DETAILED ACTION
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 1-5 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.
In line 3 of claims 1, it is suggested that “open position, comprising” be changed to –open position, the method comprising--, for clarity.
In claim 1, in “pivotably securing an override clutch link to the override clutch lever and a pawl release lever…”, it is not fully understood in the context of the claim language, how, in what way, and by what means such a function is intended to be achieved. Further, the language is a bit confusing and hard to follow.
In claim 1, it is unclear in the context of the claim language the intended purpose of the structural and/or functional limitations of “the override clutch link includes a lateral tab that interacts… of the vehicle is in the open position”, thus making the claim indefinite.
Several of the same or similar 112 issues are present in several of the remaining claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARK A WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)272-7064. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine Mills can be reached at (571) 272-8322. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARK A WILLIAMS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3675
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