DETAILED ACTION
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Paragraph 26 of the specification recites “box 202” twice. The second instance states “(not shown)”. Since the box is not being shown in the figures, it should not recite the reference number “202”.
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 1-3 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 term “large” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “large” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The type of salt being required by “large granule salt” is unclear and therefore the claim is indefinite. Since “large” is a relative term, for purposes of examination, any sized salt is deemed to anticipate the claim.
Claims 2 and 3 are rejected for being dependent on an indefinite claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schuld USPA 2019/0247775 A1.
Regarding claim 1, Schuld discloses a box (figure 1: outer frame) comprising a large granule salt (figure 2: salt 26), wherein the large granule salt is Himalayan salt (paragraph 14).
Regarding claim 2, Schuld discloses that the box is covered with fabric mesh (figure 1: media 14; paragraph 12: non-woven fibers form a type of fabric mesh).
Regarding claim 3, Schuld discloses that the box comprises supporting elements providing strength to the box (figure 1: supports 44).
Conclusion
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/CHRISTOPHER P JONES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1776