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 .
Response to Amendment
This office action is in response to the amendment filed September 9, 2026. As directed by the amendment, claims 1 and 14 have been amended and claim 3 was previously cancelled. Claims 11-13, 16-20 were previously withdrawn. As such, claims 1-2, 4-10, 14-15 remain under consideration in the instant application.
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 1-2, 4-10, 14-15 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.
Claims 1 and 14 recite the limitation “an opening in a center of the top portion having a first pair of grooves on a first side of the opening and a second pair of grooves on a second side of the opening opposite the first side, wherein the first pair of grooves and the second pair of grooves correspond to a first set of cable holes, a second set of cable holes, and a third set of cable holes”. It is unclear how first and second pairs of grooves correspond to three sets of cable holes. “A first pair of grooves” actually consists of three pairs of grooves. Likewise, “a second pair of grooves” consists of three pairs of grooves. Examiner interpreted the claim as reciting “an opening in a center of the top portion having [[a first pair]] three pairs of grooves on a first side of the opening and [[a second pair]] three pairs of grooves on a second side of the opening opposite the first side, wherein the [[first pair of grooves and the second pair of grooves]] three pairs of grooves on the first side of the opening and the three pairs of grooves on the second side of the opening correspond to a first set of cable holes, a second set of cable holes, and a third set of cable holes”, or similar.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 4-10, 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as stated above, but would be allowable if rewritten to correct the indefiniteness.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OLIVIA C CHANG whose telephone number is (571) 270-5017. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 7:30AM-5:00PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, please contact the examiner’s supervisor, KEVIN TRUONG, at (571) 272-4705. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 -273-8300.
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/OLIVIA C CHANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3775
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