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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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, the “first reset mechanism” as recited in claim 2, the “partition plate” as recited in claim 3, the “outer ring port” as recited in claim 4, and the “second reset mechanism” as recited in claim 8 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
In line 25 of page 5, “become prolong” is awkward. Examiner recommends changing the aforementioned phrase to “become prolonged”, or something similar.
In line 26 of page 5, “become shorten” is awkward. Examiner suggests changing the aforementioned phrase to “become shorter” or something similar.
In line 5 of page 7, “tightened, , a magnetic field” should be changed to “tightened, a magnetic field”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 2, 3, and 7 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In line 4 of claim 2, “one mooring cable” should be changed to “one of the mooring cables”, or something similar.
In lines 5 - 6 of claim 3, “one first power generation device” should be changed to “one of the
first power generation devices”, or something similar.
In line 3 of claim 7, “one anchor chain” should be changed to “one of the anchor chains”, or something similar.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 - 10 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 line 1 of claim 1, the phrase “medium and shallow water operation” render the claim(s) vague and indefinite because “medium” and “shallow” are subjective terms and neither term clearly defines a water depth or range of water depths. Therefore it is not possible for Examiner to determine the metes and bounds of the claim(s). Claims 2 - 10 contain similar errors.
Regarding claim 2, the use of the term “their” as recited in line 11 renders the claim(s) indefinite because it is unclear as to which structural elements or limitations the term is referring. Therefore, it is not possible for Examiner to determine the metes and bounds of the claim(s). Structural elements and limitations should always be referred to by name.
Regarding claim 8, the use of the term “its” as recited in line 10 renders the claim(s) indefinite because it is unclear as to which structural element or limitation the term is referring. Therefore, it is not possible for Examiner to determine the metes and bounds of the claim(s). Structural elements and limitations should always be referred to by name.
There is insufficient antecedent basis for the following limitations in the claims:
Claim 2, line 7: “the mooring cable”. It is unclear as to which of the mooring cables recited in claim 1, from which claim 2 depends, the term is referring.
Claim 2, line 10: “the mooring cable”
Claim 3, line 2: “the first power generation device”. It is unclear as to which of the first power generation devices recited in claim 1, from which claim 3 depends, the term is referring.
Claim 7, line 2: “the mooring cable”
Claim 8, lines 5 - 6: “the mooring cable”
Claim 8, line 6: “the mooring cable”
Claim 8, line 9: “the mooring cable”
Claim 10, line 2: “the mooring cable”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 - 10 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Doyle et al. (US 2022/0242529) discloses a flexible retractable mooring system suitable for medium and shallow water operation, comprising: first power generation devices, a second power generation device, and anchors; wherein the anchors are located obliquely below the offshore platform (P) to fix the flexible retractable mooring system (Figs. 1 and 13; paragraphs 0035, 0120, 0136, 0154, 0164, and 0165).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEAN D ANDRISH whose telephone number is (571)270-3098. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 6:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amber Anderson can be reached at 571-270-5281. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SEAN D ANDRISH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3678
SA
2/5/2026
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