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 .
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 5/8/26 has been entered.
Claims 6-12 and 13-15 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.
The phrase “and the mold on top of each other between the first surface and the second surface” (cl 6:7-8) is indefinite because it is confusing as to what is meant by “on top of each other” and what are on top of each other.
The phrase “and the mold on top of each other between the first surface and the second surface” (cl 13:8-9) is indefinite because it is confusing as to what is meant by “on top of each other” and what are on top of each other.
Corrections are required.
Claims 6-12 and 13-15 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.
Non-elected with traverse claims 1-5 must be canceled before the instant application can be allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record including the closest prior art JP3671147 neither teaches nor renders obvious every claimed limitation including an arrangement for manufacturing a patterned cellulose-based film comprising the second surface being arranged at a distance from the first surface; and the humidifier device for causing absorption of water into the cellulose-based film while the cellulose-based film is being positioned between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the distance between the first surface and the second surface is greater than the thickness of the cellulose-based film as initially received by the first surface and the second surface such that when the cellulose-based film and the mold are positioned on top of each other between the first surface and the second surface, the cellulose-based film conforms to the mold in response to the increased volume of the cellulose-based film caused by the absorbed water.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDMUND H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1204. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-4PM.
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EHL
/EDMUND H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
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