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.
Claim 3 is 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 3 recites the limitation "the other side" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hartle (5,154,358).
Hartle discloses an electrostatic spraying device equipped with a spray nozzle 12 spraying a liquid and a strip-shaped charging section 38 charging the liquid sprayed from the spray nozzle, the electrostatic spraying device comprising:
a power supply line 48, 74 which supplies power to the charging section;
an electrical resistance member 78 that constitutes a part of a power supply path from the power supply line to the charging section and allows a current flowing through the charging section to be weaker than a current flowing through the power supply line; and
a housing 43, 44 which accommodates the electrical resistance member and into which the power supply line is drawn;
further comprising:
a support rod 14 which supports the spray nozzle; and
a support member 88, 52 that constitutes another part of the power supply path and supports the charging section,
wherein the housing is attached to the support rod, and
wherein the support member is attached to the housing;
further comprising:
a conductive elastic member 73 (washer and pin contact 73 between jumper 74 and resistor 78, figure 2A; washer and pin contact 73 inherently possesses some degree of elastic property, no matter how minute) that is accommodated in the housing and is in elastic contact with one side of the electrical resistance member and the power supply line drawn into the housing; and
a fixing member 50 that is disposed between the support member and the other side of the electrical resistance member in the power supply path (“in the power supply path” refers to the electrical resistance member) and attaches the support member to the housing;
wherein the charging section is a bare metal wire 114,
wherein the electrical resistance member includes a resistor (resistor 78), a block made of conductive rubber, or a block made of conductive resin, and
wherein the housing has a light shielding property (inherent in any solid material).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER S KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4905. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arthur O Hall can be reached at (571) 270-1814. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER S KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752 CHRISTOPHER S. KIM
Examiner
Art Unit 3752
CK
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