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 .
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 5 recites the limitation "wherein with the cover placed over the door, at least one of the at least three reticle contact surfaces is aligned with a reticle support" in lines 1 and 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these bolded limitations in the claim. In addition, it is unclear if a reticle support is a different support or one of either the base or cover supports. This limitation appears to be an error for -wherein with the cover placed over the base, at least one of the at least three reticle contact surfaces is aligned with at least one of the at least three reticle supports--.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-7, 9-10 and 15-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kolbow (US 8,231,005), which in figure 1 below discloses the following claimed invention:
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In re claim 1: An inner reticle pod 1 adapted to contain a reticle 110, the inner reticle pod 1 comprising a base 120 and a cover 130, the base 120 comprising: an upper base surface UBS, a first base side 1BS, a second base side 2BS, a first base end 1BE extending between the first base side 1BS and the second base side 2BS, and a second base end 2BE extending between the first base side 1BS and the second base side 2BS, at least three reticle supports 330 on the upper base surface UBS, at least one of the at least three reticle supports 330 being positioned at a side position (left or right side portion) of the base 120 that is nearer to a base side BS than to a base end BE, the cover 130 adapted to engage the base 120 and contain a reticle 110 supported by the reticle supports 330 (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 2: the first base side 1BS and the second base side 2BS having a base length, the first base end 1BE and the second base end 2BE having a base width, the base length being greater than the base width (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 3: the cover 130 having a first cover side 1CS, a second cover side 2CS, a first cover end 1CE extending between the first cover side 1CS and the second cover side 2CS, and a second cover end 2CE extending between the first cover side 1CS and the second cover side 2CS, the first cover side 1CS and the second cover side 2CS having a cover length, the first cover end 1CE and the second cover end 2CE having a cover width, the cover length being greater than the cover width (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 4: the cover 130 comprising at least three reticle contact surfaces 410 adapted to limit movement of a reticle 110 supported by the at least three reticle supports 330, while the cover 130 engages the base 120 with a reticle 110 supported by the reticle supports 330 (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 5: wherein with the cover 130 placed over the base 120, at least one of the at least three reticle contact surfaces 410 is aligned with at least one of the at least three reticle supports 330 (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 6: the base 120 comprising: a first reticle support 1RS positioned at a medial side position of the first base side 1BS, a second reticle support 2RS positioned at a non-medial side position of the second base side 2BS, and a third reticle support 3RS positioned at a non-medial side position of the second base side 2BS (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 7: wherein with a reticle 110 supported by the at least three reticle supports 1RS/2RS/3RS, the second reticle support 2RS and the third reticle support 3RS are located at equidistant locations between the first reticle end 1RE and the second reticle end 2RE (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 9: the base 120 comprising: a first reticle support 330 positioned at a non-medial side position of the first base side 1BS, a second reticle support 330 positioned at a non-medial side position of the first base side 1BS, a third reticle support 330 positioned at a non-medial side position of the second base side 2BS, and a fourth reticle support 330 positioned at a non-medial side position of the second base side 2BS (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 10: wherein with a reticle 110 supported by the at least three reticle supports 330, the first and second reticle supports 330 are located at equidistant locations between the first reticle end 1RE and the second reticle end 2RE, and the third and fourth reticle supports 330 are located at equidistant locations between the first reticle end 1RE and the second reticle end 2RE (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 15: the base 120 comprising: at least three apertures (apertures for 330) positioned vertically through the base 120, a reticle support 330 positioned within each of the at least three apertures, the reticle support 330 comprising: a reticle support body (body positioned in the aperture) within the aperture, an upper reticle support surface (exposed surface of 330) positioned above the upper base surface UBS and adapted to support a reticle 110 above the upper base surface UBS (see figure 1 above and figure 9).
In re claim 16: the base 120 comprising a plurality of retainer pins 440 adapted to maintain a position of a reticle 110 supported by the reticle supports 330 (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 17: adapted to support a reticle 110 comprising a plate having a patterned surface, on the reticle support surfaces 330 (see figure 1 above).
In re claim 18: a reticle 110 supported by the reticle supports 330 (see figure 1 above).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8 and 11-14 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See the attached PTO-892 for prior art that teaches or suggest structural limitations of the claimed and disclosed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERNESTO A GRANO whose telephone number is (571)270-3927. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00-3:30 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony Stashick can be reached at (571)272-4561. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERNESTO A GRANO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3735
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