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 August 26th, 2026, amended claims 1-3 and 5-6 are entered. Claims 1-8 are currently under examination.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's remarks and amendments with respect to the claim objections have been fully considered. The objections are withdrawn in view of the amendment.
Applicant's remarks and amendments with respect to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been considered but are not fully persuasive. Although a majority of the rejections have been withdrawn in view of the amendment, some of the rejections have been maintained, and further clarified, in view of the amendment.
Claim Objections
Claims 3, 4, and 6 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 3 recites “a plurality of cutout portions are provided” in lines 1-2, but should read “a plurality of cutout portions is provided”
Claim 4 recites “the cuff according to claim 1” in line 2, but should read “a cuff according to claim 1”
Claim 6 recites “a plurality of cutout portions are provided” in lines 1-2, but should read “a plurality of cutout portions is provided”
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.
Claim 1 recites “a cutout portion provided at a same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag 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” in lines 8-11. This limitation is unclear because initially it is recited that a cutout portion is provided at a same position of each of the sheet members (which would require at least four sheet members, since there are two sheet members in each bag structure, and there are at least two bag structures), and then it recites wherein the cutout portion is 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. It is unclear as to whether the limitation “two sheet members” is referring to only one set of two sheet members of one bag structure, two sheet members from two different bag structures, each set of two sheet members of each bag structure, or a separate element. Clarification is requested.
Claim 1 recites “a fixing portion provided in a frame shape inside the outer circumferential edges of two sheet members” in lines 13-18. It is unclear as to whether this limitation is referring to the previously introduced “two sheet members…being fixed to each other at outer circumferential edges” in lines 3-4 of Claim 1, or a separate element. In order to cure the indefiniteness, the Examiner suggests that the Applicant amend both the limitation in lines 3-4 of Claim 1 and the limitation in lines 13-18 of Claim 1 in order to differentiate exactly which sheet members are being described.
Claim 3 recites “wherein a plurality of cutout portions are provided in the same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag structures” in lines 1-2. It is unclear as to how a plurality of cutout portions are provided in the same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag structures when independent claim 1 already recited wherein “a cutout portion provided at a same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag structures”.
Claim 6 recites “wherein a plurality of cutout portions are provided in the same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag structures” in lines 1-3. It is unclear as to how a plurality of cutout portions are provided in the same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag structures when independent claim 1 already recited wherein “a cutout portion provided at a same position of each of the sheet members of the at least two bag structures”.
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 CHANEL J YOON whose telephone number is (571) 272-2695. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Alexander Valvis can be reached on 571-272-4233. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHANEL J YOON/Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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