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 .
Response to Amendment
This office action is responsive to the amendment filed on January 7, 2026. As directed by the amendment: claims 1, 5, 9, 13, and 15 have been amended, no claims have been canceled, and no new claims have been added. Thus, claims 1-18 are presently pending in the application.
Claim Objections
Claim 6 objected to because of the following informality:
the end of claim 6 is missing a period.
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 1-18 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 1 recites the limitation "the rigid component" in lines 13-14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is noted that “the rigid component” is recited several times throughout claim 1 as well as dependent claim 2, even though applicant has deleted the antecedent basis for a rigid component at claim 1, line 6.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the joint part" in line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the face" in line 18. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “[[and” in line 17 with no close to the open brackets. Thus, it is not expressly clear if the deletion ends after “and” or if it continues further into the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the rigid component" in lines 13-14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is noted that “the rigid component” is recited several times throughout claim 5, even though applicant has deleted the antecedent basis for a rigid component at claim 5, line 6.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the joint part" in line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the face" in line 18. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the rigid component" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is noted that “the rigid component” is recited several times throughout claim 9, even though applicant has deleted the antecedent basis for a rigid component at claim 9, line 6.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the face" in lines 11-12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation " the joint part " in line 17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the rigid component" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is noted that “the rigid component” is recited several times throughout claim 1 as well as dependent claim 2, even though applicant has deleted the antecedent basis for a rigid component at claim 1, line 6.
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the face" in lines 11-12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13 recites the limitation “the joint part" in line 17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 2-4, 6-8, 10-12, and 14-18 are rejected based on their dependency to rejected claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-18 have been considered but are moot because the new grounds of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VALERIE L WOODWARD whose telephone number is (571)270-1479. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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, KENDRA CARTER can be reached at (571)272-9034. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VALERIE L WOODWARD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3785
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