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 .
Response to Amendment
This Office Action is in response to the Applicant’s amendment filed on January 20, 2026.
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 1-20 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.
The term “vehicle type” in claim 1, 12, 13, 16, 17, and 20 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “type” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
Specifically, it is unclear whether “vehicle type” refers to: a vehicle chassis, an agricultural implement, a functional classification based on operation, or a configuration of a liquid system. Further, it is unclear whether a single vehicle may fall within more than one “vehicle type,” or what structural of functional characteristics distinguish one vehicle type from another. As a result, a person of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the claims.
It is suggested to amend the term “particular vehicle type” to -vehicle-.
Claims 2-15 and 17-20 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) because of dependency on claims 1 and 16.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on January 20, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As to pages 9-10 of the Applicant’s arguments, Applicant argues that claim 1 has been amended to define “vehicle type” as :including at least one of a sprayer or a planter.” Rendering the 112(b) rejection moot. However, the Examiner respectfully disagrees. , it is unclear whether “vehicle type” refers to: a vehicle chassis, an agricultural implement, a functional classification based on operation, or a configuration of a liquid system. Further, it is unclear whether a single vehicle may fall within more than one “vehicle type,” or what structural of functional characteristics distinguish one vehicle type from another. As a result, a person of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the claims. It is suggested to amend the term “particular vehicle type” to -vehicle-.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 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.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOEL ZHOU whose telephone number is (571)270-1163. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM.
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JOEL . ZHOU
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3752
/QINGZHANG ZHOU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752