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 .
Status of the Application
Claims 16-35 are pending and have been examined in this application. This communication is the first action on the merits. As of the date of this application, the Information Disclosure Statement(s) (IDS) filed on 07/31/2025 and 10/24/2025 has/have been taken into account.
Drawings
The subject matter of this application admits of illustration by a drawing to facilitate understanding of the invention. Applicant is required to furnish a drawing under 37 CFR 1.81(c). No new matter may be introduced in the required drawing. 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).
Claim Objections
Claims 16-24 and 26-35 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 16 recites “two pairs of bores of bores”. This should read “two pairs of bores” (emphasis added).
Claim 16 recites “a lower part of a clamp or fastening elongated objects”. This should read “a lower part of a clamp for fastening elongated objects” (emphasis added).
Claim 16 recites “wherein their depressions facing each other form a passage”. This should read “wherein their depressions face each other to form a passage” (emphasis added).
Dependent claims 17-24 and 26-35 each recite "The stacking arrangement according to claims" in their preamble. This should read "The stacking arrangement according to claim" (emphasis added), in each instance.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 17-23 and 25-35 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 17 recites the limitation "the cover part" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the base part" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites "the at least one clamping component" but claim 16 recites "at least two clamping components". Clarification as to what element or elements are being referred to is required.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the base part" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitation "the base part" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 21 recites the limitation "the central bore" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 25 recites " at least one counterelement". It is unclear if this is a separate element being introduced or referring to one of the previously recited parts.
Claim 25 recites " A stacking arrangement having a cover part and a base part as well as at least one clamping component for a clamp for fastening elongated objects between at least one of the clamping components and at least one counterelement, having at least one depression extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein two pairs of bores are provided by bores lying one behind the other parallel to the longitudinal direction". It is unclear which parts (cover part, base part, clamping component) have the recited at least one depression and pairs of bores. The claim later recites that " the clamping component has depressions" which is more than the earlier recited "at least one depression" so it is not clear if the clamping element is being referred to in the earlier limitation. Clarification of which part or parts have the recited "at least one depression" and "two pairs of bores" is required.
Claim 32 recites the limitation "the central bore" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 19, 22-23, 26-31, 33-35 are rejected as being dependent on, and failing to cure the deficiencies of, rejected claims 18, 20, and 25.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16 and 24 are allowed.
Claims 17-23 and 25-35 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. See PTO-892 for cited references.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Taylor Morris whose telephone number is (571)272-6367. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 10AM-6PM PST / 1PM-9PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jonathan Liu can be reached at (571) 272-8227. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Taylor Morris/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631
