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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 1-8 and 16-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on June 3, 2026.
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 9-15 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. Claim 9 is construed to be indefinite because the recitation “a collection pot, wherein the collection pan is in fluid connection with the collection pan” reiterates a redundant repetitive feature since th pan is in fluid connection with a pan. Since claims 10-15 depend upon an indefinite claim, those claims are construed to be indefinite by dependency.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9-15 are allowable over the prior art or record because the liquid recovery system with all the independently claimed features including a vacuum chamber exposing a preheated vessel to between 100 to 140 Torr for a time period extracting liquid of interest from a material is not found in the prior art either singly or in combination.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Other prior art references cited with this action, may teach one or more claim features, but do not rise to a level of anticipation, obviousness, and/or double patenting such that a rejection would be proper or reasonable or proper under current Office practice and procedure. References A, M, cited with this action, are patent publications from the same inventive entity as the current application. References B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, cited with this action teach liquid removal methods and systems thereof.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEPHEN MICHAEL GRAVINI whose telephone number is (571)272-4875. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 5:30 am to 5:00 (mid day flex) first F 6:00 am t0 11:00 am.
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/STEPHEN M GRAVINI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
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