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 because the figures contain color photographic images that are reproduced in low-quality black-and-white format and lack sufficient clarity for proper examination and publication. Several figures are low contrast, have loss of structural detail, and are blurred making them difficult to discern. B&W copies of Color photographs and color drawings are not accepted in utility applications unless a petition filed under 37 CFR 1.84(a)(2) is granted. Any such petition must be accompanied by the appropriate fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(h), one set of color drawings or color photographs, as appropriate, if submitted via the USPTO patent electronic filing system or three sets of color drawings or color photographs, as appropriate, if not submitted via the via USPTO patent electronic filing system, and, unless already present, an amendment to include the following language as the first paragraph of the brief description of the drawings section of the specification:
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in B&W copy of color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
Color photographs will be accepted if the conditions for accepting color drawings and black and white photographs have been satisfied. See 37 CFR 1.84(b)(2).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 6, 9, and 13-16 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 claims 6, 9, and 13-16 the term “a use of…” renders the claim indefinite because the claim does not define a statutory class of invention recognized under U.S. patent law. The claim is not clearly directed to :
A process or method
A machine or article of manufacture
A composition of matter
As a result, it is unclear what the claim is intended to be.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7-8, 10-12, and 17-20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claim 1: The closest prior arts of WANG(US2013049531A1), ZHU(US9571009B2), CAI(US10277147B2), and TURNG(US10622918B2) teaches every limitation except “A plant fiber brush-based soft-contact and low-damping…a plant fiber brush…and at least one position on the inner circumferential surface of the stator is provided with the plant fiber brush”. The limitations in the combination as claimed is not anticipated nor obvious over any other prior art of record. Claims 2-20 are allowed for being dependent on claim 1.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Claims 6, 9, and 13-16 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to the applicant’s disclosure.
WANG(US2013049531A1) is an application that teaches a typical triboelectric generator system.
ZHU(US9571009B2) is an application that teaches similar rotor/stator structure in a triboelectric generator.
CAI(US10277147B2) is an application that teaches triboelectric generators based on layers that comprise cellulose.
TURNG(US10622918B2) is another application that teaches triboelectric generators with cellulose composite.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED QURESHI whose telephone number is (571)-272-8310. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tulsidas Patel can be reached on 571-272-2098. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MOHAMMED AHMED QURESHI/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834