Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2025/11/17 has been entered.
This Office action is in response to Applicant's amendment filed 2025/11/17. Applicant has amended claims 1,6, 7, 9, 14, 16 and 19. New claims 21 and 22 are added. Claims 2-4, 10-12 and 17-18 are canceled. Claims 16 and 19-20 were withdrawn previously. Currently, claims 1, 5-9, 13-16, and 19-22 remain pending in the application. Claims 1, 5-9, 13-16 and 21-22, as elected claims, are subject to examination.
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, 5-9, 13-15 and 21-22 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.
Independent Claims 1 and 9 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.
The newly added amendment of “wherein the water-scavenging agent is present in the dielectric fluid in an amount of at least 2.5 molar equivalents as compared to a water concentration in the dielectric fluid”, has rendered the above claims indefinite. Because, applicant’s statement about the amount of scavenging agent, namely “at least 2.5 molar equivalent”, as compared to “a water concentration in the dielectric fluid” does not convey any coherent and clear meaning in absence of a quantitative value attributed to the very water in dielectric fluid. Without the amount of water the term 2.5 molar equivalent would also be unclear and vague. Applicant is required to correct the instant amended limitation so that the claims would be interpreted and examined accordingly.
Correspondence
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/M.R.A./Examiner, Art Unit 1767
2025/12/26
/KATARZYNA I KOLB/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1767