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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 08/05/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The action is in response to amendments filed on 08/06/2026. Claims 1, 10-12, 18, and 20 have been amended. Claims 2-3 have been cancelled. Claims 1, 4-20 are pending and examined below.
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.
Claim 12 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.
Regarding claim 12, the claim recites the limitation “wherein the outer ring element has a U-shaped cross-section with a pair of inwardly extending, flange-like rims which are connected to each other by an outer crosswise extending portion bridging a distance between the inwardly extending flange-like rims”. However, this limitation is already taught in claim 1. It is unclear if this is in addition or different from the elements claim in claim 1. As such the claim is indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, and claims dependent thereof (except for claim 12), are allowed.
Regarding claim 1, the prior art does not teach or suggest “a cuff comprising an outer ring element composed of a non-stretchable material having a U-shaped cross-section with a pair of inwardly extending flange-like rims” and “wherein the stretchable sheet material is attached to the inwardly extending flange-like rims such that an interior bladder chamber is defined partly by the stretchable sheet material and partly by the outer ring element” in combination with the other limitations of the c claim.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 08/06/2026, with respect to the prior art rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The prior art rejections have been withdrawn.
Conclusion
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/ABID A MUSTANSIR/ Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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