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 .
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, one power distribution module having a second number of outlet housings double the first number of outlet housings must be shown and labeled 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.
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 1-8, is 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. Regarding Claim 1; “a power distribution module wherein the system allows for a first configuration and a second configuration…and the first number of outlet housings being approximately double the second number of outlet housings “ is unclear; whereas the assertion appears to provide omissions and/or does not readily assert what structure(s) are intended to be comprised by the power distribution module, a first configuration and/or a second configuration since one power distribution module alone—if so intended does not include a first number of outlet housings double a second number of outlet housings and second configuration, and thus it appears a plurality of power distribution modules shall be asserted to comprise a first configuration, and one power distribution module comprises a second configuration. Further, the claim does not assert how the same power distribution module or system is intended to accomplish each of a first configuration and a second configuration; whereas it cannot be readily ascertained if i.e. all of the required structures including a plurality of different power distribution modules (if so intended) comprising a different number of outlet housings is already employed in the system and electrically switches between operative use of the first configuration and the second configuration OR otherwise if i.e. the first and second configurations and respectively associated power distribution modules and outlet housings thereof are physically connected/disconnected to accomplish the different configurations, and thus the claim is amenable to more than one plausible claim construction to accomplish the respective configurations which read on different inventive structures.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 11/20/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding Claim 1; the applicant present remarks on page 5 that 112(b) rejections are believed to be handled by a first configuration clearly shown in Fig. 21 and Fig. 25 clearly shows a second configuration with approximately double the number of outlets as the first configuration. The office otherwise notes that the drawings do not explicitly depict and label any outlet housings and the applicant has failed to actually discuss any features of either drawing. More importantly, the applciant has failed to discuss or satisfy any of the subsequent details of the 112(b) rejection; whereas the claim only asserts one power distribution module and for example Fig. 25 appears to denote more than one power distribution module, and thus it remains unclear how one power distribution module is intended to comprise a second configuration having double the number of outlets housings. Further, the claim and applicant remarks is silent as to the manner by which each configuration is achieved; whereas the claim shall assert atleast one plausible claim construction as to how the power distribution module is deemed to accomplish each configuration including whether i.e. selectively connecting and/or disconnecting a different number of outlet housings physically or manually to one power module, OR i.e. physically or manually changing the number of power modules, OR i.e. electrically switching between configurations by enabling/disabling a different number of outlet housings of one power distribution module OR electrically switching between configurations by enabling/disabling a different outlet housings of different power distribution modules. As such, claim 1 is amenable to more than one plausible claim construction which read on varying inventive structures.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to COURTNEY SMITH whose telephone number is (571)272-9094. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5p.
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, Jayprakash Gandhi can be reached at 571-272-3740. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/COURTNEY L SMITH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2835