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 .
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 6-9 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 6 recites the limitation "the other surface" in lines 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This will be read as “an other surface” in order to provide antecedent basis for “the other surface” in line 9.
Claim 6 recites “one surface” in line 8, but does not define whether this requires an additional “one surface” beyond that already in the claimed. This will be read as “the one surface”.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the upper portion of the anode catalyst" in line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the upper portion of the cathode catalyst" in line . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-9 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: membrane electrode assemblies comprising ruthenium, ruthenium, and platinum catalysts are disclosed by ITO et al. (US 2022/0205117), SHINTAKU et al. (US 2023/0058120), OH et al. (US 2022/0231306), KIM (US 2021/0384525). However, the prior art of record does not teach or fairly suggest utilizing for the anode catalyst layer mixed iridium and ruthenium catalyst at 0.50 to 0.90 nm/cm^2 and for the cathode catalyst layer utilizing platinum at 0.06 to 0.10 mg/cm^2, which are bonded together by pressing together at 130 to 145 degrees Celsius and 130 to 150 bar.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Nickolas R Harm whose telephone number is (571)270-7605. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00-6:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Phillip Tucker can be reached at 571-272-1095. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NICKOLAS R HARM/Examiner, Art Unit 1745
/PHILIP C TUCKER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1745
