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 1-10 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 line 32, “the external space” lacks clear antecedent basis.
Claim 1 is indeterminate in scope since it is not clear if applicant is relying on the product or the process of making the product for patentability. Claim 1 line 40+ “flexible hollow rod body is inserted into the rod body mounting cavity”, “the steel strand is inserted into a spring cavity”, “the hollow steel tube is fixedly inserted into the core tube mounting hole after passing through the grout stop ring”.
Claim 1 is confusing because at line 62, it is not clear how “the hollow anti-torsion sleeve (1.1) is connected with the flexible hollow rod body” when at line 6 “the hollow rod body comprises a hollow anti-torsion sleeve”.
Claim 4 lines 2,6 “the bore” lacks clear antecedent basis.
Claim 8 line 2, “the annular space” lacks clear antecedent basis.
Claim 10 lines 5,6,8, call for “drill holes”; claim 1 line 4 calls for “drill hole”; it is unclear if and how they are related.
Claim 10 is indefinite since one cannot determine the metes and bounds of the limitation “waiting for seconds” called for at claim 10 line 30.
Claim 10 is confusing because it is not clear how the “anchor rod drill is driven to the bottom of the hole”. The drill rotates the nut (7) which is outside the hole so how does it reach the bottom of the holes (bottom of 9.2).
Claim 10 line 54, “the surrounding rock” lacks clear antecedent basis.
Claim 10 lines 54, 55, “the roadway” lacks clear antecedent basis.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1,10 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 2-9 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 either alone or in combination fails to teach a flexible hollow anchor rod integrating digital monitoring, comprising a flexible hollow rod body, wherein, said flexible hollow anchor rod further comprises a hole sealing sheath, an anti-torsion tray, a ribbed tray, a self-aligning ball head, an anti-wear gasket, a torque nut and a fiber grating sensor as specifically called for in claim 1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUNIL SINGH whose telephone number is (571)272-7051. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 8-3, F 9-8 and 2nd Sat 11-7.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amber Anderson can be reached at 571 270 5281. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SUNIL SINGH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3678
SS 9/28/2026
