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 .
Comment re Specification Paragraph Numbers
Unless otherwise stated herein, any paragraph numbers re the present specification that are mentioned herein are with respect to the marked-up substitute specification filed 11/29/2023.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The disclosure in paragraph 0005 refers to the claims. Applicant is required to amend the specification to remove these references and to incorporate into the disclosure any subject matter of these claims that is necessary to the understanding of the invention.
In paragraph 0007, the specification sets forth “[T]he damping device can damn oscillations…”. However, it does not appear that the term “damn” makes sense in this context.
In each of paragraphs 0067, 0072, 0078 (plural occurrences in paragraph 0078), and 0079 (plural occurrences in paragraph 0079), it appears that “cover 56” should be changed to –lid 56—for consistency (and to avoid confusion with the “cover 54”).
In paragraph 0068, in the phrase “used at the same time to clamped”, it appears that “clamped” should be –clamp--.
In paragraph 0073, it appears that “lid 46” should be –lid 56—to be consistent with the rest of the specification and with the drawings (noting that element 46 was elsewhere described as “damping elements”, and is shown in Figures 2-3 as “damping elements”, and noting that element 56 has been elsewhere described as a “lid” and is shown in Figures 2-3 as a “lid”; see, for example, paragraphs 0059-0060, 0062, 0065-0068, 0075-0077, for example).
Appropriate correction is required.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-10), drawn to a “workpiece clamping device” in combination with a “damping device”, and of species (ii), depicted in Figures 2-3, in the reply filed on June 23, 2026, is acknowledged.
Claim 11 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention and/or species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on June 23, 2026.
It is noted that each of claims 1-10 are readable on the elected species.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“damping elements” in at least claims 1, 4, 6-7, and the alternatives “wherein the damping elements are arranged in pairs with a radial spacing to one another” and/or “are arranged distributed at equidistant angular spacings relative to one another” in claim 10.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
In claim 10, it is noted that for the alternative “the damping elements have a circular cross section”, the term “damping element” is not considered to invoke 35 USC 112(f) in that this alternative in the claim recites sufficient structure to perform the claimed function.
Claim Objections
Claim 6 objected to because of the following informalities: in claim 6, it appears that changing “the centering cover and oscillating mass” to –the centering cover and the oscillating mass—would enhance clarity. 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 1-10 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.
In claim 1, lines 6-7, the claim sets forth “having a damping device, which has an oscillating mass, damping elements, and spring elements”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what is being set forth has “having a damping device…”, i.e., the workpiece clamping device, the internally-toothed ring gear, the circumferential collar, etc. Additionally, in the event that such is intended to indicate that the workpiece clamping device “has” the damping device, it is unclear as claimed whether the limitation “having a damping device…” is intended to indicate that the damping device is part of the workpiece clamping device, or whether the limitation is instead intended to bring in structure additional to the workpiece clamping device (as in the workpiece clamping device “has” a damping device provided thereon, or attached thereto, or the like). Care should be taken to make sure any changes are in line with the disclosure as originally filed (noting that as disclosed, the damping device appears to be additional to the workpiece clamping device 6 re Figure 1 and 34 re Figures 2-3; see paragraphs 0050 and 0058-0060, as well as Figures 1-3).
The term “in the area of” (in the limitation “in the area of an outer side of the collar facing away from the opening”) in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “in the area of” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. In particular, it is unclear as claimed how close the oscillating mass, the damping elements, and the spring elements must be to the outer side of the collar in order to be considered to be “in the area of” that outer side of the collar and meet the limitation, and how far away the oscillating mass, the damping elements, and the spring elements must be from the outer side of the collar in order to be excluded by the limitation.
In claim 1, the claim recites “wherein the oscillating mass, the damping elements, and the spring elements are arranged outside the opening in the area of an outer side of the collar facing away from the opening”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what is being set forth as “facing away from the opening”, i.e., the recited “outer side of the collar”, the recited “area of an outer side of the collar”, or the recited oscillating mass, damping elements, and spring elements.
