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 .
Claim Objections
Claims 25-32 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 25, line 2, “means” is objected to because it is confusing in the used context, therefore it is suggested to change “means” to - -use- - . Appropriate correction is required.
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) 33, 34, 38, and 39 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Thomson (US 3,799,093).
Regarding claim 33, Thomson discloses manufacturing a buoy (10; Fig. 1), providing a mold formed by plates (70, 72, 74, 76, 78; col. 4, lines 10-13; Fig. 2), placing at least one attachment portion (88) in the mold (70, 72, 74, 76, 78; col. 4, lines 10-13; Fig. 2), placing a plurality of buoyancy block assemblies (12; Fig. 12) in the mold, so that the at least one attachment portion (88) is surrounded by at least some of the buoyancy block assemblies (12) are with spaces provided between (col. 3, lines 16-18) adjacent buoyancy block assemblies (12), and supplying (col. 4, lines 63-65) supporting material (i.e., concrete) in liquid form to the mold, wherein, when solidified, the supporting material forms an integral support structure (16) in the spaces (see Fig. 1) between buoyancy block assemblies (12). The floating stressed concrete wharf of Thomson acts/serves as a wave energy converter buoy.
Regarding claim 34, Thomson discloses the buoyancy block assemblies (12) comprise hexagonal buoyancy block assemblies in that the buoyancy block assemblies (12) do not have to be beveled (col. 3, lines 31-32).
Regarding claim 38, Thomson discloses wherein the supporting material is concrete (18) and the buoy is formed in the mold formed by plates (70, 72, 74, 76, 78; col. 4, lines 10-13; Fig. 2) with the concrete (18) forming a shell having a buoy side wall, buoy top wall (68; Fig. 1), and a buoy bottom wall.
Regarding claim 39, Thomson also includes providing a shell bottom (70; col. 4, lines ) in the mold, and wherein the step of placing the plurality of buoyancy block assemblies (12) in the mold formed by plates (70, 72, 74, 76, 78; col. 4, lines 10-13; Fig. 2) includes fixing (col. 4, line 66 – col. 5, line 3) the buoyancy block assemblies (12) to the shell bottom (70).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 25-32 are objected to but would be allowable pending correction of minor informality.
Claims 35-37 are 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.
Claims 40-42 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 9/9/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues Thomson does not teach or suggest a method, nor any buoy constructed according to method of claim 33.
In response, the examiner states “placing a plurality of buoyancy block assemblies (12) in the mold so that the at least one attachment portion (88; Fig. 2) is surrounded by at least some of the buoyancy block assemblies (12) and with spaces (not labeled, see Fig. 2) provided between at least some adjacent buoyancy block assemblies (12)." The floating prestressed concrete wharf of Thomson serves/functions as a wave energy converter buoy. Applicant
Conclusion
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.
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/JERMIE E COZART/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3799
December 10, 2025