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 .
Claims 14-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 12-9-25.
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 1-13 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.
In claim 1, line 2, “back strap and a pair of shoulder straps that are monolithic” is vague and indefinite. It is not clear if all three straps (i.e. back strap and shoulder straps) are monolithic or just the shoulder straps.
In claim 1, lines 3-4, “the shoulder straps converging towards one another in a direction away from the single back strap” is vague and indefinite. It is not clear how the directional limitation is met by the invention. It seems that the convergence of the shoulder straps would be in a plane separated from the back strap but that they do not converge in a direction away from the back strap.
The phrase “to leave a pocket of a user’s shoulder pocket free of the shoulder straps” is vague and indefinite. It is not clear what structural metes and bounds are required by this phrase.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Warner, Snyder, Dahan, and Dunn are cited as being of interest since they disclose outdoor vests.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to J. WOODROW ELDRED whose telephone number is (571)272-6901. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30.
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/J. Woodrow Eldred/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3641
JWE