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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/16/26 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 5-14 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.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "wherein the rotation shaft and the motor are each a first rotation shaft and a first motor" in lines 1-2 of claim 5. It is not clear how “the rotation shaft” is “a first rotation shaft and a first motor” and “the motor” is also “a first rotation shaft and a first motor”.
Claim 5 further recites the limitation “a second motor including a second rotation shaft configured to be rotated about the rotational axis…” There is insufficient antecedent basis for “the rotational axis” in the claim, at least because the only “rotational axis” that is previously defined is “a rotational axis” about which a rotation shaft (a first rotation shaft) rotates as recited in claim 1, and there is no previous recitation of a rotational axis about which the second rotation shaft rotates.
Claim 6 further recites the limitation “the rotational axis” at least in lines 19, 20, 22 and 23, it is not clear if “the rotational axis” refers to a first rotational axis or a second rotational axis.
Claim 8 further recites the limitation “the rotational axis” at least in line 4, it is not clear if “the rotational axis” refers to a first rotational axis or a second rotational axis.
Claim 9 further recites the limitation “the rotational axis” at least in line 3, it is not clear if “the rotational axis” refers to a first rotational axis or a second rotational axis.
Claim 10 further recites the limitation “the rotational axis” at least in lines 3 and 5, it is not clear if “the rotational axis” refers to a first rotational axis or a second rotational axis.
Claim 11 further recites the limitation “the rotational axis” at least in line 3, it is not clear if “the rotational axis” refers to a first rotational axis or a second rotational axis.
For at least the reasons stated above, claims 5-14 are indefinite. The Applicant’s attention is respectfully directed to claim 19, lines 1-8 which is an example of a way of introducing a second motor, additional rotation shaft, and a second rotational axis into the claims, in a manner that does not render the claims indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 and 15-20 are allowed, at least for the reasons set forth in a previous office action.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH S WONG whose telephone number is (571)272-8457. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (9-5).
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, Walter L Lindsay Jr. can be reached at (571) 272-1674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSEPH S WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
JSW
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