DETAILED ACTION
The Examiner acknowledges Claims 1-4 have been amended in a preliminary amendment.
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 Objections
Claims 1-4 are objected to because of the following informalities: In Claim 1, Line 1 recites “an joining end” but the correct article would be “a”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 1-4 are objected to because of the following informalities: In Claim 1, the claim uses the international standard on Line 5 of “characterized” and “constituted by” instead of the US format of “comprising”. 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 1-4 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 1
Line 2 – it is unclear what the “therein” is referring to
Line 2 – it is unclear what “set” is being formed
Line 3 – in this instance, “said pedestal” is recited but previously it was recited as “a cylindrical pedestal”
Line 4 – in this instance, “the slab” is recited but previously it was recited as “a circular slab”
Line 6 requires the upper pieces to be prefabricated but Line 2 set forth they were made in-situ
Line 6 – “which in turn” is generally narrative an indefinite
Line 6 requires “a rib” but Line 3 recited “a plurality of ribs”, it is unclear if this rib is of the plurality or different
Line 7 recites “its connection end” but Line 3 refers to it as “an joining end”
Line 8 – “in such a way” is generally narrative and indefinite
Line 10 requires the lower pieces to be prefabricated but Line 2 set forth they were made in-situ
Line 10 – “which in turn” is generally narrative and indefinite
Line 10 requires “a rib” but Line 3 recited “a plurality of ribs”, it is unclear if this rib is of the plurality or different
Line 11 recites “its connection end” but Line 3 refers to it as “an joining end”
Lines 11-12 – “in such a way” is generally narrative and indefinite
Line 16 – “in such a way” is generally narrative and indefinite
Lines 24-25 – “and passing through thereof” is unclear
Line 3 - It is unclear what “cleaning concrete” is
Claim 3
Lines 3-4 – “positioning on said cleaning concrete of anchor bolts and lower flange” is unclear
Lines 3-4 recite “anchor bolts” but the claim depends from Claim 1 that already recited “anchor bolts” on Line 21, it is unclear if these are the same or different
Lines 5-6 recite “the anchor holes of the lower pedestal sectors” but the claims never recited that the anchor holes were of the lower pedestal sectors but of the pedestal itself
Line 9 recites “the anchor holes of the upper pedestal sectors” but the claims never recited that the anchor holes were of the upper pedestal sectors but of the pedestal itself
Line 10 recites “post-tensioning bolts” and “housings” but Line 23 of Claim 1 already recited these elements, it is unclear if they are the same or different
Line 12 recites “the slab” but Claim 1 referred to it as “a circular slab”
The claims recite the following limitations that have insufficient antecedent basis for such limitations.
Claim 1
Line 4 – the fixing
Line 7 – the upper part
Line 11 – the lower part
Line 20 – the axis
Line 21 – the entire height
Claim 2
Line 2 – the lower base
Lines 2-3 – the upper base
Claim 3
Line 12 – the upper flange
Lines 12-13 – the anchor pins
Claim 4
Line 3 – the post tensioning pins
Allowable Subject Matter
It appears as though the claims would be allowable upon overcoming the above issues.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The Prior Art does not anticipate or make obvious the upper pieces and the lower pieces being arranged radially alternated with each other, alternating vertically overlapping with each other.
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.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW J TRIGGS whose telephone number is (571)270-3657. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 6am-2pm EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Mattei can be reached at (571) 270-3238. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ANDREW J TRIGGS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3635
Prosecution Insights