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 Response Dated November 24, 2025
In the Response dated November 24, 2025, claims 66 and 68 were amended, and claims 1-65 were canceled. Claims 66-70 are pending. An action on the merits of claims 66-70 is contained herein.
The provisional rejection of claims 66-70 on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-5, 16, and 31-39 of copending Application No. 18/026,567 (reference application) is maintained for the reasons of record as set forth in the Office Action dated August 22, 2025.
Rejections Set Forth in the Office Action Dated August 22, 2025
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 66-70 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-5, 16, and 31-39 of copending Application No. 18/026,567 (reference application).
No arguments were set forth by applicant.
Conclusion
Claims 66-70 are pending. Claims 66-70 are rejected. No claims are allowed.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Contacts
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK T LEWIS whose telephone number is (571)272-0655. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM EST (Maxi Flex).
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, Deirdre Claytor can be reached at (571) 272-8394. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK T LEWIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1691
/PL/