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 .
Application Status
Claims 1-15 are pending and have been examined in this application.
This communication is the first action on the merits.
Claims 1-15 are rejected herein.
Information Disclosure Statement
As of the date of this action, information disclosure statements (IDS) have been filed on 05/22/2025, 08/25/2025 and on 01/05/2026 and reviewed by the Examiner.
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 1-16 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
The recitations of claims 1 and 7 wherein “…a plate-shaped photovoltaic module…” renders the claim indefinite because the shape of a plate vary greatly, Thus, one would not know at which shape the infringement would occur.
Claims 1 and 7 are further indefinite because the recitation wherein “…the support member being arranged on the mounting target object;…a pressing member including a base portion fastened to the mounting target object by a fastening member….” is creating ambiguity as to whether the Applicant intends to positively claim the mounting target object or whether the mounting target object is functionally recited. For purposes of examination, the Examiner has interpreted the mounting target object as being a positively required structure of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 is further indefinite because it is unclear what scope the recitation “…regulating movement of the photovoltaic module…” intends to entail.
Dependent claims 2-6 and 8-16 are rejected based on their respective dependencies.
Appropriate correction/explanation is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 as best understood 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 attached PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD IJAZ whose telephone number is (571)272-6280. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 11:00 am-10:00 pm.
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MUHAMMAD IJAZ
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3631
/Muhammad Ijaz/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631
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