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 11-20 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 11, line 1, the phrase “the cycle Auto-Oxydation-process” lacks antecedent basis in the claims.
In claim 11, line 2, the phrase “the two alternative steps” lacks antecedent basis in the claims.
In claim 11, line 3, the phrase “the presence of a catalyst” lacks antecedent basis in the claims.
In claim 20, line 2, the phrase “the quinone” lacks antecedent basis in the claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-20 contain allowable subject matter.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art does not teach or suggest the cumulative features of each of claims 11 and 20 with particular attention given to the feature of “contacting the quinone with an organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent has the formula (I): (I) R¹-O-R², wherein: R¹ is an aryl group comprising from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; and R² is an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and when R² is a methyl group, R¹ is different from phenyl”.
The prior art of GB 850567A teaches a process of production of hydrogen peroxide with a solution of anthraquinone mixed with a solvent that may include anisole (Abstract). Anisole is an alkyl aryl ether, but is excluded in the instant claims with the limitation “when R² is a methyl group, R¹ is different from phenyl”. Thus GB 850567A does not teach or suggest “contacting the quinone with an organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent has the formula (I): (I) R¹-O-R², wherein: R¹ is an aryl group comprising from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; and R² is an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and when R² is a methyl group, R¹ is different from phenyl”.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES A FIORITO whose telephone number is (571)272-9921. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amber Orlando can be reached at (571) 270-3149. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMES A FIORITO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1731
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