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 .
This is the First Office Action on the merits of Application No. 18/817026, filed on 05/27/2026. Claims 1-16 are still pending in the application.
Double Patenting
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 9 of U.S. Patent No. 12,297,077 to Lanz et al. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claim 12 of Lanz comprises all the structures of claim 1 of the application.
Claim 6 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,945 to Ijas et al. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claim 1 of Ijas comprises all the limitations of claim 6 of the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Applicant Arguments, filed 05/08/2026, with respect to claims 1-16 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 102 rejection of claims 1-16 has been withdrawn.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DIEM M TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7825. The examiner can normally be reached M 9-5, W-F 10-2.
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/DIEM M TRAN/Examiner, Art Unit 3654
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