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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1: “recharge” in line 9 should read “recharging”
Claim 1: “liqueur” in steps g), h), and i) should read “liquor” to match the spelling of the term elsewhere in claim 1
Claim 1: “liquor” in line 22 should read “the liquor” to clarify that it is the same liquor as recited at claim 18
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The limitation “means” in claim 11 is herein interpreted as defined at (pg. 9 lines 28-29) of the instant specification as “any device, apparatus, machinery, etc., commonly known and used in the art which permits to carry out the function described in the process”.
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 1-11 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.
The term “large” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “large” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention, making unclear what sizes of particle are all removed by sieving.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the fluid or pulp" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The term “small” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “small” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention, making unclear what sizes of particle are released.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the fluid obtained in stage b)" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the protonic section" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the protonic section" in line 6. The limitation is indefinite as it is unclear how the protonic section is actually made or maintained as protonic, as there is no discussion of e.g., an acid being present, or conditions for creation of acid in situ.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the alkaline section" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the alkaline section" in line 7. The limitation is indefinite as it is unclear how the protonic section is actually made or maintained as alkaline, as there is only mention in the claims of adding water (which is not alkaline) to the alkaline section, and no discussion of e.g., an alkaline being present, or conditions for creation of alkaline in situ.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the leaching process" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the wet agglomerates" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the removed volume" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the exhausted clays" in lines 10-11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "until full consumption of the fluid or pulp of stage b)" in line 12. The limitation is indefinite as there is no discussion of the fluid or pulp being finite (i.e., that it would experience full consumption), or under what circumstances such would occur or be indicated to one operating the claimed process. The claim is further indefinite as all of the processes of claim 1 are recited in present tense (e.g., mixing, stirring, pouring, initiating), which would imply that such continuously occur, making unclear how full consumption of the fluid or pulp could be achieved if the stirring appears to continuously produce fluid or pulp.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “exhausted aqueous liqueurs” in line 20. The limitation is indefinite as there is no prior mention of exhausted aqueous liqueurs being produced in stage h), making unclear if exhausted aqueous liqueurs are always present in stage h), or are only present in certain embodiments of stage h); and how such liqueurs are produced.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the remaining liquor" in line 25. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the structural element (i)" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the structural element (ii)" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation “is introduced into” in lines 3, 4, 5, and “is placed between” in line 6, “to form” in line 7, and “is introduced in” in line 8. The limitations are indefinite, as it is unclear if these phrases comprise operations intended to performed by each component preceding the phrase with respect the component proceeding the phrase e.g., in order to produce the reactor claimed (e.g., structural element (i) undergoes a process of being placed into a first subinterior grid box), or if these terms instead describe the physical structural relationship present between the components (e.g., merely that structural element (i) is inside of a first subinterior grid box).
Claim 6 recites the limitations “subinterior grid box” in line 3 and “inner grid box” in line 5. The terms “subinterior grid box” and “inner grid box” are not defined by the instant specification nor does the term have an established meaning in the art, thus the term is interpreted according to its plain meaning, however “subinterior grid box” and “inner grid box” is ambiguous as it is unclear if they refer to the ability of the boxes to be placed in a grid (and if so which properties are necessary for such), a grid comprises part of the box (and if so which properties are necessary for such), or if Applicant envisages a different interpretation.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the structural element (iii)" in lines 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the structural element (iv)" in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the major surface areas" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the major surface areas" in line 7. The term “major surface areas” is not defined by the instant specification nor does the term have an established meaning in the art, thus the term is interpreted according to its plain meaning, however “major surface areas” is ambiguous as it is unclear if “major surface areas” refers to surface areas having a certain size, activity in the use or construction of the apparatus, or another meaning.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the structural element (v)" in lines 7-8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the sides of each of the two major surface areas of the outer box". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim as there is no prior mention of sides of major surface areas or major surface areas of the outer box.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "on the sides of each of the two major surface areas of the outer box". The limitation is indefinite as it is unclear whether the trays are placed on the sides of the major surface areas (which are part of structural element (iv)), are placed on major surface areas of the outer box, or are placed on the outer box but on the same sides of the outer box as the sides of the major surface areas of structural element (iv).
