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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-5 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.
“itself” is recited in claim 1. This is a narrative term which does not positively recite the limitation. The claims are indefinite and lack proper antecedent basis.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Yamamoto et al 2017/0291225 A1.
Yamamoto et al disclose the claimed invention as recited in the claims as shown below;
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1. (Currently Amended) A workpiece holding device that rotatably holds a workpiece to be processed with a grinding stone, the workpiece holding device comprising: a base 14a; a chuck 5a that is placed on the base and can adsorb and hold the workpiece; and a clamping member 14b that is attached to the base with a gap 20 between itself and the chuck in a radial direction of the base and presses a peripheral edge of the chuck against the base, the clamping member comprising:a main body 14b section that fastened to the base via a bolt 16,a rotation stopper protrusion that is offset 23 from the bolt in the radial direction of the base and supported on the main body section, further is fitted in a recess of the chuck to regulate rotation in a circumferential direction of the chuck relative to the base.
2. (Currently Amended) The workpiece holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an opposite surface, which opposes the chuck, of the base and an opposite surface, which opposes the base, of the chuck is coated with an easy-slipping layer that urges the base to slip sideways relative to the chuck.
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The metal (note metal as indicated by cross hatching) coating on the top make liquids slips sideways.
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3. (Currently Amended) The workpiece holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and the chuck is composed of a material that urges the base to slip sideways relative to the chuck. The element 21 causes the element 14b and 5 to slip sideways relative to each other. The metal (note metal as indicated by cross hatching) coating on the top make liquids slips sideways.
4. (Currently Amende
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d) The workpiece holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a surface to be clamped, which opposes the clamping membe
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r, of the chuck and a clamping surface, which opposes the chuck, of the clamping member is coated with an easy-slipping layer that urges the clamping member to slip sideways relative to the chuck.The element 21 causes the element 14b and 5 to slip sideways relative to each other.
The metal (note metal as indicated by cross hatching) coating on the top make liquids slips sideways.
5. (Currently Amended) The workpiece holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the chuck and the clamping member is composed of a material that urges the clamping member to slip sideways relative to the chuck. The element 21 causes the element 14b and 5 to slip sideways relative to each other. The metal (note metal as indicated by cross hatching) coating on the top make liquids slips sideways.
6. (Currently Amended - Canceled)
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The structure cited below should be claimed at the very least.
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The 892 form discloses prior art being made of record.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEE D WILSON whose telephone number is (571)272-4499. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 6;30-4;30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, BRIAN KELLER can be reached at 571-272-8548. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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LEE D. WILSON
Examiner
Art Unit 3723
Ldw
/LEE D WILSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723 November 5, 2025