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 .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 62-83 of the present application are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the scope of the limitations set forth in claims 62-83 of the present application is encompassed by the scope of the limitations set forth in claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 62 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 63 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 2 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 64 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 3 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 65 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 4 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 66 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 5 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 67 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 6 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 68 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 7 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 69 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 70 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 9 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 71 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 10 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 72 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 11 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 73 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 12 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 74 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 13 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 75 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 14 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 76 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 77 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 78 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 2 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 79 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 5 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 80 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 81 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 9 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 82 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 12 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Claim 83 of the present application is rendered obvious in view of claim 15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,484,240 B2.
Contact
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER G FINDLEY whose telephone number is (571)270-1199. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM.
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, Chris Kelley can be reached at (571)272-7331. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER G FINDLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2482
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