CTNF 18/430,804 CTNF 75018 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Drawings 06-36 AIA The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the central segment having a first and a second curvature state (claim 1) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claim 6 is 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 6 specifies a method comprising “effecting conversion of a bistable component” where it is unclear what suffices as “effecting conversion”. Can I tell someone to effect the conversion or is it a physical effect? Please clarify. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA Claim (s) 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being clearly anticipated by Xiong et al by In-plane prestressed hair clip mechanism for the fastest untethered compliant fish robot (published July 2022) . Xiong discloses and shows (see Fig. 1A-1G) a bistable component, comprising: a ribbon comprising (i) a first extension arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion, (ii) a second extension arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and (iii) a central segment connecting the proximal portion of the first extension arm and the proximal portion of the second extension arm, the distal portion of the first extension arm being joined to the distal portion of the second extension arm at a joint, the bistable component being reversibly convertible between a stable stressed first state and a stable stressed second state, the central segment having (i) a first curvature state corresponding to the bistable component being in the stable stressed first state and (ii) a second curvature state corresponding to the bistable component being in the stable stressed second state, and inversion of the central segment from one of the first curvature state and the second curvature state to the other of the first curvature state and the second curvature state effecting conversion of the bistable component from the respective one of the first stressed stable state and the second stressed stable state to the other of the first stressed stable state and the second stressed stable state. Cl. 2 – the central segment is translated by a distance D during inversion, and wherein the joint is translated by a distance greater than D during inversion. Cl. 3 – a point on the central segment rotates by an angle 0 during inversion, and wherein the joint rotates by an angle greater than 0 during inversion. Cl. 4 – the bistable component is comprised in any one or more of a gripper, a robot, a drone, a vehicle, or any combination thereof. Cl. 5 – the first extension arm and the second extension arm are rotatable about the joint. Cl. 6 – Xiong discloses and shows a method comprising effecting conversion of a bistable component according to claim 1 between one of the stable stressed first state and the stable stressed second state and the other of the stable stressed first state and the stable stressed second state. Cl. 7 – Xiong discloses and shows a system comprising a bistable component according to claim 1 and an actuator, the actuator configured to effect inversion of the central segment from one of the first curvature state and the second curvature state to the other of the first curvature state and the second curvature state. Cl. 8 – the system is comprised in a gripper, a robot, a drone, or any combination thereof. Cl. 9 – the system is comprised in a gripper (Fig. 5A-5C). Cl. 10 – the system is comprised in a robot (fish robot). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BOBBY RUSHING, JR whose telephone number is (571)270-0501. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8AM-5PM EST. 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, Minnah Seoh can be reached at (571) 270-7778. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /BOBBY RUSHING, JR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618 Application/Control Number: 18/430,804 Page 2 Art Unit: 3618 Application/Control Number: 18/430,804 Page 3 Art Unit: 3618 Application/Control Number: 18/430,804 Page 4 Art Unit: 3618 Application/Control Number: 18/430,804 Page 5 Art Unit: 3618 Application/Control Number: 18/430,804 Page 6 Art Unit: 3618
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