DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: “filter element comprising” in line 11 should be changed to “the filter element comprising.”
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 12, 14 and 15 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.
Regarding claim 12, the phrase “said protrusion” lacks antecedent basis. It’s parent claim 10 recites “first and second protrusions” thus it is unclear if said protrusion is meant to be both or either.
Regarding claim 14, the phrase “said shell” lacks antecedent basis. Claim 14 depends on claim 10, which does not recite a shell. Claim 13 recites “a shell structure” but it is not explicitly clear that the said shell in claim 14 is mapped to the shell structure in claim 13.
Regarding claim 15, the phrase “second rotation direction” in line 7 is indefinite because there is no definition of a “first rotation direction” in the claim or its parent claim 1. Therefore, it is unclear which rotation direction is intended to be blocked by the locking structure.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 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.
The closest prior art is Dewit US 8,920,528 who teaches an air cleaner having a housing 302, access opening 312, removable cover 314, and a removable filter cartridge 320 positioned between the inlet and outlets. The housing includes opposing receiving grooves 318, 319, each having a straight wall 442, a curved bight 444, and a sloped wall 446. Opposing lugs 334, 335 of the filter assembly are received within the grooves and rest in the bight allowing the filter to rock about the lugs into sealing engagement within the housing.
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However, Dewit does not explicitly teach or suggest the L-shaped protrusions required by claims 1, 10 and 15. Further, Dewit does not teach or fairly suggest protrusions having first and second legs joined by an elbow portion where the elbow portion serves as the pivot point.
Conclusion
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/SHARON PREGLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1772
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