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 .
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 15-25 in the reply filed on 12 August 2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-14 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Claim 17 remains 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) 15,16,18-25 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.
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.
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) 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Edwards US5962677.
Regarding independent claim 15:
Edwards described a waveguide system for transmitting microwaves, the system comprising: a plurality of waveguide segments 1/2, wherein the waveguide segments are rigid and configured to guide therethrough microwaves, and wherein first and second segments of the plurality of waveguide segments are rotatably attached at a joint; and an antenna positioned at least partially within the joint, the antenna comprising a first elongated antenna segment 8a and a second elongated antenna segment 8b attached to and extending from the first antenna segment, wherein the second elongated antenna segment only contacts the first elongated antenna segment, and wherein the first antenna segment is configured to receive microwaves from the first waveguide segment, and the second antenna segment is configured to transmit microwaves into the second waveguide segment.
Regarding claim 16: rotatable connector 5/5a/7/6b.
Regarding claim 18 the rotational axis is vertical (vertical when figures are viewed with text right side up) dashed line in figure 1 and 3 , see col. 1 line 54-55.
Regarding claim 19: 1:45-46.
Regarding claim 22: second axis shown in horizontal dashed line in figures 1 and 2 and at the point of intersection of the dashed lines in figure 3
Regarding claim 23: intersection is shown in figure 3
Regarding independent claim 24:
Edwards described a waveguide system for transmitting microwaves, the system comprising: a plurality of waveguide segments 1/2, wherein the waveguide segments are rigid and configured to guide therethrough microwaves, and wherein first and second segments of the plurality of waveguide segments are rotatably attached at a joint; and an antenna positioned at least partially within the joint, the antenna comprising a first elongated antenna segment 8a and a second elongated antenna segment 8battached to and extending from the first antenna segment, the first elongated antenna segment extending from a first inner surface (fig 1 where 8a meets 1) of the first segment of the plurality of waveguide segments, wherein the first antenna segment is configured to receive microwaves from the first waveguide segment, and the second antenna segment is configured to transmit microwaves into the second waveguide segment.
Claim(s) 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by US 2812503 Riblet.
Regarding independent claim 15: Riblet described waveguide system for transmitting microwaves, the system comprising :a plurality of waveguide segments 3/1 and 3/1’, wherein the waveguide segments are rigid and configured to guide therethrough microwaves, and wherein first and second segments of the plurality of waveguide segments are rotatably attached at a joint; and an antenna 14 positioned at least partially within the joint, the antenna comprising a first elongated antenna (lower part of 14) segment and a second elongated antenna segment (upper part of 14 near 20) attached to and extending from the first antenna segment, wherein the second elongated antenna segment only contacts the first elongated antenna segment, and wherein the first antenna segment is configured to receive microwaves from the first waveguide segment, and the second antenna segment is configured to transmit microwaves into the second waveguide segment.
Regarding claim 16: connector 24.
Regarding claim 19, 1:36-41.
Regarding claim 20: the rotational axis is coincident with 14, plainly intersecting the central axis of first (lower) waveguide 3/1
Regarding claim 21: the central axis of 3/1 plainly intersects 14 (fig 3 and 4)
Regarding claim 22: central axis of second (upper) waveguide 3/1’ plainly intersects the rotational axis (fig 1)
Regarding claim 23: central axis of second (upper) waveguide 3/1’ plainly intersects the upper portion of 14.
Claim(s) 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Zaleski US2784383.
Regarding independent claim 24: Zaleski described waveguide system for transmitting microwaves, the system comprising: a plurality of waveguide segments 11/12, wherein the waveguide segments are rigid and configured to guide therethrough microwaves, and wherein first and second segments of the plurality of waveguide segments are rotatably attached at a joint (title); and an antenna 41/39/51 positioned at least partially within the joint, the antenna comprising a first elongated antenna segment 41/39 and a second elongated antenna segment 51 attached to and extending from the first antenna segment, the first elongated antenna segment extending from a first inner surface 11 of the first segment of the plurality of waveguide segments, wherein the first antenna segment is configured to receive microwaves from the first waveguide segment, and the second antenna segment is configured to transmit microwaves into the second waveguide segment (col 2 lines 54-70).
Claim(s) 24-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Goto US5661498.
Regarding independent claim 24: Goto described a waveguide system for transmitting microwaves, the system comprising: a plurality of waveguide segments 24/6, wherein the waveguide segments are rigid and configured to guide therethrough microwaves, and wherein first 24 and second 6 segments of the plurality of waveguide segments are rotatably attached at a joint 11; and an antenna 31 positioned at least partially within the joint, the antenna comprising a first elongated antenna segment (the portion of 31 within 24) and a second elongated antenna segment (within 6 attached to and extending from the first antenna segment, the first elongated antenna segment extending from a first inner surface (bottom of 24) of the first segment of the plurality of waveguide segments, wherein the first antenna segment is configured to receive microwaves from the first waveguide segment, and the second antenna segment is configured to transmit microwaves into the second waveguide segment (col 3 lines 45-60).
Regarding claim 25: figure 1-antenna 31 plainly extends from first (lower) to second (upper) surface of 24.
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.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicole Coy can be reached at 5712725405. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Janine M Kreck/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3672