DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This Office Action is responsive to the Applicant's communication filed 04 May 2026. In view of this communication, claims 1-20 are now pending in the application, with claims 18-20 being withdrawn from further consideration.
Response to Arguments
The Applicant’s arguments, filed 04 May 2026, have been fully considered but are not persuasive.
The Applicant’s first argument (pages 7-8 of the Remarks) alleges, regarding the previous grounds of rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112, that “claim 2 has been amended accounting for the rejection” and that the specification discloses the claimed invention in sufficient detail. However, the argument does not explain how the amendment to claim 2 impacts the grounds of rejection, and the reference portions of the specification contain no disclosure of what allows the various components – i.e. any corresponding structure, material, or acts – to perform the claimed functions. As such, the argument fails to address the rationales provided in the rejections. Thus, the argument is unpersuasive and said previous grounds of rejection are maintained.
The Applicant’s second argument (page 8 of the Remarks) alleges, regarding the previous grounds of rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102, that Dobmeier does not disclose that each conduit “substantially conforms to an inner dimension of a cooling channel” as recited in claim 1 as amended. However, while the argument alleges that this distinction occurs because the conduit [802] is surrounded by gap [804], this gap is filled by insulating layer [1002] (fig. 10; ¶ 0066) exactly as recited in the claims. Thus, there is no difference between the structure of Dobmeier and that of the amended claim. As such, this argument is unpersuasive and said previous grounds of rejection are maintained.
The Applicant’s third argument (pages 7-8 of the Remarks) alleges, regarding the previous grounds of rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103, that the remaining claims are allowable by virtue of their dependencies. This is unpersuasive for the same reasons given above.
Disclosure
The specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant's cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL. — The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim(s) 2, 5-9, and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 2 recites the limitation “the insulating layer is configured to eliminate eddy current losses…”. The application contains no disclosure of what allows the insulating layer - i.e. any corresponding structure, material, or acts – to perform the claimed function. The specification contains only the exact language of the claims and, as such, the scope of this limitation is impossible to determine with any certainty. Thus, it is unclear whether the inventor(s) had possession of the claimed invention and the limitation renders the claim indefinite.
Claim 5 recites the limitation “the plurality of conduits are configured to be hydraulically expanded”. The application contains no disclosure of what allows the conduits - i.e. any corresponding structure, material, or acts – to perform the claimed function. The specification contains only the exact language of the claims and, as such, the scope of this limitation is impossible to determine with any certainty. Thus, it is unclear whether the inventor(s) had possession of the claimed invention and the limitation renders the claim indefinite.
Claims 6-9 are rejected due to their dependence on claim 5.
Claim 13 recites the limitation “the insulating layer enables eliminating eddy current losses…”. The application contains no disclosure of what allows the insulating layer - i.e. any corresponding structure, material, or acts – to perform the claimed function. The specification contains only the exact language of the claims and, as such, the scope of this limitation is impossible to determine with any certainty. Thus, it is unclear whether the inventor(s) had possession of the claimed invention and the limitation renders the claim indefinite.
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.
Claim(s) 2, 5-9, and 13 is/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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claims 2, 5-9, and 13 are indefinite for the same reasons given above in the grounds of rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(a).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, and 5-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and/or 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Dobmeier et al. (WO 2021/066917 A1), hereinafter referred to as “Dobmeier”.
