DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This application is a CIP of Application No. 17/658128, now US Patent 11772748 B2.
Claims 1-20 are pending in the application.
Specification
The Title of the invention is not descriptive since it is not fully consistent with the Specification which discloses that the slide assembly is on or attached to a boat, watercraft or vessel. The disclosure describes a slide assembly on a boat, watercraft or vessel and not one independent of a boat, watercraft or vessel. A new Title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The Abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it is not fully consistent with the Specification which discloses that the slide assembly is on or attached to a boat, watercraft or vessel. The disclosure describes a slide assembly on a boat, watercraft or vessel and not one independent of a boat, watercraft or vessel. A corrected Abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informality:
The Specification does not include the status of the parent application.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
7. Claims 17-20 are objected to because of the following informality:
These claims are not fully consistent with the Specification which discloses that the slide assembly is on or attached to a boat, watercraft or vessel. The disclosure describes a slide assembly on or attached to a boat, watercraft or vessel and not one independent of a boat, watercraft or vessel. These claims should be amended accordingly.
Claim 11 is objected to because of the following informality:
The phrase “a compartment” on line 3 should be replaced with -the compartment-.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
9. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
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.
10. Claims 1-10 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
11. The claimed limitations “the first member” (claim 1 and dependent claims), “the second member” (claim 1 and dependent claims), “the other” (claims 2 and 3), “the closed position” (claims 17 and 19 and dependent claims) and “the second engagement portion” (claim 17 and dependent claims) lack sufficient antecedent basis in the claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
12. Claims 11-16 are allowed.
Claims 1 and 17 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
Claims 2-10 and 18-20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
15. The prior art cited and not relied upon are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. The prior art references disclose slide assemblies with rails/tracks on boats, watercrafts or vessels.
16. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL V VENNE whose telephone number is (571) 272-7947. The examiner can normally be reached between M-F, 7am-3:30pm Flex.
17. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Samuel J Morano can be reached on (571) 272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
18. If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Daniel V Venne/
Senior Examiner, Art Unit 3617
12/16/2025
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