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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/11/2026 has been entered.
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 16-19 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.
The term “a position near the stirring pin” in claim 16 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “near” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. How close does the position have to be for it to be considered “near” the stirring pin? At what point is the position no longer considered “near”? The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify this limitation.
The term “close to the stirring pin” in claim 16 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “close” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. How close does the cooling channel have to be for it to be considered “close”. Is there a specific distance that would be required? The Examiner requests that the Applicant please clarify.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the coolant" in line 16. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16-19 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. Prior art was not found that taught or suggested wherein the friction stir tool comprises: the stirring pin and/or the shaft shoulder; and an input cooling channel for connecting an inlet and an output cooling channel for connecting an outlet; wherein one end of the input cooling channel is intersected with one end of the output cooling channel at a position near the stirring pin and/or shaft shoulder to form a cooling channel with a V-shaped longitudinal cross-section that extends from the input to the position, and then continues from the position to the outlet; the input cooling channel extends inclinedly downward from the inlet, and surrounds the stirring pin and/or the shaft shoulder for at least one turn when close to the stirring pin and/or the shoulder to form an annular flow channel, and then the output cooling channel turns upward inclinedly and extends to the outlet; wherein the method comprises: the coolant is introduced into the inlet of the input cooling channel, the coolant flows inclinedly downward to the stirring pin and/or the shaft shoulder and turns inclinedly upward from the position and flows out of the friction stir tool from the outlet.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 16-19 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection provided above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIN B SAAD whose telephone number is (571)270-3634. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 7:30a-6p.
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, Keith Walker can be reached at 571-272-3458. 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.
/ERIN B SAAD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1735