DETAILED ACTION
The response filed March 13, 2026 has been entered. Applicant has canceled claim 6. Claims 1-5 and 7-12 are pending.
Specification
The previous objections to the specification are withdrawn in view of Applicant’s amendments.
It is suggested to correct the spacing between “1,” and “4”.
Claim Objections
Claim 4 remains objected to because the spacing between “1,” and “4” should be corrected.
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 1-5 and 7-12 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, “strip-shaped open-loop profile” is indefinite because it is unclear what the metes and bounds of “strip-shaped open-loop profile” would entail. Furthermore, it appears Applicant’s “strip” is a closed loop in Fig. 12.
Claim 1 also recites “connected end-to-end” to “form the overlapping area”. However, connecting end to end forms a butt joint, not an overlapping area. Therefore, claim 1 is considered indefinite.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection.
Applicant’s amended claim 1 includes the limitation “strip-shaped open-loop profile”, which is considered indefinite. See the 112 rejection above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL H. LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2548. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
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DANIEL H. LEE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1746
/DANIEL H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746
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