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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claim 10 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Group II, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 25 August 2025.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "14" and "16" have both been used to designate a power supply and an actuating mechanism. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “a traction mechanism for serially connecting the first guide, the second guide, and the electrode; an actuating mechanism serially connected to the traction mechanism; and a power supply serially connected to the traction mechanism” in claim 1, “a traction force retaining structure for keeping the traction force of the first traction line and the traction force of the second traction line constant” in claim 4.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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 5, 8 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.
Claim 5 recites the limitation “wherein when the actuating mechanism has its kinetic energy make the first traction line moved by a predetermined distance” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear as to what “its” is referring to. What or how does the actuating mechanism has kinetic energy?
Claims 8 recites the limitation “wherein the electrode further includes at least one groove structure on its surface” which renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear as to what “its” is referring to. What surface is the limitation referring to, i.e. back, front, side, etc.
Claim 9 recites the limitation “wherein the electrode further includes an eccentric connection portion at an eccentric location” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear as to what “an eccentric location” is referring to, is the location relating to a location on the electrode, the workpiece or some other location.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 and 6-7 are allowed.
Claim5, 8 and 9 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior being HUBEI PETROKH MACHINE MANUFACTURING CO LTD (CN112548246A) cited on IDS dated 19 August 2022, hereafter Hubei, discloses a channel machining equipment having an electrode (2) with a spherical electrode tip (6), power supply (1) electrically connected to the electrode (2), and a machine tool platform 5, used to control the machining path by moving the electrode ( 2) the machining path) ¶n0047. Hubei fails to teach or suggest “a traction mechanism for serially connecting the first guide, the second guide, and the electrode; an actuating mechanism serially connected to the traction mechanism; and a power supply serially connected to the traction mechanism” as required of claim 1, claims 2-9 depend upon claim 1.
The arrangement and structural limitations of different components and how they are assembled are novel, and the limitations of claim 1 cannot be met without impermissible hindsight reconstruction.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure, Lorincz (US 6547950 B1).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES F SIMS III whose telephone number is (571)270-7496. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 - 5:30 EST M-F.
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/JAMES F SIMS III/Examiner, Art Unit 3761
/CHRIS Q LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761