CTNF 18/191,660 CTNF 70773 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. Detailed Office Action 1. Claims 1-3 and 5-10 are pending. Claims 1 are 10 are clearly in independent form. (Please see rejection on claim 9 addressed below.) Claim Objection 2. Claims 1-3 and 5-10 are objected to because of the following: Claim 1, line 13, after “the cutting”, change “unit” to – mechanism --. Claims 2-3 and 5-8 are objected to as being dependent on objected claim 1. Claim 9 is objected to as being dependent on objected claim 1 (see line 1 of claim 9, and see the 112(b) rejection below). Claim 10, line 12, after “the cutting”, change “unit” to – mechanism – (the same error as that in claim 1). The examiner regrets not catching the error earlier. Claim Rejection – 35 U.S.C. §112(b) 07-30-02 AIA 3. 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 4. Claim 9 is 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. Regarding claim 9, it is unclear whether Applicant’s intention was to have claim 9 rewrite in independent form or in dependent form (see amendment filed September 3, 2025, page 3 of the original numbering). The examiner regrets not catching the error(s) earlier. See the entire claim 9 in that amendment (09/03/2025), note immediately below for lines 1-2 of the claim. “9. (Currently Amended) The recording device according to claim 1, wherein A recording device, comprising: ……” Allowable Subject Matter 5. Claims 1-3, 5-8, and 10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the objection(s) set forth in this Office action. 07-43-01 AIA 6. Claim 9 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. Reasons for Allowance 13-03 AIA 7. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claim 1 would be allowable over the prior art of record, including the prior art submitted February 9, 2026, which does not disclose “a cutting mechanism” defined in claims 1, 9, and 10, in combination with other limitations of any of claims 1, 9, and 10. Claims 2-3 and 5-8 depend on claim 1, directly or indirectly. Method claim 10 corresponds to apparatus claim 1, and thus would be allowable for the same reason given for claim 1 above. Claim 9 (i.e., claim 9/1), prior to the amendment filed September 3, 2025, was indicated, in the Office Action dated June 4, 2025, allowable if rewritten in independent form to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims . Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” Conclusion 8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHEUKFAN LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-7407. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 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, BENNY TIEU can be reached at (571)272-7490. 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. /CHEUKFAN LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2682 Application/Control Number: 18/191,660 Page 2 Art Unit: 2682 Application/Control Number: 18/191,660 Page 3 Art Unit: 2682 Application/Control Number: 18/191,660 Page 4 Art Unit: 2682
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