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
The amendment filed 3/3/2026 has been entered. Claims 1 and 15 have been amended. Claims 12-14 have been cancelled. Claims 21-23 are newly added. Claims 1-11, and 15-23 remain pending in the application, with claims 7-11 withdrawn. Examiner appreciates the thorough explanation of the invention and amendments provided in the applicant’s response. Applicant’s amendments to the claims have overcome each and every objection and rejection set forth in the Non-Final Office Action mailed on 2/5/2026. Unfortunately, a rejection arose as a result of amended claim 15 as explained below.
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 15 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.
The phrase “wherein the latching mechanism is configured to secure the detachable assembly to the system during flight” in claim 15 fails to adequately define the metes and bounds of the invention which renders the claim indefinite. The term “system” is defined by the claim as comprising a detachable assembly including a fluid reservoir and a battery; and a latching mechanism affixed to the detachable assembly and. In the phrases , “latching mechanism…configured to engage a corresponding structure of the system to secure the detachable assembly” and “wherein the latching mechanism is configured to secure the detachable assembly to the system during flight”, the “system” is presented as a separate entity than the “system” comprising the detachable assembly including a fluid reservoir and battery, and latching mechanism. To put in a simpler way, the claim reads as follows: “A hammer, comprising a shaft, iron head, and nail; wherein the nail secures the iron head to the hammer”. In reality, the nail secures the iron head to the shaft to form the structure of the hammer. Applicant’s claim needs to clarify the connections and configurations that form the structure of the system. More, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Claims 16-20, which are dependent on claim 15, are similarly rejected.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 and 21-23 are allowable.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUSTIN MICHAEL HESTON whose telephone number is (571)272-3099. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays and Wednesdays: 0500-1300, Tuesdays 0500-1400, Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Timothy D Collins can be reached at 571-272-6886. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JUSTIN MICHAEL HESTON/Examiner, Art Unit 3644
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