In claim 1, the claim sets forth “wherein the oscillating mass, the damping elements, and the spring elements are arranged outside the opening in the area of an outer side of the collar facing away from the opening”. As noted previously, it is unclear as claimed what is being set forth as “facing away from the opening”. That said, additional to that issue, it is also unclear as set forth in the claim what configuration(s) the term “facing away from the opening” is/are intended to encompass vs. exclude. In particular, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “facing away” is intended to require a particular (unspecified in the claim) angular range of the intended element(s) (and which particular element is intended is unclear, as noted previously, i.e., the outer side of the collar, the area of the outer side of the collar, or the recited damping mass, damping elements, and spring elements, which will hereinafter be referred to as “the intended element”) with respect to the opening, or whether such is intended to require a particular (unspecified in the claim) degree of proximity of the intended element with respect to the opening. Regardless of which meaning of “facing away” is intended, given that no such angular range and no such degree of proximity are set forth in the claim, it is unclear what configuration(s) of the intended element and opening meet the limitation "wherein the oscillating mass, the damping elements, and the spring elements are arranged outside the opening in the area of an outer side of the collar facing away from the opening” and what configuration(s) of the intended element and opening are excluded by the limitation.
In each of claims 2-10, the claim(s) recite(s) “[T]he workpiece clamping device as claimed in…” a prior claim. However, it appears that claim 1 actually requires a combination of the workpiece clamping device with a damping device (noting that as disclosed, the damping device is additional to the workpiece clamping device; see paragraphs 0050 and 0058-0060 and Figures 1-3, noting, for example, that the workpiece clamping device is element 6 in the embodiment of Figure 1, and element 34 in the embodiment of Figures 2-3, and as disclosed, the damping device 14 is connected via fastening elements 21 to the workpiece clamping device 6, and the damping device 42 is disclosed as additional to the workpiece clamping device 34), given the recitation in claim 1 “[A] workpiece clamping device, wherein the workpiece clamping device is designed as cup-shaped and has a circumferential collar, wherein the circumferential collar delimits an opening for accommodating and clamping an internally-toothed ring gear, having a damping device which has an oscillating mass, damping elements, and spring elements…”. Additionally, it is noted that it appears that the bodies of each of claims 2-10 go on to recite additional details re the damping device (or some portion thereof). All that being said, it is unclear as set forth in each of claims 2-10 whether or not claims 2-10 actually require all of the limitations of the prior claim(s), i.e., including the workpiece clamping device and the damping device (given that each of claims 2-10 are drawn to “[T]he workpiece clamping device”, i.e., per se, but also given that the bodies of each of claims 2-10 recite additional details of elements of the damping device that is additional to the workpiece clamping device).
In claim 2, the claim sets forth “wherein the oscillating mass is a ring, which encloses the collar on a circumferential side”. However, it is unclear as claimed to what the claimed circumferential side belongs, i.e., a circumferential side of what?
In claim 7, the claim sets forth “wherein a lid is provided, wherein damping elements are arranged between the lid and the oscillating mass”. However, noting the lack of a modifying article such as “the” or “said”, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether the recited “damping elements” set forth in claim 7 are intended to be the same as the “damping elements” previously recited in claim 1, or whether the “damping elements” set forth in claim 7 are instead intended to be additional to the damping elements previously recited in claim 1.
In claim 9, line 2, the limitation “the lid” lacks sufficient antecedent basis in the claim.
In claim 9, line 2, the limitation “the screw connections” lacks sufficient antecedent basis in the claim.
In claim 9, the claim sets forth “whereby screws and/or threaded rods of the screw connections penetrate the centering cover, the oscillating mass, and the cover”. It is noted that the last three words of the claim (“and the cover”) appear to be redundant, noting that the only “cover” previously recited in the claim was the “centering cover”, and the aforequoted limitation already recited that the screws and/or threaded rods penetrate “the centering cover”.