Regarding claim 1, Dobmeier discloses a stator assembly [102] for an electrical rotating machine [100] (fig. 1-2; ¶ 0026), the stator assembly [102] comprising:
a body [300] comprising at least one lamination layer (fig. 3; ¶ 0035);
a plurality of cooling channels [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0041),
wherein the plurality of cooling channels [314] extend through the body [300] (fig. 3; ¶ 0041);
a plurality of conduits [802] (fig. 8-10; ¶ 0054),
PNG
media_image1.png
601
998
media_image1.png
Greyscale
wherein the plurality of conduits [802] are located in the plurality of cooling channels [314], wherein each conduit [802] of the plurality of conduits [802] substantially conforms to an inner dimension of a cooling channel [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”) through mechanical deformation (the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels); and
an insulating layer [1002] (fig. 10; ¶ 0066),
wherein the insulating layer [1002] is located between each conduit [802] of the plurality of conduits [802] and a corresponding cooling channel [314] of the plurality of cooling channels [314] (fig. 8-10), the insulating layer [1002] being configured to simultaneously place each conduit [802] in thermal contact with the body [300] while electrically insulating each conduit [802] from the body [300] (¶ 0070; the insulating layer, “gap filler”, is provided “in the form of cured sheets, tapes, pads, or films” made from “silicones, urethanes, thermoplastic rubbers, and other elastomers” which are electrically insulating and thermally conductive).
Regarding claim 2, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 1, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to eliminate eddy current losses and reduce electromagnetic losses from the plurality of conduits [802] while providing thermal heat transfer capabilities to remove heat generated during operation of the electrical rotating machine [100] (¶ 0070; the insulating layer, “gap filler”, is provided “in the form of cured sheets, tapes, pads, or films” made from “silicones, urethanes, thermoplastic rubbers, and other elastomers” which are electrically insulating and thermally conductive).
Regarding claim 5, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 1, as stated above, wherein the plurality of conduits [802] are configured to be hydraulically expanded in the plurality of cooling channels [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels).
Regarding claim 6, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 5, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to be applied onto an exterior surface of each conduit [802] and forms an insulative coating prior to inserting each conduit [802] through the corresponding cooling channel [314] (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels);
wherein the insulating layer [1002] further comprises a filler comprising one or more of glass beads, alumina, carbon nanotubes, graphene, boron nitride, or any combinations thereof (¶ 0071).
Regarding claim 7, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 6, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to be at least partially cured prior to inserting each conduit [802] through the corresponding cooling channel [314] (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels).
Regarding claim 8, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 6, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to be at least partially cured (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels) prior to hydraulically expanding the plurality of conduits [802] in the plurality of cooling channels [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels with the insulator in between);
wherein the insulating layer [1002] is fully cured (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels) after the plurality of conduits [802] are hydraulically expanded in the plurality of cooling channels [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels with the insulator in between).
Regarding claim 9, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 6, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to be fully cured (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels) prior to hydraulically expanding the plurality of conduits [802] in the plurality of cooling channels [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels with the insulator in between).
Regarding claim 10, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 1, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] enables the plurality of cooling channels [314] to be positioned adjacent a stator core [600] extending through the body [300] (fig. 3, 8-20; ¶ 0070-0073) without substantially increasing eddy current losses and electromagnetic losses caused by a relative position of the plurality of cooling channels [314] (¶ 0070; the insulating layer, “gap filler”, is provided “in the form of cured sheets, tapes, pads, or films” made from “silicones, urethanes, thermoplastic rubbers, and other elastomers” which are electrically insulating and thermally conductive; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the insulating layer being both thermally conductive and electrically insulating, which are inherent properties of the disclosed materials).
Regarding claim 11, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 1, as stated above, wherein the plurality of cooling channels [314] extend through the body [300] in a direction substantially parallel to a stator core [600] (fig. 3).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 3-4 and 12-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Dobmeier in view of Beatty et al. (US 8,405,262 B1), hereinafter referred to as “Beatty”.
Regarding claim 3, Dobmeier discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 1, as stated above, wherein the at least one lamination layer comprises a first metallic material that is electrically conductive (¶ 0035; “lamination stack 300 comprises laminated electrical steel sheets”).
Dobmeier does not explicitly disclose that the plurality of conduits [802] comprises a second metallic material that is electrically conductive.
Beatty discloses a stator comprising a metal body [28] including a stator core [10] comprising lamination layers (fig. 1-3; col. 2, lines 35-60) and a plurality of conduits [26] disposed in cooling channels [20] circumferentially arranged around the stator (fig. 1-3; col. 3, lines 1-11);
wherein the plurality of conduits [26] comprises a second metallic material that is electrically conductive (col. 3, lines 7-8).
