DETAILED CORRESPONDENCE
Summary
This is the initial Office Action based on the Sood application filed with the Office on 25 July 2024.
Claims 1-5 are currently pending and have been fully considered.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
The instant application claims priority to a US Provisional Patent Application, 63/529,411, filed on 28 July 2023. Thus, 28 July 2023, is the effective filing date of the instant application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDSs) submitted regarding the present application filed on 25 July 2024 and 29 January 2025, are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the IDSs have been considered by the Examiner.
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 1-5 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.
Instant claim 1 recites the limitation, “at least four fan pins coupled to a fan to cool the chassis”. It is unclear from the present wording whether the cooling of the chassis is performed by the at least four fan pins or by the fan. If the former is meant, it is suggested the limitation be reworded as: “at least four fan pins, which cool the chassis, coupled to a fan”; if the latter is meant, it is suggested the limitation be reworded as: “at least four fan pins coupled to a fan that cools the chassis”. As claim 1 is rejected under 35 USC 112(b), claims 2-5 are also rejected as ultimately depended from claim 1.
Claim 2 recites the limitation “the baffle”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The term should be amended to read, “the alignment baffle”.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the pins". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear whether this is reference to the chassis pins, to the fan pins, or both types of pins.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the springs". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear whether this is reference to the tension springs, the compression springs, or both types of springs.
Claims in View of the Prior Art
The present claims are not read upon or render obvious by any prior art reference. The closest prior art reference is considered to a be a published International Patent Application to Eberhart, et al. (WO 2013/130910 A1; hereinafter, “WO ‘910”). WO ‘910 discloses vibration-sensitive components may include the separation and detection system of an analytical instrument. The separation and detection system can comprise an electrophoresis system ( e.g., a capillary array and associated components, such as a cathode and an anode) and a detection system (e.g., a light source (such as a laser or a light-emitting diode), a detector (e.g., a CCD or CMOS camera), and associated components, such as one or more lenses, mirrors and filters) ([0374]). WO ‘910 further teaches multiple springs are implemented at the base of the platform or subframe supporting the modules to attenuate any vibration or shock experienced by the components of the separation and detection system ([0375]). However, WO ‘910 does not anticipate nor render obvious at least four fan pins coupled to a fan, as required by instant independent claim 1.
Interview with the Examiner
If at any point during the prosecution it is believe an interview with the Examiner would further the prosecution of an application, please consider this option.
The Automated Interview Request form (AIR) is available to request an interview to be scheduled with the Examiner. First, an authorization for internet communications regarding the case should be filed prior or with an AIR online request.
The internet communication authorization form (SB/0439), which authorizes or withdraws authorization for internet-based communication (e.g., video conferencing, email, etc.) for the application must be signed by the applicant or the attorney/agent for applicant. The form can be found at:
https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sb0439.pdf
The AIR form can be filled out online, and is automatically forwarded to the Examiner, who will call to confirm a requested time and date, or set up a mutually convenient time for the interview. The form can be found at:
https://www.uspto.gov/patent/uspto-automated-interview-request-air-form.html
The Examiner encourages, but does not require, interviews by the USPTO Microsoft Teams video conferencing. This system allows for file-sharing along audio conferencing. Microsoft Teams can be used as an internet browser add-on in Microsoft IE, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Foxfire, or as a temporary Java-based application on these browsers. Steps for joining an Examiner setup Microsoft Teams can be found at the USPTO website:
https://www.uspto.gov/patents/laws/interview-practice#step3
Additionally, a blank email to the Examiner at the time of a telephonic interview can be used for a reply to easily allow for Microsoft Teams communication. Please note, policy guidelines regarding Internet communications are detailed at MPEP §500-502.3, and office policy regarding interviews are detailed at MPEP §713.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN C BALL whose telephone number is (571)270-5119. The examiner can normally be reached M - F, 9 am - 5:30 pm.
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, Luan Van can be reached at (571)272-8521. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J. Christopher Ball/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1795
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