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 1-2 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 claim language of claim 1 is punctually and grammatically incorrect such that the metes and bounds of the claimed invention cannot be determined. The claim language is required to be changed. Below is a non-limiting list of indefinite issues:
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the panels” in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear if “the panels” recited in line 5 is the same as or different from “photovoltaic panels” recited in line 3.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the association of two stakes" in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear what “the association of two stakes” is being referred to, e.g. connected stakes or a group of stakes.
Claim 1 recites “on which rest,…” in line 6. It is unclear what is being referred to by the term “which”, e.g. the association of two stakes or a torque beam.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the association of a rafter and a harness" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear what “the association of a rafter and a harness” is being referred to, e.g. a rafter connected to a harness or just a combination of a rafter and a harness.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "said stakes" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear if “said stakes” is the same as or different from “the association of two stakes” (emphasis added) recited in lines 5-6.
Claim 1 recites “said stakes including a pillar and a base of the torque beam closed by an upper casing and enclosing a movable ball joint” in lines 8-9. It is unclear what is enclosing a movable joint, e.g. said stakes, a pillar, a base of the torque beam, or an upper casing.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “said structure” in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear if “said structure” recited in line 10 is the same or different from “a longitudinal structure” recited in line 4 or “support structure of photovoltaic panels” recited in lines 3-4.
Claim 1 recites “at least one central stake” in line 10, and also recites “two stakes” in lines 5-6. It is unclear if “at least one central stakes” recited in line 10 is the same as or different from “two stakes” recited in lines 5-6.
Claim 1 recites “a pillar” in line 10, and also recites “a pillar” in line 8. It is unclear if “a pillar” recited in line 10 is the same as or different from “a pillar” recited in line 8.
Claim 1 recites “a base of the torque beam” in lines 10-11, and also recites “a base of the torque beam” recited in lines 8-9. It is unclear if “a base of the torque beam” recited in lines 10-11 is the same as or different from “a base of the torque beam” recited in lines 8-9.
Claim 1 recites “an upper casing” in line 11, and also recites “an upper casing” in line 9. It is unclear if “an upper casing” recited in line 11 is the same as or different from “an upper casing” recited in line 9.
Claim 1 recites “a movable ball joint” in lines 11-12, and also recites “a movable ball joint” in line 9. It is unclear if “a movable ball joint” recited in lines 11-12 is the same as or different from “a movable ball joint” recited in line 9.
Claim 1 recites “each of its halves” in line 13. It is unclear what is “its” being referred to.
Claim 1 recites “said central stake” in line 14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim. It is unclear if “said central stake” recited in line 14 is the same as or different from “at least one central stake” recited in line 10.
Claim 1 recites “said structure” in line 16. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim. It is unclear if “said structure” recited in line 16 is the same or different from “support structure” recited in line 3, or “longitudinal structure” recited in line 4.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the union of torque beams" in lines 16-17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 also recites “a torque beam” recited in line 6. It is unclear if “the union of torque beams” recited in lines 16-17 is the same as or different from “a torque beam” recited in line 6.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANH-TRUC TRINH whose telephone number is (571)272-6594. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00am - 6:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey T. Barton can be reached at 5712721307. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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THANH-TRUC TRINH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1726
/THANH TRUC TRINH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1726