LED FILAMENT LAMP

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 . Preliminary Amendment The preliminary amendment filed 8/22/2025 has been entered. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Drawings The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “8” has been used to designate both an “encapsulant” and “conducting paths” in Fig. 2 (as described on pg. 6, lines 4-8 and 11-13 of the Specification as filed). 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. 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. The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference characters "11" and "9" have both been used to designate a “socket” in Figs. 1A-2 (as described on pg. 5, lines 24-26 and pg. 7, lines 3-5 of the Specification as filed). 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. 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. Claim Objections Claims1, 4, and 13 are objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 1, the limitation, “a first set of LED filaments are arranged…” in line 14 of the claim which is grammatically incorrect as it is describing how a singular first set is arranged. The Examiner respectfully suggests amending it to be --a first set of LED filaments is arranged…-- to correct the typographical error. Regarding claim 1, the limitation “a second set of LED filaments are arranged…” in line 17 of the claim is grammatically incorrect as it is describing how a singular second set is arranged. The Examiner respectfully suggests amending it to be --a second set of LED filaments is Regarding claim 1, the limitation “wherein each LED filament in the first set having a main direction of illumination” in lines 15-16 of the claim is grammatically incorrect. The Examiner respectfully suggests amending it to be --wherein each LED filament in the first set has Regarding claim 1, the limitation “wherein each LED filament in the second set having a main direction of illumination” in lines 18-19 of the claim is grammatically incorrect. The Examiner respectfully suggests amending it to be --wherein each LED filament in the second set has Regarding claim 4, the limitation “a locking member configured to fixate of the orientation” in lie 2 of the claim is grammatically incorrect. The Examiner respectfully suggests amending it to be --a locking member configured to fixate Claim 13 recite the limitation “the central longitudinal axis” in lines 2-3 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, since independent Claim 1 never uses the term “longitudinal” to describe the central axis. Since it is readily apparent that this is referring to the same central axis defined in Claim 1, this does not create an issue of indefiniteness. However, the Examiner respectfully suggests amending it to be --the central . 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. Claim 7 is 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. A broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, Claim 7 recites the broad recitation “wherein an angular spread of the main directions of illumination of the LED filaments in the first and/or second set is less than 45 degrees” in lines 1-3 of the claim, and the claim also recites “preferably less than 20 degrees” in line 3 of the claim which is the narrower statement of the range/limitation. The claim(s) are considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims. For the purpose of examination, Claim 7 has been treated as requiring the claimed angular spread to be less than 45 degrees. Appropriate correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-6 and 8-15 are allowed. Claim 7 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claim 1, the Prior Art taken as a whole fails to specifically disclose or suggest, in combination, “A LED filament lamp, comprising an envelope having a central axis, a connector attached to the envelope, for electrically and mechanically connecting the LED filament lamp to a socket, a LED filament assembly arranged inside the envelope and comprising a plurality of LED filaments, each LED filament having a plurality of LEDs mounted on a mounting surface of an elongated carrier, so that each LED filament has a main direction of illumination substantially normal to the mounting surface and pointing away from the plurality of LEDs, wherein the LED filaments surround the central axis with each LED filament oriented substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein the LED filament assembly is rotatably arranged with respect to the connector around the central axis, wherein a first set of LED filaments is arranged on a first side of a virtual plane which intersects the central axis, wherein each LED filament in the first set has a main direction of illumination directed generally away from the virtual plane, and wherein a second set of LED filaments is arranged on a second side of the virtual plane which intersects the central axis, opposite to the first side, wherein each LED filament in the second set has a main direction of illumination directed generally towards the virtual plane” (emphasis added). The closest Prior Art, Stephany (US 2013/0242580, previously listed on the IDS filed 8/22/2025), lacks the teaching of the LED assembly being an LED filament assembly having a plurality of LED filaments surrounding the central axis with each filament oriented substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein a first set of LED filaments is arranged on a first side of a virtual plane intersecting the central axis and a second set of LED filaments is arranged on a second side of the virtual plane opposite the first side, the LED filaments of the first set having a main direction of illumination directed generally away from the virtual plane and the LED filaments of the second set having a main direction of illumination directed generally towards the virtual plane, as required by Claim 1. While Wegh et al. (US 2018/0031183), Jiang et al. (US 2018/0274773), and Bergmann et al. (US 2018/0328543) each disclose an LED filament lamp comprising a plurality of LED filaments oriented substantially parallel to a central axis of the lamp envelope, a first set of LED filaments arranged on a first side of a virtual plane intersecting the central axis, and a second set of LED filaments arranged on a second side of a virtual plane opposite the first side, neither of these references disclose the LED filaments of the first set having a main direction of illumination directed generally away from the virtual plane while the LED filaments of the second set have a main direction of illumination directed generally towards the virtual plane, as required by Claim 1. Accordingly, although LED filament lamps are known, as evidenced by the Prior Art already of record, no Prior Art was found teaching individually, or suggesting in combination, all the features of Applicant’s disclosure, in particular the above limitations in combination with the remaining features of the claim, and there would be no motivation, absent the Applicant’s own disclosure, to modify the references in the manner distinctly and specifically called for in the combination as claimed in Claim 1. Claims 2-15 depend on Claim 1. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lin et al. (US 2018/0340658) and Wang et al. (US 2022/0107060) each disclose LED filament lamps comprising an envelope having a central axis, a connector attached to the envelope for mechanically and electrically connecting the LED filament lamp to a socket, an LED filament assembly arranged inside the envelope and comprising a plurality of elongated LED filaments, each LED filament having a plurality of LEDs mounted on a mounting surface of an elongated carrier, such that each LED filament has a main direction of illumination substantially normal to the mounting surface and pointing away from the plurality of LEDs, the LED filaments surrounding the central axis with each filament oriented substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein a first set of LED filaments is arranged on a first side of a virtual plane which intersects the central axis and a second set of LED filaments is arranged on a second side of the virtual plane opposite the first side. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM N HARRIS whose telephone number is (571)272-3609. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 8:00AM- 5:00PM EST, Alternate Fridays. 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, Jong-Suk (James) Lee can be reached at 571-272-7044. 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. /WILLIAM N HARRIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875