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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities. On page 1, para [0001], the status of the copending application which has since issued as a patent, must be updated.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 14 are objected to because of the following informalities.
In the preamble of claim 1, it is suggested that “temporary spacer” be replaced with - - temporary cement spacer - - for consistency.
In claim 14, it is suggested that “outer mold surface” be replaced with - - outer surface of the mold - - for clarity.
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 11-16 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.
In claim 11, the recitation “..on the outer rod surface..” renders the claim vague and indefinite because it appears to imply there is an outer rod. It is suggested that Applicant amend with alternate language such as - - on the outer surface of the rod - - to provide antecedent basis and for clarity.
Appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Non application of prior art to claims 1-6 indicates allowable subject matter provided the minor objection made in this office action is overcome.
Claims 7-10 are allowed.
Non application of prior art to claims 11-16 indicates allowable subject matter provided the rejections under 35 USC 112(b) are overcome.
The primary reason for indicating allowable subject matter: closest prior art cited in the attached PTO-892 and in related parent applications cite some features of Applicant’s claimed invention, either singly or in combination, for e.g. Vaidya (US 20120089148 A1) and Smith et al. (US 9017055). However, no references or a reasonable combination thereof, could be found which disclose all the elements of Applicant’s claimed invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Anu Ramana whose telephone number is (571)272-4718. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kevin Truong can be reached at (571)272-4705. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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February 4, 2026
/Anu Ramana/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3775