PNG
media_image2.png
322
797
media_image2.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the conduits of Dobmeier from a metal such as copper as taught by Beatty, in order to provide the conduits with excellent thermal conductivity.
Further, it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416.
Regarding claim 4, Dobmeier, in view of Beatty, discloses the stator assembly [102] of claim 3, as stated above, wherein Beatty further discloses that the second metallic material comprises copper (col. 3, lines 7-8).
Regarding claim 12, Dobmeier discloses a system comprising:
an electrical rotating machine [100] (fig. 1-2; ¶ 0026) comprising:
a stator [102] having a metal body [300] including a stator core [600] configured to receive a rotor [104] (fig. 1-2; ¶ 0026-0027), the stator [102] comprising:
at least one lamination layer (fig. 3; ¶ 0035),
the stator core [600] extending through the metal body [300] (fig. 3; ¶ 0035), and
cooling channels [314] extending through the metal body [300], the cooling channels [314] being circumferentially arranged around the stator core [600] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0041);
PNG
media_image1.png
601
998
media_image1.png
Greyscale
a plurality of conduits [802] extending through the metal body [300] at one or more of the cooling channels [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”), the plurality of conduits [802] being configured to be hydraulically expanded in a respective cooling channel [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels) to substantially conform to an inner dimension of the cooling channels [802] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”) through mechanical deformation (the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels); and
an insulating layer [1002] coating an exterior surface of the plurality of conduits [802] (fig. 10; ¶ 0066),
wherein the insulating layer [1002] is located between each conduit [802] of the plurality of conduits [802] and the respective cooling channel [314] (fig. 8-10), the insulating layer [1002] being configured to simultaneously place each conduit [802] in thermal contact with the metal body [300] while electrically insulating each conduit [802] from the metal body [300] (¶ 0070; the insulating layer, “gap filler”, is provided “in the form of cured sheets, tapes, pads, or films” made from “silicones, urethanes, thermoplastic rubbers, and other elastomers” which are electrically insulating and thermally conductive).
Dobmeier does not explicitly disclose that the plurality of conduits [802] are made of a metal material.
Beatty discloses a system with a stator comprising a metal body [28] including a stator core [10] comprising lamination layers (fig. 1-3; col. 2, lines 35-60) and a plurality of conduits [26] disposed in cooling channels [20] circumferentially arranged around the stator (fig. 1-3; col. 3, lines 1-11);
wherein the plurality of conduits [26] are made from a metal (col. 3, lines 7-8).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the conduits of Dobmeier from a metal such as copper as taught by Beatty, in order to provide the conduits with excellent thermal conductivity.
PNG
media_image2.png
322
797
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Further, it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416.
Regarding claim 13, Dobmeier, in view of Beatty, discloses the system of claim 12, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] enables eliminating eddy current losses and reducing electromagnetic losses while providing thermal heat transfer capabilities to remove heat generated during operation of the electrical rotating machine [100] (¶ 0070; the insulating layer, “gap filler”, is provided “in the form of cured sheets, tapes, pads, or films” made from “silicones, urethanes, thermoplastic rubbers, and other elastomers” which are electrically insulating and thermally conductive).
Regarding claim 14, Dobmeier, in view of Beatty, discloses the system of claim 12, as stated above, wherein Beatty further discloses that the plurality of metal conduits [26] comprises copper (col. 3, lines 7-8).
Regarding claim 15, Dobmeier, in view of Beatty, discloses the system of claim 12, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to be at least partially cured (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels) prior to hydraulically expanding the plurality of metal conduits [802] in the respective cooling channel [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels with the insulator in between);
wherein the insulating layer [1002] further comprises a filler comprising one or more of glass beads, alumina, carbon nanotubes, graphene, boron nitride, or any combinations thereof (¶ 0071).
