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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because the Figure numbers are not properly associated with the drawings. Specifically, in the drawings as filed on October 10, 2024 (6 sheets, with page numbers 28-33, containing 7 figures of drawings), include the first figure on page 28 having both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 associated therewith; the second figure on page 29 does not have a figure number associated therewith; the third figure on page 30 has both Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 associated therewith; the fourth and fifth figures on page 31 have Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 associated therewith; the sixth figure on page 32 has Fig. 7 associated therewith; and the seventh figure on page 33 does not have a figure number associated therewith. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) 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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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.
INFORMATION ON HOW TO EFFECT DRAWING CHANGES
Replacement Drawing Sheets
Drawing changes must be made by presenting replacement sheets which incorporate the desired changes and which comply with 37 CFR 1.84. An explanation of the changes made must be presented either in the drawing amendments section, or remarks, section of the amendment paper. 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). A replacement sheet must include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of the amended drawing(s) must not be labeled as “amended.” If the changes to the drawing figure(s) are not accepted by the examiner, applicant will be notified of any required corrective action in the next Office action. No further drawing submission will be required, unless applicant is notified.
Identifying indicia, if provided, should include the title of the invention, inventor’s name, and application number, or docket number (if any) if an application number has not been assigned to the application. If this information is provided, it must be placed on the front of each sheet and within the top margin.
Annotated Drawing Sheets
A marked-up copy of any amended drawing figure, including annotations indicating the changes made, may be submitted or required by the examiner. The annotated drawing sheet(s) must be clearly labeled as “Annotated Sheet” and must be presented in the amendment or remarks section that explains the change(s) to the drawings.
Timing of Corrections
Applicant is required to submit acceptable corrected drawings within the time period set in the Office action. See 37 CFR 1.85(a). Failure to take corrective action within the set period will result in ABANDONMENT of the application.
If corrected drawings are required in a Notice of Allowability (PTOL-37), the new drawings MUST be filed within the THREE MONTH shortened statutory period set for reply in the “Notice of Allowability.” Extensions of time may NOT be obtained under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136 for filing the corrected drawings after the mailing of a Notice of Allowability.
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because “[Problem]” and “[Solution]” should be deleted from lines 1 and 3 of the abstract, respectively. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: 1) on the last line of page 9 of the specification, “leads” should be made singular; and 2) paragraph [0062] including the listing of reference numerals should be deleted, since each of the numerals should be included within the body of the DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS.
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 1-8 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 is vague and indefinite, since it states the phrase “can be” or the term “can” at least four times throughout the claim, which imparts an “optional” nature to the elements that are being modified by “can” or “can be”. As such, it is impossible for one having ordinary skill in the art to determine the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired by applicant, since much of the structure included within the recitation of the claim may in fact be optional, or not necessarily part of the claimed invention. Accordingly, applicant should amend the claim to positively recite each of the elements that are desired to be considered as structural and functional parts of the claimed handling device. Further, with regard to the last passage of claim 1 pertaining to the grid structure, it is suggested that the phrase, “a grid disposed at a boundary of the flow path and the internal space” be replaced by --a grid disposed at a boundary between the flow path of the flow unit and the internal space of the protrusion unit--, to more clearly set forth the apparently inventive feature of the claimed device.
Claim 3 is a dependent apparatus claim that only recites process limitations with regard to the operation of the previously provided for “spray unit”. It is suggested that the claim be modified to more clearly set forth the structural aspects of the apparatus claim that allow for the upward spraying of the liquid.
Claim 4 states that the grid is detachable from the flow unit, which is confusing, since the grid is never recited as being attached to the flow unit.
Claim 5 is vague and indefinite since it states that the spray unit “can be” inserted into the internal space through the lid but provides no structural language by which the insertion is possible.
Claim 8 is vague and indefinite since the claim states that a worker “can” inspect the status of the internal space but provides no means by which the inspection may be possible.
Claims 1-8 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest the handling device as recited by independent claim 1, including a grid disposed at a boundary between the flow path of the flow unit and the internal space of the protrusion unit to prevent the irregular packing packed in the packed bed of the flow unit from moving into the internal space of the protrusion unit.
Dependent claims 2-8 would be allowable based upon their dependence on an allowable independent claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARLES S BUSHEY whose telephone number is (571)272-1153. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 6:30-5:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Dieterle can be reached at 571-270-7872. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/C.S.B/9-19-26
/CHARLES S BUSHEY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1776
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