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 .
Response to Amendment
This office action is in response to the filing of 10/20/2025.
Through the amendments, the claims are now generic, and therefore, the restriction requirement of 8/20/2025 is withdrawn. Claims 1-16 have been examined.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
4. 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 1-16 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the gaps" in line 2; “the supply and exhaust air” in line 3; “the lower part” in line 5; and “the upper part” in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 2-9 are rejected as being dependent of claim 1.
Claim 10 recites the limitation “the gaps” in line 3; “the supply and exhaust air” in line 4; “the exhaust air inlet opening” in line 5; and “the supply air inlet opening” in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 11-16 are rejected as being dependent on claim 10.
Claims 1 and 10 appear to contain allowable subject matter and may be favorably considered if the above 35 USC 112 rejections are overcome.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art of Hirose et al., Chen, and document JP 3756735 B2 are pertinent to the Applicant’s invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Davis Hwu whose telephone number is (571)272-4904.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to call the examiner or 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, Len Tran can be reached at 571-272-1184. 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.
/DAVIS D HWU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Prosecution Insights