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.
Claims 14-17 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.
Claim 14 recites the limitation “a porosity of the first wick portion”. Claim 1, from which claim 14 depends, already recites “a porosity of the first wick portion in a part that overlaps…” and “a porosity of the first wick portion in a part that does not overlap…” Since claim 14 recites “a porosity” rather than “the porosity”, it is unclear if the porosity defined in claim 14 can be one of the previously recited porosities or if it is an additional porosity other than the previously recited porosities.
Claim 15 recites the limitations “a porosity of the second wick portion”. Claim 2, from which claim 15 depends, already recites “a porosity of the second wick portion in a part that overlaps…” and “a porosity of the second wick portion in a part that does not overlap…” Since claim 15 recites “a porosity” rather than “the porosity”, it is unclear if the porosity defined in claim 15 can be one of the previously recited porosities or if it is an additional porosity other than the previously recited porosities.
Claim 16 recites the limitations “a porosity of the first wick portion”. Claim 1, from which claim 16 depends, already recites “a porosity of the first wick portion in a part that overlaps…” and “a porosity of the first wick portion in a part that does not overlap…” Since claim 16 recites “a porosity” rather than “the porosity”, it is unclear if the porosity defined in claim 16 can be one of the previously recited porosities or if it is an additional porosity other than the previously recited porosities.
Claim 17 recites the limitations “a porosity of the second wick portion”. Claim 2, from which claim 17 depends, already recites “a porosity of the second wick portion in a part that overlaps…” and “a porosity of the second wick portion in a part that does not overlap…” Since claim 17 recites “a porosity” rather than “the porosity”, it is unclear if the porosity defined in claim 17 can be one of the previously recited porosities or if it is an additional porosity other than the previously recited porosities.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jon T. Schermerhorn Jr. whose telephone number is (571)270-5283. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Len Tran can be reached at (571) 272-1184. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JON T. SCHERMERHORN JR./ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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