Claim 11 recites the limitations “means" in components (a)-(k). The lack of an article preceding “means” renders the claim indefinite as it is unclear if there is only one or multiple “means” associated with each function.
Claim 11 recites the limitations:
“means for pouring a portion of the fluid obtained in (b)” in claim 11 component (c)
“means for removal of the wet agglomerates resulting from the protonic section” in component (e)
“means for refilling the protonic section” in component (e).
“means to repeat the operation of (e)” in component (f)
“means of extraction for subjecting the leached liquor obtained in (f), to at least one solvent extraction process” in component (g)
“means for separating the organic phase of the mixture obtained in (g)” in component (h)
“means for mixing said organic phase with an aqueous solution with hydrochloric acid” in component (h)
“means to recirculate the depleted aqueous liquors” in component (i)
“means for conveying the lithium and potassium concentrated liquor” in component (j)
“means for drying” in component (k)
The limitations are indefinite as while the instant specification defines “means” as “any device, apparatus, machinery, etc., commonly known and used in the art which permits to carry out the function described in the process”, and provides examples of “mixers, reactors, silos, conveyor belts, piping, pumps, screens, sifters, reaction reactors, power sources, separation towers, distillation towers, filtration towers, containers, mills, ovens, reactors and/or extraction towers, evaporative drying units, among others” nothing in the instant claims or instant specification discloses which means are associated with which types of “devices, apparatuses, machinery etc.”, or which means are associated with which examples of the listed unit operations and devices, making unclear what the “means” actually comprise for the means listed above, which do not specify a specific component, structure, or unit operation as the means used.
The term “large” in claim 11 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “large” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention, making unclear what sizes of particle are all removed by sieving.
Claim 11 recites the limitations “consisting in” in line 4. The limitation is indefinite as it is unclear if the means consists of one of a screen or sieving machine, is inside of a screen or sieving machine, or another interpretation.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the fluid or pulp" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The term “small” in claim 11 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “small” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention, making unclear what sizes of particle are released.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the fluid obtained in stage b)" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the protonic section" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the alkaline section" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the wet agglomerates" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the removed volume" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the exhausted and removed clays" in line 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "until full consumption of the fluid or pulp of stage b)" in line 13. The limitation is indefinite as there is no discussion of the fluid or pulp being finite (i.e., that it would experience full consumption), or under what circumstances such would occur or be indicated to one operating the claimed process. The claim is further indefinite as all of the processes of claim 1 are recited in present tense (e.g., mixing, stirring, pouring, initiating), which would imply that such continuously occur, making unclear how full consumption of the fluid or pulp could be achieved if the stirring appears to continuously produce fluid or pulp.
Claim 11 recites the limitation “exhausted aqueous liqueurs” in line 20. The limitation is indefinite as there is no prior mention of exhausted aqueous liqueurs being produced in stage h), making unclear if exhausted aqueous liqueurs are always present in stage h), or are only present in certain embodiments of stage h); and how such liqueurs are produced.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the depleted aqueous liquors" in line 21. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the remaining liquor" in line 26. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the drying process" in line 26. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims dependent upon claims rejected above, either directly or indirectly, are likewise rejected under this statute.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-11 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest identified prior art of record is Pérez et al. (WO 2019190301 A1, supplied with IDS filed 4/04/2024, Examiner-provided machine translation supplied herein), Magnan et al. (US 20180244531 A1), Zante et al. (“Solvent extraction of lithium from simulated shale gas produced water with a bifunctional ionic liquid”, supplied herein), and Chon et al. (US 20150197830 A1, cited in IDS filed 04/04/2024).
Regarding claim 1, Pérez teaches a process for leaching and concentrating lithium [0001] from clays from salt flats [0003]. Pérez teaches mixing the clays with pure water and sieving to remove stones and large particles [0049]. Pérez teaches magnetic separation may also be performed [0052], where the magnetic separation comprises agitation (i.e., turbulently stirring with a mixer the fluid or pulp resulting from stage a) [0057]. Pérez teaches pouring a portion of the fluid obtained in stage b) into the protonic section of a leaching reactor and initiating the leaching process at the reactor; [0020, 0099]. Pérez teaches agglomerates are produced from the leaching [0078], and washed, filtered, and dried [0099], which would require removing the wet agglomerates resulting from the protonic section. Pérez teaches obtaining an aqueous leachate liquor [0015, 0099].
