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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on August 27, 2026 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on August 27, 2026 was filed after the mailing date of the Notic of Allowance on July 8, 2026. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 3, 7, 11 and 15 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 3 recites the limitation “a radial direction measured from the geometric center of the inner duct” in line 5. The claim fails to provide a reference to determine a radial direction. A radial direction requires a shape having a radius, e.g., a circle, a sphere, etc. No shape is defined by the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation “an upstream step” in line 2. Although claim 1 recites a flow path, claim 7 fails to provide a reference to determine upstream. Of what is the step upstream? Does the claim require the upstream step to be at the upstream end of the splitter unit?
Claim 11 recites the limitation “at least one attachment screen” in line 2. It appears to be a double inclusion of the “attachment screen” recited in claim 1.
Claim 15 recites the limitation “a downstream shoulder” in line 3. Although claim 1 recites a flow path, claim 15 fails to provide a reference to determine downstream. Of what is the shoulder downstream? Does the claim require the downstream shoulder to be at the downstream end of the anchoring element?
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 4-6, 8-10, 12-14, 16, 18 and 19 are allowed.
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 at (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
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