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 .
Claims 1-20 are remaining in the application.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
3. 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 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by D1: US 2015/0011133 A1 (Vlock et al.), cited by applicant. Regarding claims 1-4, 6-8 and 10-16, D1 discloses all claimed features within various embodiments, including a watercraft having a hull, recess [1408, 1606], cassette(s) [1020, 1040, 1620] (with indentation) disposed in recess [1408, 1606] and housing a drive system with electric motor [1675], impeller [1699], water intake and exhaust ports, motor controller(s) [1673], power source (batteries), insert(s) with cassette(s) removably coupled to insert(s) [1014, 1614], and all features arranged/configured as claimed (see paragraphs [0063] - [0082] and Figs. 10-18). The base surface of the cassette may be configured to substantially match the base surface the body or hull to achieve a desired hydrodynamic profile of the watercraft (see paragraph. [0065]). Regarding claims 5 and 9, at least a portion of each recess is orientated in a vertical position, as so broadly claimed, considering the extent of depth (height of penetration) of each recess in a vertical direction.
Conclusion
5. The prior art cited and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
The prior art references each disclose watercraft with a cassette housing a drive system in a hull recess.
6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL V VENNE whose telephone number is (571) 272-7947. The examiner can normally be reached between M-F, 7am-3:30pm Flex. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Marc Q Jimenez, who can be reached at phone number (571) 272-4530. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
7. If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Daniel V Venne/
Senior Examiner, Art Unit 3615B
02/10/2026
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