DETAILED ACTION
This is the first office action for US Application 18/863,978 for a Photovoltaic Support.
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 12-20 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 12 recites the limitation "the width direction" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the diagonal side" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the length direction" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the lower end of the two inclined struts" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the width direction" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitation "the height direction" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 21-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. None of the elements claimed in claim 21, including a main beam of a photovoltaic tracking support, a platen, a first arc bearing, a bearing base, a first roller, or a second roller, are disclosed in the specification or the drawings. Because the elements are not described in any way in the specification or shown in the drawings, one skilled in the art could not make and/or use the invention. The claims have not been examined on the merits as it is unclear what is being claimed.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 11 is allowed. Claims 12-20 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art does not disclose a photovoltaic support with a purlin and inclined struts connected at an upper end to the purlin by two fasteners passing through and connecting two pairs of connecting holes, wherein each pair of connection holes comprises a first connection hole disposed on the purlin and a second connection hole disposed on the strut, wherein the two pairs of connection holes are staggered both in the height direction and in the length direction of the purlin.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2020/0153382 to Ballentine
US 2024/0266993 to Taha
US 12567827 to Taha
US 2023/0009592 to Sable
CN 207218588 to Cai
CN 217000479 to Xu
The above prior art discloses various photovoltaic supports.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN M MARSH whose telephone number is (571)272-6819. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 9 am-7:30 pm.
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STEVEN M. MARSH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3632
/STEVEN M MARSH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632