In claim 10, one of the claimed alternatives is “wherein the damping elements are arranged in pairs with a radial spacing to one another”. However, it is unclear as claimed to what “one another” is intended to refer, i.e., two of the pairs as a whole are radially spaced from one another, or the damping elements of a given pair for each of the pairs are radially spaced as in one element of one pair is radially spaced from another element of the other pair, for each of the pairs.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 2-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
In each of claims 2-10, the claim(s) recite(s) “[T]he workpiece clamping device as claimed in…” a prior claim. However, it appears that claim 1 actually requires a combination of the workpiece clamping device with a damping device (noting that as disclosed, the damping device is additional to the workpiece clamping device; see paragraphs 0050 and 0058-0060 and Figures 1-3, noting, for example, that the workpiece clamping device is element 6 in the embodiment of Figure 1, and element 34 in the embodiment of Figures 2-3, and as disclosed, the damping device 14 is connected via fastening elements 21 to the workpiece clamping device 6, and the damping device 42 is disclosed as additional to the workpiece clamping device 34), given the recitation in claim 1 “[A] workpiece clamping device, wherein the workpiece clamping device is designed as cup-shaped and has a circumferential collar, wherein the circumferential collar delimits an opening for accommodating and clamping an internally-toothed ring gear, having a damping device which has an oscillating mass, damping elements, and spring elements…”. Additionally, it is noted that it appears that the bodies of each of claims 2-10 go on to recite additional details re the damping device (or some portion thereof). All that being said, it is unclear as set forth in each of claims 2-10 whether or not claims 2-10 actually require all of the limitations of the prior claim(s), i.e., including the workpiece clamping device and the damping device (given that each of claims 2-10 are drawn to “[T]he workpiece clamping device”, i.e., per se, but also given that the bodies of each of claims 2-10 recite additional details of elements of the damping device that is additional to the workpiece clamping device). In any event, given that the preambles of claims 2-10 are directed to “[T]he workpiece clamping device as claimed in…” a prior claim (i.e., the workpiece clamping device, per se), and given that it appears that claim 1 actually requires the combination of the workpiece clamping device with a damping device, to the extent that claims 2-10 do not require all of the limitations of claim 1 (such as the details of the damping device), then claims 2-10 are being rejected under 35 USC 112(d) for failing to include all of the limitations of the claim(s) from which it/they depend.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-10, as best understood in view of the above rejections based on 35 USC 112, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE 4403237 A1 (hereinafter, “DE ‘237”).
It is noted that a machine translation of DE ‘237 is being made of record on the Notice of References Cited (PTO-892) accompanying this Office Action. That said, attention is directed to that machine translation regarding any references herein to page numbers, line numbers, paragraph numbers, or the like, re DE ‘237.
DE ‘237 teaches a workpiece clamping device (see Figures 2-4 and paragraphs 0001-0003, 0009, and the translation of at least claim 1, for example),
wherein the workpiece clamping device is designed as “cup-shaped” (see Figure 2, noting the configuration of 4/5/6) and has a circumferential collar (5; see Figures 2-3 and at least paragraph 0009, for example),
wherein the circumferential collar (5) delimits an opening (the opening of bore 6; see Fig. 2) “for” accommodating and clamping an internally-toothed ring gear (it is noted that paragraph 0002 expressly teaches that the workpiece can be a gear; additionally/alternatively, noting the configuration of the bore 6 shown in Figure 2 and in which the workpiece is clamped/fixed, the bore opening is considered to be inherently capable of accommodating and clamping, such as via 7 and 5, an internally-toothed ring gear, simply by providing such a gear within the bore 6 and actuating the tension member 7 to cause the radially elastic jaws 5 of element 4 to clamp the outer circumference of such a gear; see Figures 2-3 and paragraphs 0001-0003, 0009, 0014, and the translation of claim 1, for example),
having a damping device, which (damping device) has an oscillating mass (27 and/or 28; see Figures 2-4 and at least paragraphs 0012, 0014-0016, and the translation of at least claims 1-2, paragraphs 0010-0011), damping elements (such as two or more of the elements 26; see at least Figures 2-4 and paragraphs 0012-0016 and particularly paragraph 0013), and “spring elements” (screws 31, insofar as such is the case re the screw connections 48 of the present application; see Figures 2-3 and paragraph 0012),
wherein the oscillating mass (27 and/or 28), the damping elements (two or more of the elements 26), and the spring elements (31) are arranged outside the (aforedescribed) opening (the opening of bore 6) “in the area of” an “outer” side of the collar (5) facing away from the opening (of 6) (see Figures 2-3, noting that, for example, the aforedescribed oscillating mass, damping elements, and spring elements are “radially”, i.e., radially with respect to axis 2, outside of the opening of 6, at/on the radially and/or circumferentially outer side of the collar 5, which radially and/or circumferentially outer side of 5 is a side of 5 that is “facing away” from the opening of 6 in that the radially and/or circumferentially outer side of 5 is a side of 5 that is opposite the radially inner or circumferentially inner “side” of 5 at which radially or circumferentially inner side of 5 that 6 is located).
Regarding claim 2, the oscillating mass (27 and/or 28) is a ring, which encloses the collar (5) on a “circumferential side” (see Figures 2-3, noting that 27 and/or 28 is/are a ring that encloses collar 5 on/at an outer circumferential “side” of 5, for example; see also paragraph 0012).
