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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 May 20, 2025 has been entered.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1, 2, 4-10 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 recites the limitation “a control device configured to cause the coolant to be supplied to the coolant retainer from the coolant feed device intermittently at regular intervals” in lines 9-10. The intervals limited by the term “regular intervals” is indefinite. It is uncertain what intervals are defined/limited by the term “regular intervals.” The specification provides no guidance to determine the intervals defined by “regular intervals.”
Claim 1 recites the limitation “a control device configured to cause the coolant to be supplied to the coolant retainer from the coolant feed device intermittently at regular intervals” in lines 9-10. The specification fails to recite structure to enable the control device to cause the coolant to be supplied to the coolant retainer from the coolant feed device intermittently at regular intervals. Presumably, not all control devices are capable of perform such function. The structure recited by the claim is not commensurate in scope with the function required by the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation “spraying a coolant which is water intermittently at regular intervals from a spray nozzle” in lines 4-5. The intervals limited by the term “regular intervals” is indefinite. It is uncertain what intervals are defined/limited by the term “regular intervals.” The specification provides no guidance to determine the intervals defined by “regular intervals.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 2, 4-10 have been considered but are moot based on the new grounds of rejections.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur O Hall can be reached on (571) 270-1814. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK