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 Objections
Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities: in lines 3-4, “and in that the tube receptacle which is made of electrically conductive plastic, comprises an electrically conductive contact element” which appears to be a grammatical error for --and in that the tube receptacle is made of electrically conductive plastic, which comprises an electrically conductive contact element--.
Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 2, “have detent element” which appears to be a grammatical error for –have detent elements--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-13 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.
A broad range or limitation followed by linking terms (e.g., preferably, can be, maybe, suitable, for instance, especially) and a narrow range or limitation within the broad range or limitation is considered indefinite since the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. If stated in a single claim, examples and preferences lead to confusion over the intended scope of the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "with an internal thread, which can be screwed to" in line 9. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for --with an internal thread, which is configured to be screwed to--.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the edge" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim and appears to be an error for –an edge--.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "and is suitable for preventing" in line 12. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for –and is configured to prevent--.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "an external thread, which can be screwed into" in lines 14-15. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for --an external thread, which is configured to be screwed into--.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "an external thread, which can be screwed into" in line 16. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for --an external thread, which is configured to be screwed into--.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the latter" in line 17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim and appears to be an error for –the tube receptacle--.
Claims 2-6 directly or indirectly depend on claim 1.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "and is suitable for preventing" in line 3. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for –and is configured to prevent--.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "which can be fixed on the upper side of the clamping disk by means of an electrically" in lines 2-3. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for –which is configured to be fixed on the upper side of the clamping disk by an electrically --.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the contact element" in line 3. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for –the electrically conductive contact element--.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "which locking lug can be fixed in the edge region" in lines 2-3. This limitation is indefinite and appears to be an error for --which the locking lug is configured to be fixed in an edge region--.
Claims 11-13 directly or indirectly depend on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
Claims 2-13 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. See the attached PTO-892 for prior art that teaches and suggests some of the structural limitations as claimed and disclosed.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERNESTO A GRANO whose telephone number is (571)270-3927. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00-3:30 EST.
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/ERNESTO A GRANO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3735
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