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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 January 8, 2026 has been entered.
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 1-17 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 contains the limitations “first curable resin,” “second curable resin” and “are fully cured.” It is unclear if the “fully cured” limitation is a process limitation denoting a curing step or is referring to the state of the resin. The limitation “curable” seems to indicate that the resin is not cured or at most partially cured at its beginning state. In efforts to further the prosecution the claim is interpreted as comprising an initial curing step prior to step (b) but after providing layers (i)-(iii), wherein the uncured first and second resins are then fully cured while the third curable resin becomes partially cured.
Claims 6 and 7 contain the limitations “the barrier ply in the second curable resin has a degree of cure less than 80% or between 10 and 40%.” This is unclear because as set forth above, these resins are presented as uncured at the start of step (a) and “fully” cured by the end of step (a) which would denote a 100% degree of cure. In efforts to further the prosecution, the initial presentation of the barrier layer includes a partially cured resin to the claimed degree of cure.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VINCENT A TATESURE whose telephone number is (571)272-5198. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:30AM-4PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Chriss can be reached at 5712727783. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VINCENT TATESURE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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