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 .
Response to Amendment
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The response filed on June 10, 2026 is acknowledged.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 "an opposing side" in line 4. The claim fails to define a reference to determine “opposing.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 114 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;
wherein the charging section is a bare metal wire (ends of pins 114 are a bare metal wire; pin is defined as a short, slender piece of wire; dictionary.com);
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 an opposing side (upstream side of resistor 78) 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 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).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 10, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Hartle does not disclose “wherein the charging section is a bare metal wire.” Hartle discloses a charging section 114 wherein the charging section is a bare metal wire. The ends of pins 114 are a bare metal wire. The term pin is defined as a short, slender piece of wire. dictionary.com.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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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