DETAILED ACTION
(1)
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 . Applicant’s amendment filed January 7, 2026, is entered. Applicant amended claims 1, 12 and 17. Claims 1-19 are pending before the Office for review.
(2)
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 1-19 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 1 requires a solar panel including rows of webbing attached to a piece of material, wherein the solar panel comprises a substrate and the backside of the substrate is operable to be affixed to a piece of material. Claim 1 also requires the piece of material includes at least two straps and hook and loop tape, wherein the hook and loop tape secures the solar panel in a folded position. When considered together, these features of the claimed invention are unclear because the solar panel is connected to a piece of material via the rows of webbing and is also connected to the piece of material via the substrate backside and via the hook and loop tape connection to maintain the panel in a folded position. These multiple requirements for the connection between the material and the panel render the claimed invention unclear as to how many attachment points are present and the nature of the attachment between the solar panel and the material.
Claim 11 is also unclear as to whether the recited hook tape and loop tape are in addition to what is included in claim 1 or contain a further requirement for the hook and loop tape recited within claim 1.
Claim 12 is similarly deficient. Claim 12 requires that the solar panel includes rows of webbing attached to a flexible material and that the flexible material is affixed to a back side of the substrate of the solar panel. Claim 12 further requires the flexible material includes a hook tope and loop tape at opposing ends to secure the solar panel in a folded position. Accordingly, claim 12 is also insolubly ambiguous as to the how many attachment points are present and the nature of the attachment between the solar panel and the material.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the piece of material" in line 19. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The reference should be to “the flexible material” for proper antecedent basis.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the piece of material" in line 20. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The reference should be to “the flexible material” for proper antecedent basis.
Claim 13 is also unclear as to whether the recited hook tape and loop tape are in addition to what is included in claim 12 or contain a further requirement for the hook and loop tape recited within claim 12.
Claim 17 is also insolubly ambiguous. Claim 17 requires that the solar panel both includes two straps and rows of webbing with the two straps operable to weave through the rows of webbing to secure the solar panel. This feature of the claimed invention is unclear because it purports to require the solar panel is secured to itself. It’s not clear if this is Applicant’s intention. Additionally, claim 17 requires the solar panel include rows of webbing permanently affixed to opposing sides of a perimeter webbing. It’s unclear how this feature of the claimed invention is interpreted. Is there a distinction between the webbing such that the exterior rows are distinguishable from the opposing sides?
Therefore, the claims are indefinite because their scope is unascertainable to one ordinarily skilled in the art. Claims 2-11, 13-16, 18 and 19 are rejected due to their dependency on claims 1, 12 or 17, respectively.
(3)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 12 and 17 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.
Claims 2-11, 13-16, 18 and 19 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 of record, individually or in combination, fails to teach or fairly suggest the cumulative limitations of the self-connection mechanism currently recited by the claimed invention. More specifically, the prior art of record individually or in combination, fails to teach or fairly suggest that the same solar panel comprises straps and webbing, as required by claims 1 and 12, wherein the solar panel is connected to both and further secured by hook and loop tape. The prior art of record, individually or in combination, fails to teach or fairly suggest the solar panel includes straps and webbing, wherein the straps weave through the webbing for a self-connection, as required by claim 17
Applicant is advised that depending on the nature of the clarifying amendment, further search and consideration may be required.
(4)
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 ELI S MEKHLIN whose telephone number is (571)270-7597. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Duane Smith can be reached at 571-272-1166. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ELI S MEKHLIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759