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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
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 2-10 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.
Claims 2-10 each recites the limitation "The electrolytic polishing treatment method of a nickel-based alloy workpiece" in the first line of each respective claim. However, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Specifically, the “nickel-based alloy workpiece” which was earlier set forth in independent claim 1.
The examiner would suggest amending each preamble to recite “The electrolytic polishing treatment method of the nickel-based alloy workpiece …” as a way of remedying the above noted issue.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 is allowed.
Claims 2-10 would also 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art fails to an electrolytic polishing treatment method for a nickel-based alloy workpiece made by lamination manufacturing comprising the combination of steps (A) and (B) each with specific treatment solutions as required for the ultrasonic oscillation and the electropolishing of the nickel-based alloy workpiece made by lamination manufacturing as set forth and claimed.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
WO 2007/033282 A2 to Rosenbuam et al., teaching a method of making shape memory films by CVD and shape memory devices made thereby teaching electropolishing of the surface using a solution of perchloric acid, and sulfuric acid or acetic acid, in methanol to provide good results
CN 112410866 B to Shen et al., teaching an electrochemical polishing solution for nickel-titanium alloy and polishing method teaching a process including amongst other steps a step of sand blasting, ultrasonic processing in water, and electropolishing in a ethylene glycol solution a biological medical implant made of a nickel titanium alloy
US Pub. No. 2008/0233838 to Mase et al., teaching a substrate treatment method for portion to be coated teaching ultrasonic cleaning after sandblasting
US Pub. No. 2005/0173258 to Aeby et al., teaching a method for the electrolytic polishing of dental instruments made of nickel-titanium alloy teaching problems with perchloric acid electropolishing solutions being potentially explosive
IT PD20080104 A1 to Barricelli et al., teaching a procedure for electropolishing of titanium or titanium alloy articles and equipment to carry out the process discussing problems with perchloric acid electropolishing solutions being potential explosion risk and methanol electropolishing solutions requiring low operating temperatures
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Bryan D. Ripa whose telephone number is (571)270-7875. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00AM-4:00PM ET.
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/BRYAN D. RIPA/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1794
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