DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is in response to the communication(s) filed on 3/12/2025.
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 1-4 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.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) because of the recitation of “a first ventilation passage that connects a crankcase to a portion of the intake passage” in claim 1. It is unclear as to whether a portion of the intake passage downstream of the compressor is the same portion of the intake passage where the throttle valve is disposed or if it is another portion/ a second portion, leaving the metes and bounds of the claims unclear.
Additionally, claim 1, recites “a second ventilation passage that connects a crankcase to a portion of the intake passage”. It is unclear as to whether a portion of the intake passage is the same portion as above or if it is a third portion, leaving the metes and bounds of the claims unclear.
Conclusion
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/XIAO EN MO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747