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 1-7 - 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.
The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors. The meets and bounds of the claim cannot be ascertained because of such errors and the multiple instances of confusing claim language.
Additionally, claim 7 is confusing because “after” an upper reinforcement bar is arranged in the PC beam and concrete “is poured” in the PC beam are method-related limitations in claims drawn to a system.
The claims are best understood as follows:
1. A seismic-resistant joint structure comprising:
a PC column,
a steel bracket composed of a pair of vertical side plates spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, a vertical coupling plate connecting end parts of the pair of vertical side plates to each other, the vertical coupling plate having a seating slot extending from an upper part thereof downward to a predetermined height, a horizontal seating plate having a longitudinal edge connected to a coupling plate upper edge , opposite seating plate end edges connecting upper edges of the pair of vertical side plates to each other, and a guide slot joining the seating slot, the vertical coupling plate protruding outward from the PC column, and
a PC beam including a step positioned at a lower surface of an end of the PC beam adjacent the PC column, a lower reinforcement bar arranged in an inner lower part of the PC beam, wherein an end part of the lower reinforcement bar is exposed a predetermined length from the step and the exposed part is threaded, the step mounted on the steel bracket horizontal seating plate, and the PC beam lower reinforcement bar seated on a base of the seating slot, a nut threaded on the lower reinforcement bar threaded exposed part, the nut contacting a vertical coupling plate face.
2. The seismic-resistant joint structure of claim 1, wherein the step comprises a recess at a bottom of the end part of the PC beam.
3. The seismic-resistant joint structure of claim 1, wherein a shim plate is provided on an upper surface of the horizontal seating plate to absorb a vertical installation error.
4. The seismic-resistant joint structure of claim 1, wherein a shim plate is provided on a joint surface between the PC column and the PC beam at the upper part of the steel bracket to absorb a horizontal installation error.
5. The seismic-resistant joint structure of claim 1, wherein the seating slot comprises a two spaced apart seating slots, the guide slot comprises two spaced apart guide slots, and a vertical reinforcement plate is located between the guide slots to connect the horizontal seating plate with the vertical coupling plate.
6. The seismic-resistant joint structure of claim 1, wherein an interior of the steel bracket and a space between the steel bracket and the step are filled with non-shrinkage mortar so that the PC beam and steel bracket are integrated with each other.
7. The seismic-resistant joint structure of claim 1, wherein a coupler is embedded in the PC column above a position at which the steel bracket is installed in the column so that an end of the coupler is exposed, an upper reinforcement bar is arranged in an upper part of the PC beam so that an upper reinforcement bar end is coupled to the coupler, and concrete occupies the PC beam upper part.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 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. Claim 1 is so allowed because while the best reference of record, GU (CN 117605171), teaches elements of the claimed as best understood joint, the GU, fig. 3, steel bracket does not comprise at least a horizontal seating plate having a longitudinal edge connected to a coupling plate upper edge (GU does not teach any horizontal seating plate), and the GU joint connects two RC beams, not the RC beam to the RC column.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL J KENNY whose telephone number is (571)272-9951. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
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/DANIEL J KENNY/ Examiner, Art Unit 3633
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