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 17 recites “A use of a detection arrangement configured to…” in line 1-5. It is not clear where the preamble begins or ends. The Examiner suggests amending the language to include “comprising of” or “consisting essentially of”. Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: reference character 202, 204, and 234 in figure 2; reference character 302, 304, 326, and 334 in figure 3; reference character 402, 404, 426, 434, and 460 in figure 4; reference character 502, 504, 514, 526, 534, 558, and 570 in figure 5; reference character 602, 604, 606, 614, 618, 622, and 624 in figure 6. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-18 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 1 recites the limitation "the electrical connection" in line 8-9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Dependent claims are rejected for depending from a rejected claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the submarine cable" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the offshore structure" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the electrical connection" in 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the submarine cable" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "A use of a detection arrangement" in line 1. The claim is not clear, since no steps are disclosed in the claim with regards to the use of the detection arrangement. Appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art EP 3943747 teaches a floatable offshore structure (100), comprising: at least one submarine power cable connector (not shown) configured to connect a submarine power cable, at least one anchor connector (200) configured to connect at least one anchor connection for anchoring the floatable offshore structure to an underwater bottom, at least one detection arrangement (274) configured to detect an anchor connection breakage indication (figure 1-4). However, none of the prior art teaches “at least one switching equipment configured to at least electrically disconnect the electrical connection to the submarine power cable connected to the submarine power cable connector upon or after the detection of the anchor connection breakage indication.”. In the available prior art, either the wind turbine is switched off, the speed or power of the wind turbine is limited, or active damping of the turbine is carried out upon detection of the anchor connection break indication. An uncontrolled breakaway of the de-energized submarine power cable can be prevented. This can facilitate repair of the damage and further improve safety.
Conclusion
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/CARIB A OQUENDO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3678