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 .
The examiner called the applicant, George McGuire on 3/5/2026 to have the applicant agree to an examiner’s amendment in order to pace the application in condition for allowance and fix the below issues. The examiner has not received a call back so this office action has been issued.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 2 and 4 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1, line 12, “the outlet nozzle” should be changed to “the liquid outlet nozzle.”
Claim 1, line 15, “duct” should be changed to “air outlet duct”
Claim 1 line 17, “the outlet nozzle” should be changed to “the liquid outlet nozzle.”
Claim 2, line 1, “the outlet nozzle” should be changed to “the liquid outlet nozzle.”
Claim 2, line 1, “outlet duct” should be changed to “air outlet duct”
Claim 4, line 1, “outlet duct” should be changed to “air outlet duct”
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-5 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 1 recites the limitation "the remaining walls" in lines 13 to 14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "both lateral sides" in line 14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the horizontal" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 3-5 are rejected for depending from claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
Claim 1 is allowable because of the newly added structure of the duct airfoil and the duct air spoiler in combination with the rest of the claimed features.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON J BOECKMANN whose telephone number is (571)272-2708. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm.
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, Arthur 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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/JASON J BOECKMANN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 3/10/2026
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