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 20-39 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.
Re Claim 20, “the dishwasher sump” lacks proper antecedent basis and it is unclear whether it is the same as the washing appliance sump. “the outlet seal” also lacks sufficient antecedent basis.
Claims 21-26 are rejected as they depend from Claim 20 without curing the deficiency.
Re Claim 24, “the bottom edge of the side wall” lacks sufficient antecedent basis.
Re Claim 27, “the outlet seal” lacks sufficient antecedent basis, and it is unclear whether this is the same as the moulded seal or something else.
Claims 28-38 are rejected as they depend from Claim 20 without curing the deficiency.
Re Claim 39, the duplicate use of “an alignment” feature in lines 3 and 8, and the circular base being part of the filter which is in the base of the sump, is confusing and the metes and bounds of the claim is unclear as the alignment feature on the circular base reads on the sump base alignment feature.
Further examination on the merits is precluded in view of the unascertainable claim scope. However, it appears that CN 110584559 might be the closest prior art, depending on the actual intended claim scope.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON Y KO whose telephone number is (571)270-7451. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00-6:00.
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JASON Y. KO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1711
/JASON Y KO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711
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