or more. Examiner suggests amending each instance of “the” main tooth seat to “each main tooth seat” .
Claim 1 is also indefinite regarding “a lateral discharging bevel teeth” because it is not clear if this is the height of a single “tooth” or all “teeth”
Claim 1 (second page line 5) introduces lateral discharging bevel teeth on the edge of the main tooth plate—this is indefinite because it is not clear if these are new teeth or the same teeth previously recited; and calls into question what subsequent recitations of “the” lateral discharging bevel teeth.
Dependent claims 2-6 and 8-16 are indefinite because they depend from indefinite claim 1 and also because they continue to recite the confusing “the” main tooth seat and/or “the” lateral discharging tooth wing plate and/or “the” lateral discharging bevel teeth.
Claim 3 is indefinite regarding the “or” (see blelow) because it is not clear from the indentations which limitation the “or” refers to.
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Claims 1-6 and 8-16 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Janine M KRECK whose telephone number is (571)272-7042. The examiner can normally be reached telework: M-F 0600-1530 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicole Coy can be reached on 5712725405. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Janine M Kreck/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3672