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 .
35 USC 112, First Paragraph Rejections
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. It is unclear how the disclosed invention can be considered a “hinge” since there are apparently no pivoting parts. It is unclear if and how the “female terminal” and “wiring terminal” conduct electricity since they don’t appear to be interconnected with one another and/or connected to anything transmitting power and/or signals. It is unclear what the function of the spring piece, connecting pipe and fixing bolts is.
35 USC 112, Second Paragraph Rejections
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 1-8 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.
Throughout the claims it is confusing to recite the “wiring door hinge” in both the preambles and the bodies of the claims. In claims 5 and 6 it is unclear if the “connection slots”, “spring pieces”, “female terminals” and “wiring terminals” are the same as those recited in claim 1. In claim 6, last two lines, it is unclear what the female terminals and wiring terminals are fixedly connected to.
Claims Defining Over Prior Art
Claims 1-8 contain subject matter which defines over the prior art.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art discloses a wiring door hinge having the combination of a fixing bolt, female terminal, door body cast steel part, spring piece, wiring terminal and connecting pipe.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GARY F PAUMEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834