CTFR 18/082,818 CTFR 84615 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Response to Arguments 07-37 AIA Applicant's arguments filed March 19, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant has amended independent claim 1 to include limitations from now canceled claim 9, which was indicated as allowable in the previous Office Action. Applicant has also added new claims 10 and 11 which include limitations from claims 4 and 8, which were indicated as allowable in the previous Office Action. In light of the amendments to claim 1, the Examiner has removed the prior art rejections as the amended limitations have been indicated as allowable subject matter. However, after reviewing the claims, the Examiner maintains that the claims do not comply with 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as the claims recite various limitations or elements that are indefinite. As such, the Examiner contends that the claims are not in condition for allowance . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 1-8, 10, and 11 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. For claims 1, 10, and 11, the phrase “wherein the hollow portion is penetrating through the sleeve body” is unclear. Specifically, the Examiner is unable to determine if “is penetrating” an active process step, or if Applicant intends to recite a hollow portion that penetrates the sleeve body. Also, the phrase “outer surface” at lines 4 and 5 is unclear as the claim does not provide an orientation of the sleeve body with respect to outer and inner surfaces. Claims 2-8 depend directly or indirectly from claim 1, and are also indefinite. For claims 1, 10, and 11, the phrase “hollow portion” is unclear as the Examiner is unable to determine the metes and bounds of the term “portion.” Specifically, it is unclear if the “hollow portion” extends along the length of the sleeve, or if only a part of the sleeve is considered as the claimed hollow portion. 07-34-03 AIA The term “ smooth ” in claim 2 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “ smooth ” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The Examiner notes that what Applicant regards as smooth may not be deemed as such by a user different from Applicant. Additionally, the Examiner notes that the specification does not provide a definition, or any parameters by which one can determine what is, or is not smooth . 07-34-03 AIA The term “ non-smooth ” in claim 2 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “ non-smooth ” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The Examiner notes that what Applicant regards as non- smooth may not be deemed as such by a user different from Applicant. Additionally, the Examiner notes that the specification does not provide a definition, or any parameters by which one can determine what is, or is not non-smooth . 07-34-05 AIA Claim 11 recites the limitation " the outer surface of the sleeve body " in lines 2-3 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Conclusion 07-40 AIA 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DWAN A GERIDO whose telephone number is (571)270-3714. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10-6. 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, Lyle Alexander can be reached at (571) 272-1254. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /DWAN A GERIDO/Examiner, Art Unit 1797 /LYLE ALEXANDER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1797 Application/Control Number: 18/082,818 Page 2 Art Unit: 1797 Application/Control Number: 18/082,818 Page 3 Art Unit: 1797 Application/Control Number: 18/082,818 Page 4 Art Unit: 1797 Application/Control Number: 18/082,818 Page 5 Art Unit: 1797
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