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 .
Status of the Application
2. Claim amendment filed on 1/29/26 have been considered and entered. Claims 4, 6, and 15 are cancelled, claims 1, 9, 17, and 19 are amended. Claims 1-3, 9, 13, and 17-19 are allowed and claim 5, 7-8, 10-12, 14, 16, and 20 are in pending status.
Response to Arguments
The prior specification objection in light of title, 35 U.S.C 112(b) rejection for claim 1, 9, and 17, and prior art rejection have been withdrawn in light of amendment to the claim and remarks filed on 1/19/26.
The 35 U.S.C 112(b) rejection for claim 7-8, 10-12, 14, 16, and 20 is maintained.
Claim Objections
Claim 5, 7, 8 and 16 are objected as the listed claims are depend on the canceled claim. 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.
5. The term “at least partially” in claim 7-8, 10-12, 14, 16 and 20 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “partially” 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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Independent claim 1, 9, and 17 recites the allowable subject matter of claim 6 and 15. Hence claims 1, 9, and 17 are allowed over the prior art. Dependent claim 2-3 are allowed due to their dependency over the claim 1, claim 13 is allowed due to their dependency over the claim 9, and claim 18-19 are allowed due to their dependency over the claim 17.
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.
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/JIGNESHKUMAR C PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2116