DETAILED ACTION
This is a non-final rejection in response to application filed 10/31/25. Claims 1-2 are currently pending.
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 1-2 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 "expands" and “vertical”. The term expands is indefinite as it is unclear if the path is expanding in a diverging flow path or in a thermodynamic nature. The term vertical is indefinite as it is unclear what direction vertical is referring to as there is no reference point. Subsequent dependent claim is further rejected.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(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) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Baudoin et al. (US 2008/0236165).
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Baudoin et al. (US 2008/0236165) in view of Myers et al. (US 5431019).
Regarding independent claim 1, Baudoin teaches a gas turbine combustor comprising: a first air flow path 24 through which air flows out into a combustion chamber 10; and a fuel flow path 32 through which fuel flows out into the air flowing out of the first air flow path [0037], wherein: the first air flow path is configured such that the air flowing out of the first air flow path expands toward an inside of the combustion chamber [0062]; and a second air flow path 62 through which air flows out from a vertical direction into the air flowing out of the first air flow path is provided [0045].
Regarding dependent claim 2, Baudoin further teaches wherein the fuel flows out between the air flowing out of the first air flow path and the air flowing out of the second air flow path. As seen in figure 3, the fuel exits out of 23 between where the first air flow path 24 and the second airflow path 62 are located.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CRAIG SANG KIM whose telephone number is (571)270-1418. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00 AM - 3:00 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, Devon Kramer can be reached at 571-272-7118. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CRAIG KIM/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3741
Prosecution Insights