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 .
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 1-13 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.
Claim 1 recites “a central worm axis” in line 2 first and then in line 9. As such, it cannot be ascertained whether they are the same axis of if they are different. If they are the same, the “a central worm axis” in line 9 should be changed to --the central worm axis --. If they are not the same, then they should be named differently
Claim 1 recites “a helical geometry” in lines 1-2 first and then in line 7. As such, it cannot be ascertained whether they are the same helical geometry of if they are different. If they are the same, the “a helical geometry” in line 7 should be changed to --the helical geometry--. If they are not the same, then they should be named differently.
Claim 1 recites the limitations "the distance" in line 9, “the axial direction” in line 17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 1 also recites “an axial direction” in line 20. It cannot be ascertained whether this is the same axial direction as the one recited in line 17 or if it is different. If it is the same, the limitation should read --the axial direction-- in line 20. If they are different, they should be named differently.
Claim 1 further recites “the first end is greater than at the second end of the rotor” in lines 18-19. It cannot be ascertained from the claim what of the first end is greater than that of second end. Clarification is required.
Claim 6 recites “a manufactured rotor” in line 2. However, it cannot be ascertained from the claim whether it is the rotor as claimed in claim 1 or if it is different. Clarification is required. Claim 6 further recites “an outer geometry of the rotor” in line 8. It cannot be ascertained whether it is the same “an enveloping outer geometry of the rotor” as claimed in claim 1 or if it is different. Clarification is required.
Additional Subject Matter
Even though claims 1-13 are not rejected under prior art, they are rejected under 112 for being indefinite and hence, are not allowable at this time.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAPINDER SINGH whose telephone number is (571)270-1774. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
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, Mark Laurenzi can be reached at (571) 270-7878. 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.
/DAPINDER SINGH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746
Prosecution Insights