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 .
Amendment Entered
In response to the amendment filed on January 21st, 2026, amended claims 1 and 4-5 are entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's remarks and amendments with respect to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been fully considered. The rejections are withdrawn in view of the amendment.
Applicant's remarks and amendments with respect to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 101 have been fully considered. The rejections are withdrawn in view of the amendment.
Applicant's remarks and amendments with respect to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 have been fully considered. The rejections are withdrawn in view of the amendment.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-3 and 6 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 recites “an other end” in line 8, but should read “another end”
Claim 2 recites “formed avoiding a position” in lines 1-2, but should read “formed configured to avoid a position”
Claim 3 recites “plurality of the cutout portions” in line 1, but should read “plurality of cutout portions”
Claim 6 recites “plurality of the cutout portions” in lines 1-2, but should read “plurality of cutout portions”
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.
Claims 1-8 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.
Regarding Claim 1, the phrase "bag-like" renders the claims indefinite because the claims include elements not actually disclosed (those encompassed by "bag-like"), thereby rendering the scope of the claims unascertainable. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Claim 1 recites “in one direction” in line 4. It is unclear as to whether this “one direction” is referring to the previously introduced “longitudinal direction”, or a separate element.
Claim 1 recites “a cutout portion formed in a U or V shape provided at a same position of each of the at least two bag-like structures in the longitudinal direction, the cutout portion being cut out from one end toward an other end in a width direction of the bag-like structure” in lines 6-8. It is unclear as to whether this limitation should have recited “a cutout portion provided at a same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag-like structures, the cutout portion being formed in a U or V shape that is cut out from one end toward another end in a width direction of the two sheet members” instead. The confusion arises due to the fact that the current claim language does not require that the cutout portion is provided in the two sheet members of the bag-like structure, whereas [0012] of the Applicant’s Specification specifically requires wherein “a cutout portion provided in at least two sheet members of a bag-like structure” and [0029] of the Applicant’s Specification, which specifically recites “by forming the cutout portion in a shape that is cut out from one end toward the other end in a width direction of the two sheet members”.
Claim 1 recites “in a width direction” in line 8. It is unclear as to whether this limitation is referring to the previously introduced “longitudinal direction”, “one direction”, or a separate element.
Claim 1 recites “wherein the cutout portion is configured to serve as a starting point where a wrinkle is generated” in lines 8-9. It is unclear as to what this limitation entails, as it is unclear as to exactly what physical element is being “wrinkled” in this case.
Claim 1 recites “the sheet members facing each other” in lines 13-14. It is unclear as to whether this limitation is referring to the previously introduced “two sheet members” from line 4 of Claim 1, the “two sheet members” from line 11 of Claim 1, the “two sheet members” from line 12 of Claim 1, “a sheet member of the two sheet members of a first bag-like structure…and a sheet member of the two sheet members of a second bag-like structure” from lines 10-12 of Claim 1, or a separate element.
Claim 3 recites “wherein a plurality of the cutout portions are provided” in line 1. It is unclear as to whether this limitation requires that there are multiple cutout portions provided within each one of the bag-like structures, or if this limitation requires that there are multiple bag-like structures, which would each have its own singular cutout portion.
Claim 6 recites “wherein a plurality of the cutout portions are provided” in lines 1-2. It is unclear as to whether this limitation requires that there are multiple cutout portions provided within each one of the bag-like structures, or if this limitation requires that there are multiple bag-like structures, which would each have its own singular cutout portion.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Vivenzio et al (U.S. Patent No. 8,652,057) teaches a blood pressure cuff is defined by a first sheet, having an opening, and a second sheet. The second sheet is attached to a bottom of the first sheet to form an interior inflatable portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, with the opening of the first sheet fluidly interconnecting the interior inflatable portion with an exterior of the cuff (Abstract), wherein the cuff can be made from multiple sheets and sealed along all peripheral edges thereof. A slotted region is formed through each of the sleeve portions on one side of the flexible sleeve, while a circular opening is provided through an opposite side thereof through one of the planar sheets (Column 4 Line 66 – Column 5 Line 30; Figures 1-2).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHANEL J YOON whose telephone number is (571) 272-2695. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Fridays 9:00AM-5:00PM.
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/CHANEL J YOON/Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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