Pérez does not teach leaching potassium, turbulently stirring with a blade mixer to release small particles, adding pure water into a alkaline section of the reactor, recharging the protonic section with a volume equivalent to the removed volume of wet agglomerates, repeating the operation of stage e), until full consumption of the fluid or pulp of stage b), obtaining an aqueous leachate liquor accumulated in the alkaline section of the reactor, subjecting the leachate liqueur obtained in stage f) to at least one solvent extraction process, wherein exhausted aqueous liqueurs from stage h) are recirculated back to the extraction process from stage g) to enrich them with lithium and potassium and be fed back to extraction and stripping processes, passing liquor to a precipitation stage, wherein the precipitation stage consists of adding sodium phosphate to the concentrated liqueur obtained in stage h) to obtain precipitated lithium phosphate, or wherein liquor of stage j) is subjected to a drying process to obtain potassium hydroxide.
Magnan teaches a process for leaching and concentrating lithium (Title, abstract), and potassium [0119, 0120], from clays [0168]. Magnan teaches initiating the leaching process 14 at the reactor [0091], and removing leach residue (i.e., wet agglomerates) [0236]. Magnan teaches wherein liquor concentrated in lithium is passed to a precipitation stage [0050].
Magnan does not teach wherein the clays are from salt flats, mixing the clays with pure water and sieving to remove stones and large particles, turbulently stirring with a blade mixer the fluid or pulp resulting from stage a) to release small particles, or c) pouring a portion of the fluid obtained in stage b) into the protonic section of a leaching reactor.
Magnan teaches an electromembrane process 20 (i.e., a reactor with sections) [0091], which may be acidic (i.e., protonic) [0187-0191], and where the feed may be alkaline [0193-0195], but does Magnan not teach an alkaline section, adding pure water into an alkaline section of the reactor, wet agglomerates resulting from a protonic section, recharging the protonic section with a volume equivalent to the removed volume of wet agglomerates, repeating the operation of stage e), until full consumption of the fluid or pulp of stage b), obtaining an aqueous leachate liquor accumulated in the alkaline section of the reactor, subjecting the leachate liqueur obtained in stage to at least one solvent extraction process, mixing an organic phase with an aqueous solution with hydrochloric acid to obtain a liqueur with a high concentration of lithium and potassium, wherein liquor concentrated in lithium and potassium obtained in stage h) is passed to a precipitation stage, wherein the precipitation stage consists of adding sodium phosphate to the concentrated liqueur obtained in stage h) to obtain precipitated lithium phosphate, or wherein the remaining liquor of stage j) is subjected to a drying process to obtain potassium hydroxide.
Zante teaches a process for leaching and concentrating lithium (Title, abstract), Zante teaches subjecting brines (analogous to leachate liqueurs) (abstract) to at least one solvent extraction process (2.3. Solvent Extraction), comprising shaking the liqueur with organic extracting phase (i.e., turbulently mixing the liqueur as an aqueous phase with an organic extractant as an organic phase) (2.3. Solvent Extraction) in a 1 :1 ratio by volume (Fig. 2 caption, Fig. 5 caption, Fig. 6 caption). Zante teaches the phases are centrifuged (i.e., separating the organic phase from the mixture obtained) (2.3. Solvent Extraction) and mixing the organic phase with an aqueous solution with hydrochloric acid in a ratio of 2:1, respectively, to obtain a liqueur with a high concentration of lithium (Fig. 8, pg. 6 paragraph 1).
