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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/02/2023 is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 11-23 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.
The term “substantially” in claims 11, 18-19, and 22-23 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “substantially” 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. The term “substantially” can be interpreted as an completely open path or a completely closed path, for this reason the examiner recommends removing this term.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-23 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.
Regarding independent claims 11 and 22, the prior art such as US 20180036836 A1 – Nakamura does teach welding methods for flat wires on a stator with multiple paths, but is completely silent on the specific method of over lapping paths. Specifically, after applying the laser beam in the first substantially closed path, performing, in either order:(a) applying the laser beam in a second substantially closed path within the second end surface to form a second molten pool; and (b) applying the laser beam in at least one of (1) a path starting at the first molten pool and extending to the second end surface, and (2) a third substantially closed path extending over the first end surface and the second end surface; wherein: the first and second molten pools are connected by the at least one of (1) the path starting at the first molten pool to the second end surface, and (2) the third substantially closed path extending over the first end surface and the second end surface in claim 11 and (a) applying the laser beam in a second substantially closed path within the second end surface to form a second molten pool; and (b) applying the laser beam in at least one of (1) a path starting at the first molten pool and extending to the second end surface, and (2) a third substantially closed path extending over the first end surface and the second end surface; wherein: the first and second molten pools are connected by the at least one of (1) the path starting at the first molten pool to the second end surface, and (2) the third substantially closed path extending over the first end surface and the second end surface in claim 22.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KEITH BRIAN ASSANTE whose telephone number is (571)272-5853. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30 am - 4:30 pm EST.
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, Steven W Crabb can be reached at (571) 270-5095. 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.
/KEITH BRIAN ASSANTE/Examiner, Art Unit 3761
/ELIZABETH M KERR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761