DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Group I in the reply filed on 3/24/26 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
Claim Objections
Claims 1-12, 15-20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1, line 4 “the support” should be amended to “the granular support” and “has oxygen” should be amended to “has an oxygen”.
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.
Claim 19 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.
Claim 19, line 2 “the oxidized reducing agent” lacks antecedent basis.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Tatsumi (US Pub.: 2010/0196761). Tatsumi describes a transition metal-based granule that has a spherical particle size and porosity (para. 23). The transition metal granule is used to support a lithium-containing composite oxide (para. 23). The angle of repose of the transition metal support is at 60° or less (para. 24 (5)). As to the oxygen carrier feature, the specification of this application states that the oxygen carrier is a compound which has oxygen ion conductivity and can cause reversible oxygen vacancies and is a compound in which oxygen is deficient due to its reduction (published specification, para. 33). Tatsumi employs a lithium composite oxide to the catalyst (see para. 2). Lithium and lithium oxides, according to para. 2, do not promote oxygen ion conductivity.
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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHENG HAN DAVIS whose telephone number is (571)270-5823. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30. 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, Fung Coris can be reached at 571-270-5713. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHENG H DAVIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1732 May 28, 2026
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