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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-4 and 7 in the reply filed on 28 October 2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 9-20 and 23-25 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected inventions, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 28 October 2025.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 6 April 2023 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the Office.
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 13 June 2023 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the Office.
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.
Claims 1-4 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sato et al. (US 2019/0103207, hereinafter referred to as “Sato”).
As to Claim 1: Sato teaches an insulator coated soft magnetic powder comprising metal powder as the core and a glass material as the insulating layer [0168-0171]. Sato further teaches that the metal particle has an average diameter of 10 microns [0168] and a shell thickness of 10 nm [0171] resulting in a diameter of 10.02 microns.
As to Claims 2 and 3: Sato teaches the encapsulated metal particles of claim 1 (supra). Sato further teaches that the metal is an iron-based alloy [0168].
As to Claim 4: Sato teaches the encapsulated metal particles of claim 1 (supra). Sato further teaches that the core is a particle [0043-0047]
As to Claim 7: Sato teaches the encapsulated metal particles of claim 1 (supra). Sato further teaches that the particles are spherical [0047] so that the have an ease of rolling.
Correspondence
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW J OYER whose telephone number is (571)270-0347. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mark Eashoo can be reached at (571)272-1197. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Andrew J. Oyer/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1767
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