DETAILED ACTION
Election of 22 December 2025
Applicant’s election without traverse is acknowledged:
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Claims 11-14, 23 and 24, being drawn to non-elected species, are withdrawn.
Claims 1-10,15-22 and 25-28 will be examined.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
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 1-10,15-22 and 25-28 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. A filter arrangement comprising a cleaning mechanism for cleaning at least one screen filter of the filter arrangement, the cleaning mechanism comprising: a flush chamber; a central hollow core that extends through the flush chamber; and suction nozzles fitted to the core; wherein: the core extends between opposing axial ends that are located outside of the flush chamber; and the opposing axial ends are exposed to substantially similar pressures, at least during a cleaning operation of the cleaning mechanism.
In claim 1, with respect to, “the core extends between opposing axial ends”, it is unclear to what “opposing axial ends” refers. The “opposing axial ends” of what?
It is unclear how the conditional, process, recitation, “the opposing axial ends are exposed to substantially similar pressures, at least during a cleaning operation of the cleaning mechanism” limits the claim. It is unclear what structure this language intends. This language does not serve to precisely define the present structural attributes of interrelated component parts of the claimed filter arrangement that facilitate the claimed exposure. It is unclear what operational process conditions or metrics define a “cleaning operation”. It is unclear what range of pressures is intended by “substantially similar”.
In claims 1-3,5-7,9-11,16-17,19-20,22,25 and 27, the recitation “the core” lacks clear positive antecedent basis.
In claims 2-5,12,19-21 and 27, it is unclear if an additional “cleaning operation” is being referenced or specified, or how the “cleaning operation” differs, if at all, from the one previously introduced in the claim from which these dependent claims depend.
In independent claim 25, it is unclear what is intended by “at least one helical rail configured to guide a cleaning operation”. It is unclear what operational process conditions or metrics define a “cleaning operation”, or how it is “controlled” by the “at least one helical rail”. While it is under stood how the rail could control movement of nozzles, it is not clear how it could control the operation.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “helical rail” (of claims 21-22) in combination with a “turbine”, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Allowable Subject Matter
Those claims only rejected under 35 USC 112 would be allowable if the 112 rejections were overcome. The prior art does not teach, “the core extends between opposing axial ends that are located outside of the flush chamber” and “the opposing axial ends are exposed to substantially similar pressures at least during a cleaning operation of the cleaning mechanism.”
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT JAMES POPOVICS whose telephone number is (571) 272-1164. The examiner can normally be reached from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
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, JOSEPH DEL SOLE can be reached at (571) 272-1130. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROBERT J POPOVICS/ Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1776
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