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
Claims 1-20 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.
The following claims are vague, indefinite, awkwardly, confusingly worded and/or lacking proper antecedent basis:
“it” in claim 1. The limitation must be positively recited. The claim is indefinite.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Kimble 5899445.
Kimble discloses the claimed invention as recited in the claims as shown below:
A fixing device for fixing a flexible flat piece, comprising:
a support platform 10 adapted to support the flexible flat piece, the support platform having a
vacuum chamber 62 & 30 formed therein including multiple vacuum suction holes formed in the top wall
of the vacuum chamber; and
a fixture adapted 140 to clamp the flexible flat piece onto the support platform, the vacuum
suction holes are adapted to secure the flexible flat piece on the top surface of the support platform
to prevent the flexible flat piece from being moved as it is clamped by the fixture.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Volk 6764434.
Volk discloses the claimed invention as recited in the claims as shown below:
1. A fixing device for fixing a flexible flat piece, comprising: a support platform 20 adapted to support the flexible flat piece, the support platform having a vacuum chamber formed therein including multiple vacuum suction holes formed in the top wall of the vacuum chamber ( For instance, the workstation 20 may be equipped with a vacuum which operates through holes in the work surface) ; and
a fixture ( Furthermore, mechanical clamps) may be used to secure a workpiece to the workstation 20.adapted to clamp the flexible flat piece onto the support platform, the vacuum suction holes are adapted to secure the flexible flat piece on the top surface of the support platform to prevent the flexible flat piece from being moved as it is clamped by the fixture.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 2-20 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The 892 form discloses prior art being made of record.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEE D WILSON whose telephone number is (571)272-4499. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 6;30-4;30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, BRIAN KELLER can be reached at 571-272-8548. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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LEE D. WILSON
Examiner
Art Unit 3723
Ldw
/LEE D WILSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723 June 4, 2026
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