Regarding claim 3, a spacing (such as, for example, spacing S1, labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 2 below, and/or such as spacing S2, labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 2 below, and/or such as the spacing between 27/28 and 5 and in which 4 is located) is formed “between” (such as in the left/right horizontal direction re Figure 2) the oscillating mass (27 and/or 28) and the collar (5).
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Regarding claim 4, the damping elements (two or more of the elements 26) “bear on” the oscillating mass (27 and/or 28) (i.e., by way of elements 32 and screws 31, for example). See Figures 2-4 and paragraphs 0012-0013, 0016, for example.
Regarding claim 5, a centering (noting the tapered/conical face at 8 of 5 that engages with a mating tapered conical face of 7) cover (7) is provided, which (7) is “connected to” an end face of the collar (5) (see Figure 2, noting that 7 is in contact with end face 8 of collar 5), wherein the damping device (27 and/or 28, plus two or more of elements 26, plus screws 31) is “held on” the centering cover (7) (and in particular, is “held on” the flange 10 of 7). See Figures 2-3 and at least paragraphs 0012-0013, for example.
Regarding claim 6, at least a part of the damping elements (two or more of elements 26) are “arranged between” (such as in the left/right horizontal direction re Figures 2 and/or 3, and/or alternatively such as in the vertical direction re Figure 2, for example, noting that 10 is part of 7) the centering cover (7) and oscillating mass (27 and/or 28). See Figures 2 and 3, for example.
Regarding claim 7 (which depends from claim 1), a lid is provided (considering one of 27 or 28 to be the oscillating mass, the other of 28 or 27 is a “lid”; see Figure 2), wherein damping elements (two or more of the elements 26) are “arranged between” (such as in the vertical direction re Figure 2) the lid (one of 27 and 28) and the oscillating mass (the other of 28 and 27). See Figure 2.
Regarding claim 8, the “spring” elements (screws 31) are screw connections. See Figures 2-3 and paragraph 0012.
Regarding claim 9 (which depends from claim 6) “the” lid (such as one of the rings 32, for example) and the oscillating mass (28 and/or 27) are held by “the” screw connections (formed by screws 34 and 31, for example) on the centering cover (7) (see Figures 2-3 and paragraph 0012, noting that at least ultimately, the screws 34, 31 serve to help clamp 32, 27, and 28 onto the flange 10 of the element 7), whereby screws (31, 34) and/or threaded rods (the threaded rod portions of the screws 31 and 34) of the screw connections penetrate the centering cover (7) (see Figures 2-3, noting that screws 34 penetrate the flange 10 of 7), the oscillating mass (27 and/or 28) (see Figures 2-3, noting that 31 penetrate 27 and/or 28), and “the” cover (7) (as just noted). See Figures 2-3 and paragraph 0012, for example.
Regarding claim 10, the damping elements (two or more of 26) are “arranged in” pairs with a radial spacing to one another {see, for example, Figures 2 and 3, noting that the left upper 26 in Figure 2 and the right upper 26 in Figure 2 constitute a “pair” with radial spacing to one another, and noting that the lower left 26 in Fig. 2 and the lower right 26 in Fig. 2 constitute a “pair” with radial spacing to one another, radial being with respect to, for example, axis 2; alternatively, with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of Figure 3 and that extends through the center of one of the screws 34, each “pair” of elements 26, no matter which two elements 26 are selected, is “radially” spaced relative to such axis, and for example, relative to axis Q1 labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 3 below, the pair of elements 26 that are located at P1 (only one of which is visible in Figure 3; see Figures 1-2, noting that at each location of a first 26 about axis 2, for example, there is a further 26 spaced along the axis 2 from that first 26) is located at a “radial spacing” relative to the pair of elements 26 that are located at P2, for example}; and/or the damping elements (26) are arranged distributed at equidistant angular spacings relative to one another (as can be seen in Figure 3) and/or the damping elements (26) have a circular cross section (see Figure 4; see also paragraph 0013, which teaches that elements 26 can be cylindrical bodies; see also/alternatively paragraph 0016 which teaches that elements 26 can instead be spheres). That said, it is noted that all three alternatives of claim 10 are met by DE ‘237, though it is noted that meeting a single one of these alternatives is sufficient in order to meet claim 10.
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0328698 to Otani et al. is an English-language equivalent to DE 102015107440 A1 (which DE ‘440 was cited on the Information Disclosure Statement filed 11/29/2023).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERICA E CADUGAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4474. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
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/ERICA E CADUGAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3722
eec
July 22, 2026
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