DETAILED ACTION
Application Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This action is in response to Applicant’s submission dated 08/09/2023. Claims 1–12 are pending.
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 1–12 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. First, the claim(s) are narrative in form and replete with indefinite language. The claim(s) must be in one sentence form only. The structure which goes to make up the device must be clearly and positively specified. The structure must be organized and correlated in such a manner as to present a complete operative device.
Second, the claim is overly vague. The claim initially claims “a ground or unground rice husk used as fuel” but then later goes on to claim “a grinding, classification, and atomization system;” thus, it is not clear whether “ground or unground” refers to a starting point after which the rice husk is ground or whether the grinder and grinding step are optional. Further, the claim includes “the rice husk will be stored in the appropriate silo” but there is no indication as to what type of silo would be “appropriate.” Similarly, the claim states “and when necessary, it will be ground in a grinder,” but there is no indication on when doing so would be “necessary.”
Because the claims are replete with errors, examination under §§ 102 & 103 is not possible at this time. However, examiner notes that burning rice husks (hulls) appears to be old and well-known in the art, as evidenced by US 5,010,831 to Halfhide and others indicated in the attached PTO-892.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: see attached PTO-892. Applicant is encouraged to review the cited references prior to submitting a response to this office action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID J LAUX whose telephone number is (571)270-7619. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30-5:30 M-F.
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/DAVID J LAUX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3762
March 10, 2026