Zante does not teach leaching and concentrating potassium, leaching and concentrating from clays from salt flats, mixing clays with pure water and sieving to remove stones and large particles, turbulently stirring with a blade mixer the fluid or pulp resulting from stage a) to release small particles, pouring a portion of the fluid obtained in stage b) into the protonic section of a leaching reactor and adding pure water into the alkaline section of the reactor, initiating leaching at the reactor, removing wet agglomerates, recharging a protonic section with a volume equivalent to the removed volume of wet agglomerates, repeating the operation of stage e) until full consumption of the fluid or pulp of stage b), obtaining an aqueous leachate liquor accumulated in the alkaline section of the reactor, mixing the organic phase with an aqueous solution with hydrochloric acid in a ratio of 3:1, obtaining a liqueur with a high concentration of lithium and potassium, wherein exhausted aqueous liqueurs from stage h) are recirculated back to the extraction process from stage g) to enrich them with lithium and potassium and be fed back to the extraction and stripping process, wherein liquor concentrated in lithium and potassium obtained in stage h) is passed to a precipitation stage, or wherein remaining liquor is subjected to a drying process to obtain potassium hydroxide.
Regarding claim 6, Pérez teaches a reactor for leaching lithium and potassium from clays from salt flats (Title, [0003, 0099]),
Pérez does not teach wherein a plate-shaped stainless steel electrode constituting the structural element (i), the structural element (i) is introduced into a first subinterior grid box to form the structural element (ii), the structural element (ii) is introduced into a bag-shaped membrane that is permeable to Li+ and K+ cations to form the structural element (iii), the structural element (iii) is introduced into a second inner grid box to form the structural element (iv), the structural element (iv) is placed between two titanium electrodes that have the shape of plates, or wherein the structural element (v) is then introduced in the middle of an outer box to form the leaching reactor, as best can be examined in view of the rejections of claim 6 under 35 USC 112(b) above.
Magnan teaches a reactor 14 for leaching lithium (Title, Fig. 1, [0173]). Magnan teaches an electromembrane apparatus which comprises electrodes (e.g., [0005]), but does not teach electrodes as part of the reactor for leaching.
Magnan does not teach a reactor for leaching lithium and potassium from clays from salt flats, wherein a plate-shaped stainless steel electrode constituting the structural element (i), the structural element (i) is introduced into a first subinterior grid box to form the structural element (ii), the structural element (ii) is introduced into a bag-shaped membrane that is permeable to Li+ and K+ cations to form the structural element (iii), the structural element (iii) is introduced into a second inner grid box to form the structural element (iv), the structural element (iv) is placed between two titanium electrodes that have the shape of plates, or wherein the structural element (v) is then introduced in the middle of an outer box to form the leaching reactor, as best can be examined in view of the rejections of claim 6 under 35 USC 112(b) above.
Chon teaches a reactor for leaching lithium (Title), comprising a plate-shaped stainless steel electrode constituting the structural element (i) [0235]. Chon teaches the structural element (i) to be inside of a left half of an electrolysis device (i.e., is introduced into a first subinterior grid box to form the structural element (ii)) (Fig. 3). Chon teaches the structural element (ii) includes a membrane permeable to Li+ ([0228-0229], Fig. 3), as best can be examined in view of the rejections of claim 6 under 35 USC 112(b) above.
Chon does not teach a reactor for leaching potassium from clays from salt flats, wherein the structural element (ii) is introduced into a bag-shaped membrane that is permeable to Li+ and K+ cations to form the structural element (iii), the structural element (iii) is introduced into a second inner grid box to form the structural element (iv), the structural element (iv) is placed between two titanium electrodes that have the shape of plates, or wherein the structural element (v) is then introduced in the middle of an outer box to form the leaching reactor, as best can be examined in view of the rejections of claim 6 under 35 USC 112(b) above.
Regarding claim 11, Magnan teaches a system for leaching and concentrating lithium (Fig. 1) from clays [0168]. Magnan teaches means to perform a leaching process [0091], and means for removal of leach residue (i.e., wet agglomerates) [0236]. Magnan teaches wherein liquor concentrated in lithium is passed to a precipitation stage [0050]. Magnan teaches means for conveying lithium concentrated liquor obtained to precipitation media [0095].