Regarding claim 16, Dobmeier, in view of Beatty, discloses the system of claim 12, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] is configured to be fully cured (¶ 0070-0073; the insulating layer can be either formed on the conduits prior to their insertion in the channels, or injected into the gap between the conduits and channels) prior to hydraulically expanding the plurality of metal conduits [802] in the respective cooling channel [314] (fig. 3, 8-10; ¶ 0054; “a semi-circular channel disposed therein to receive a cooling tube”; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the conduits being received in the cooling channels with the insulator in between).
Regarding claim 17, Dobmeier, in view of Beatty, discloses the system of claim 12, as stated above, wherein the insulating layer [1002] enables the cooling channels [314] to be positioned in the metal body [300] adjacent the stator core [600] (fig. 3, 8-20; ¶ 0070-0073) without substantially increasing eddy current losses and electromagnetic losses caused by a relative position of the cooling channels [314] (¶ 0070; the insulating layer, “gap filler”, is provided “in the form of cured sheets, tapes, pads, or films” made from “silicones, urethanes, thermoplastic rubbers, and other elastomers” which are electrically insulating and thermally conductive; the only structure implied by this method step limitation is the final structure of the insulating layer being both thermally conductive and electrically insulating, which are inherent properties of the disclosed materials).
Citation of Relevant Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Prior art:
Lewandowski et al. (US 2020/0185986 A1) discloses a stator comprising cooling channels having conduits extending therethrough, and an insulator located between each of the conduits and its respective cooling channel.
Tremelling et al. (US 2017/0063200 A1) discloses a stator comprising cooling channels, circumferentially arranged around its outer perimeter, having conduits extending therethrough.
Stiesdal (US 2011/0109095 A1) discloses a stator comprising cooling channels, circumferentially arranged around its outer perimeter, having conduits extending therethrough.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated any 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
This action is a final rejection and closes the prosecution of this application. Applicant’s reply under 37 CFR 1.113 to this action is limited to an appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, an amendment complying with the requirements set forth below, or a request for continued examination (RCE) to reopen prosecution where permitted.
General information on the Patent Trial and Appeal Board is available at: www.uspto.gov/patents/patent-trial-and-appeal-board/about-ptab/new-ptab. The information at this page includes guidance on time limited options that may assist the applicant contemplating appealing an examiner’s rejection. It also includes information on pro bono (free) legal services and advice available for those who are under-resourced and considering an appeal at: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/patent-trial-and-appeal-board/patent-trial-and-appeal-board-pro-bono-program-independent. The page is best reviewed promptly after applicant has received a final rejection or the claims have been twice rejected because some of the noted assistance must be requested within one month from the date of the latest rejection. See MPEP § 1204 for more information on filing a notice of appeal.
If applicant should desire to appeal any rejection made by the examiner, a Notice of Appeal must be filed within the period for reply. The Notice of Appeal must be accompanied by the fee required by 37 CFR 41.20(b)(1). The current fee amount is available at: www.uspto.gov/Fees.
If applicant should desire to file an after-final amendment, entry of the proposed amendment cannot be made as a matter of right unless it merely cancels claims or complies with a formal requirement made in a previous Office action. Amendments touching the merits of the application which otherwise might not be proper may be admitted upon a showing of good and sufficient reasons why they are necessary and why they were not presented earlier.
A reply under 37 CFR 1.113 to a final rejection must include cancellation of or appeal from the rejection of, each rejected claim. The filing of an amendment after final rejection, whether or not it is entered, does not stop the running of the statutory period for reply to the final rejection unless the examiner holds all of the claims to be in condition for allowance.
If applicant should desire to continue prosecution in a utility or plant application filed on or after May 29, 2000 and have the finality of this Office action withdrawn, an RCE under 37 CFR 1.114 may be filed within the period for reply. See MPEP § 706.07(h) for more information on the requirements for filing an RCE.
The application will become abandoned unless a Notice of Appeal, an after final replay that places the application in condition for allowance, or an RCE has been filed properly within the period for reply, or any extension of this period obtained under either 37 CFR 1.136(a) or (b).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael Andrews whose telephone number is (571)270-7554. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-3:00pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to 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, Oluseye Iwarere can be reached at 571-270-5112. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Michael Andrews/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Prosecution Insights