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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the width of the rim body “also increases along the concave curvature” as set forth in claim 7; the increase in width “takes place along the concave curvature and the convex curvature on the whole” as set forth in claim 8; the width of the rim body “increases less along the rim flange curvature section than along the rim flank curvature section” as set forth in claims 10-13; and the width of the rim increasing “between the further inflection point and the widest spot of the rim body” as set forth in claim 16; the must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 110 and 114.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "26", "16", and "36" have all been used to designate the same element in Figures 2-3.
At a minimum, reference character “16” should include an arrowhead at the end of its leader line.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The first page of the specification lacks a statement of priority.
On page 13, reference character “101” has been used to denote both the “front wheel” and the “handlebar”.
On page 13, reference character “114” has been used to denote both the “tires” and the “grips”.
The list of reference characters is incomplete, and should therefore either be removed or amended to include all reference characters used in the drawings.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-20 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 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the inflection point “lies external” of the rim flange. No directional indicators (i.e. axially, radially, etc.) have been provided to clearly define this limitation.
Claim 7 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the width of the rim body increases “along the concave curvature”, given the fact that as shown in the drawings, the width of the rim body actually decreases from the widest spot 25 to the radially outermost portion of the rim flanges. Therefore, the width of the rim the concave portion 26 actually “decreases”.
Claim 8 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the “width increase” can “take place along the concave curvature and the convex curvature on the whole”, given the fact that as shown in the drawings, the width of the rim body actually decreases from the widest spot 25 to the radially outermost portion of the rim flanges.
Claim 8 and 16 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what is actually being claimed by the phrase “on the whole”.
Claims 10-11 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the “width of the rim body on the whole” “increases less along the rim flange curvature section than along the rim flank curvature section”, given the fact that as shown in the drawings, the width of the rim body actually decreases from the widest spot 25 to the radially outermost portion of the rim flanges.
Claim 11 is indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear what element of the invention is being referred to by the term “its”.
Claims 12-13 and 16 are indefinite due to the fact that it is unclear how the width of the rim body “increases”, given the fact that as shown in the drawings, the width of the rim body actually decreases from the widest spot 25 to the radially outermost portion of the rim flanges.
The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references show the structure of hollow bicycle wheel rims.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON R BELLINGER whose telephone number is (571)272-6680. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-4.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Samuel (Joe) Morano can be reached at (571)272-6684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON R BELLINGER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615