Magnan does not teach leaching and concentrating from clays from salt flats, means for mixing the clays with pure water and sieving to remove stones and large particles consisting in a screen or sieving machine, means for turbulently stirring the fluid or pulp resulting from (a), to release small particles consisting of a blade mixer, means for fluid obtained in (b) into the protonic section of a leaching reactor, and adding pure water into the alkaline section of the reactor, means for refilling the protonic section with a volume equivalent to the removed volume of wet agglomerates, means to repeat the operation of (e), until the complete consumption of the fluid or pulp of (b), means of extraction for subjecting the leached liquor obtained in (f), to at least one solvent extraction process, means for separating the organic phase of the mixture obtained in (g), means for mixing said organic phase with an aqueous solution with hydrochloric acid, means to recirculate the depleted aqueous liquors from (h) to the extraction process of (g), wherein sodium phosphate is added to the concentrated liquor obtained in (h) to obtain precipitated lithium phosphate, or means for drying wherein the remaining liquor from j) is subjected to the drying process to obtain potassium hydroxide.
Zante teaches a system for leaching and concentrating lithium (Abstract, 2.3. Solvent Extraction), comprising means of extraction for subjecting the brines (analogous to leached liquor), to at least one solvent extraction process (2.3. Solvent Extraction), comprising turbulently mixing the liquor obtained in (f) as the aqueous phase with an organic extractant as the organic phase (2.3. Solvent Extraction) in a 1:1 ratio by volume in a 1 :1 ratio by volume (Fig. 2 caption, Fig. 5 caption, Fig. 6 caption).
Zante does not teach leaching and concentrating potassium or leaching and concentrating from clays from salt flats, means for mixing the clays with pure water and sieving to remove stones and large particles consisting in a screen or sieving machine, means for turbulently stirring the fluid or pulp resulting from (a), to release small particles consisting of a blade mixer, means for pouring a portion of the fluid obtained in (b) into the protonic section of a leaching reactor and adding pure water into the alkaline section of the reactor, means to perform a leaching process, means for removal of the wet agglomerates resulting from the protonic section, means for refilling the protonic section, means to repeat the operation of (e), means to recirculate depleted aqueous liquors, means for conveying the lithium and potassium concentrated liquor obtained in (h) to precipitation media, or means for drying wherein the remaining liquor from j) is subjected to the drying process to obtain potassium hydroxide.
Chon teaches a method of extracting lithium using a separation membrane (i.e., a system for concentrating lithium) (abstract) where potassium is also extracted [0060]. Chon teaches separating a Li and K containing solution (analogous to a lithium and potassium concentrated liquor) using a separation membrane (abstract), and precipitating lithium (abstract), which would intrinsically comprise means for conveying the lithium and potassium concentrated liquor to precipitation media. Chon teaches phosphate salt is used to precipitate the lithium phosphate [0208], which may be sodium phosphate (i.e., wherein sodium phosphate is added to the concentrated liquor obtained in (h) to obtain precipitated lithium phosphate) [0211].
Chon does not teach a means for mixing the clays with pure water and sieving to remove stones and large particles consisting in a screen or sieving machine, a means for turbulently stirring the fluid or pulp resulting from (a), to release small particles consisting of a blade mixer, a means for pouring a portion of the fluid obtained in (b) into a protonic section of a leaching reactor, a means to perform a leaching process consisting of the leaching reactor of, a means for removal of the wet agglomerates resulting from a protonic section, a means for refilling the protonic section with a volume equivalent to the removed volume of wet agglomerates, to replenish the exhausted and removed clays from the reactor, a means to repeat the operation of (e), until the complete consumption of the fluid or pulp of (b), to obtain an accumulated aqueous leached liquor in the alkaline section of the reactor, a means of extraction for subjecting the leached liquor obtained in (f), to at least one solvent extraction process, a means for separating organic phase of a mixture and means for mixing said organic phase with an aqueous solution with hydrochloric acid, a means to recirculate the depleted aqueous liquors from (h) to the extraction process of (g), or a means for drying wherein the remaining liquor from j) is subjected to the drying process to obtain potassium hydroxide.
Based on the above discussion, the closest prior art, taken singularly or in combination, does not fairly suggest or render obvious a process for leaching and concentrating lithium and potassium, a reactor for leaching lithium and potassium, or a system for leaching and concentrating lithium and potassium as claimed. As the independent claim(s) is/are free from the art, claims 2-5 and 7-10 are also free from the art due at least to their dependency from claim(s) 1 and 6 respectively.
Conclusion
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/Keith D. Hendricks/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1733
/NIKOLAS TAKUYA PULLEN/Examiner, Art Unit 1733
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