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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 12/24/2025 has been entered.
Response to Amendments
Applicant filed a response and amended claim 1 and 6 on 11/21/2025.
Response to Arguments
Arguments are primarily drawn to the amended claims. Arguments are found persuasive regarding the cited prior art teachings and the combination of limitations of claim 1.
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 1-7, 9, and 11-13 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 “disposing a first z-fiber and a second z-fiber in the plurality of plies at a location proximate to where the first cooling hole or the second cooling hole will be located concentric to the cooling hole”.
It is unclear if “the cooling hole” is in reference to the first or second cooling hole. For examination purposes, the limitation will be interpreted as -- the first or second cooling holes--.
Additionally, it is unclear how the fibers themselves can be concentric to the cooling hole. For examination purposes, based on the disclosure (Figure 3a and 3b), the limitation will be interpreted as requiring that disposing the first and second z-fibers in the plurality of plies in a manner that encloses either the first or second cooling hole in a concentric manner.
Allowable Subject Matter
No art rejection has been presented over the pending claims. It appears the claims would be allowable if amended to correct the indefinite issues in the claims and to recite the first and second z-fiber arrangements concentric to the first and second cooling holes as interpreted as described above.
The cited prior art do not teach or suggest the combination of limitations of the interpreted claim 1, in particular a cooling hole provided in a concentric manner with the area enclosed by the first and second z-fibers traversing the plurality of plies in an x- and y- direction.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HANA C PAGE whose telephone number is (571)272-1578. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9:00-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Phillip Tucker can be reached at 5712721095. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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HANA C. PAGE
Examiner
Art Unit 1745
/HANA C PAGE/Examiner, Art Unit 1745