DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the AIA first to file provisions. 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.
Application Status
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 6/10/2026 has been entered.
Claims 16-32 and 36-38 are currently pending and being examined.
Information Disclosure Statement
The IDS filed on 6/10/2026 has been considered. See the attached PTO 1449 forms.
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 31 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 31:
Claim 31 recites “wherein the angled portion has a slope of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees in reference to the top” which is indefinite because it is unclear if these are two different slopes (i.e., the former being absolute, the latter relative to the “top”), or represent a range of angles that the slope is within. Furthermore, “the top” lacks sufficient antecedent basis, as it is unclear if this is meant to be “the top surface” of claim 16.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: for example, see Shelton, IV et al. US 2015/0282810 ([0875], [1055]) and Pacetti et al. US 2015/0217028 ([0147], [0149]).
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/DARIUSH SEIF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731
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