DETAILED ACTION
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 October 23, 2025 has been entered.
This Office action is in response to Applicant’s amendment filed October 23, 2025. Applicant has amended claims 1, 6, 9 and 11. Claim 5 has been cancelled. Currently, claims 1, 2, 4 and 6-20 remain pending in the application.
The text of those sections of Title 35 U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in the prior Office actions, Paper Nos. 20250303 and 20250723.
The rejection of claims 1, 2, 4 and 6-20 under 35 U.S.C. 102((a)(1)) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Nagy et al, US 2015/0368595, is maintained for the reasons of record.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed October 23, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Nagy et al, US 2015/0368594, does not teach or suggest in general a fabric composition that contains a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether that has a weight average molecular weight of 90k Daltons to 175k Daltons, as required by applicant in newly amended claim 1. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Nagy et al clearly discloses that their poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether has a weight average molecular weight of 75,000-150,000 (see paragraph 77), per the requirements of the instant invention.
Applicant further argues that Nagy et al, US 2015/0368594, does not teach or suggest in general a fabric composition that contains a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether that has a degree of cationic substitution of 0.3 to 0.7, as required by applicant in newly amended claim 1. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Nagy et al clearly discloses that their poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether has a degree of cationic substitution of 0.3-0.7 (see paragraph 72), per the requirements of the instant invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRIAN P MRUK whose telephone number is (571)272-1321. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:00am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Angela Brown-Pettigrew, can be reached on 571-272-2817. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRIAN P MRUK/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761
Brian P Mruk
February 23, 2026
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