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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in CN on 30 January 2024. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the CN202410127529.3 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Regarding Fig. 7, it is unclear how the four wood blocks are connected to each other.
Regarding Fig. 8, cross-hatching is required to illustrate the materials of which the various structural components are composed. For example, as shown in Fig. 8 the inner plate 11, the peripheral plate 12, and the wooden frame 31 lack hatching and, therefore, the aforementioned structural elements appear to be hollow structures.
Sectional views. The plane upon which a sectional view is taken should be indicated on the view from which the section is cut by a broken line. The ends of the broken line should be designated by Arabic or Roman numerals corresponding to the view number of the sectional view, and should have arrows to indicate the direction of sight. Hatching must be used to indicate section portions of an object, and must be made by regularly spaced oblique parallel lines spaced sufficiently apart to enable the lines to be distinguished without difficulty. Hatching should not impede the clear reading of the reference characters and lead lines. If it is not possible to place reference characters outside the hatched area, the hatching may be broken off wherever reference characters are inserted. Hatching must be at a substantial angle to the surrounding axes or principal lines, preferably 45°. A cross section must be set out and drawn to show all of the materials as they are shown in the view from which the cross section was taken. The parts in cross section must show proper material(s) by hatching with regularly spaced parallel oblique strokes, the space between strokes being chosen on the basis of the total area to be hatched. The various parts of a cross section of the same item should be hatched in the same manner and should accurately and graphically indicate the nature of the material(s) that is illustrated in cross section. The hatching of juxtaposed different elements must be angled in a different way. In the case of large areas, hatching may be confined to an edging drawn around the entire inside of the outline of the area to be hatched. Different types of hatching should have different conventional meanings as regards the nature of a material seen in cross section. 37 CFR 1.84(h)(3).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because the last sentence in the abstract refers to purported merits or speculative applications of the claimed invention.
Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the prior art.
If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be new in the art, and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an improvement in an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of example any preferred modifications or alternatives.
Where applicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making; (3) if a chemical compound, its identity and use; (4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the steps.
Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph within the range of 50 to 150 words in length.
See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts.
A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
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 - 14 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.
Regarding claim 1, the limitation “a central channel passing through” as recited in line 25 renders the claim vague and indefinite because it is unclear as to what structural element the central channel passes through.
Regarding claim 3, it is unclear whether “upper and lower wood blocks” as recited in lines 5 - 6 refer to the “two wood blocks” as recited in line 1 of claim 3 or if they represent additional structural limitations.
Regarding claim 4, it is unclear whether “two side facades” as recited in line 3 refers to two of the side facades recited in claim 1, from which claim 4 depends, or if they represent additional structural limitations.
Regarding claim 8, it is unclear whether “two side facades” as recited in line 3 refers to two of the side facades recited in claim 1, from which claim 8 depends, or if they represent additional structural limitations.
There is insufficient antecedent basis for the following limitations in the claims:
Claim 1, line 31: “each side façade”
Claim 3, line 4: “the wood block”. It is unclear as to which of the “two blocks” as recited in line 1 of claim 3 the aforementioned “wood block” refers.
Claim 4, line 2: “the wood block”
Claim 4, lines 2 - 3: “the wood block”
Claim 4, line 3: “the wood block”
Claim 8, line 2: “the wood block”
Claim 8, lines 2 - 3: “the wood block”
Claim 8, line 3: “the wood block”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 - 14 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Jiang et al. (US 2019/0145076) teaches a wooden connection structure for seismic resistance comprising: a base (foundation); a supporting pile comprising a connecting column (storage tube), a central square column (load-bearing column); and a frame (mortise structure 9 comprising four swollen three-ply wood bars) sleeved in grooves (Figs. 59 - 69; paragraphs 0051, 0063, 0068, and 0073).
Zhu et al. (CN 106120834) teaches a connection structure for seismic resistance comprising: a base (circular structure 1) including a groove (mounting groove 11); a supporting pile (21) comprising a column; and a frame (base 3) (Figs. 1 and 2).
Zhu et al. (CN 112267486) teaches a connection structure for seismic resistance comprising: a base (1) including a cross groove (locating groove 14); a supporting pile (pipe 15) comprising a column; and a frame comprising a circular tube (cylinder 13) (Figs. 1 and 2).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEAN D ANDRISH whose telephone number is (571)270-3098. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 6:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
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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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/SEAN D ANDRISH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3678
SA
6/4/2026
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