DETAILED ACTION
This communication responds to the Request for Continued Examination filed February 23, 2026. Claims 1-3, 5-9, 11, 12, 14-17, 19, 21, 24, and 26-28 are currently pending.
Claims 2 and 3 are REJECTED under 35 USC 112(d).
Claims 1, 5-9, 11, 12, 14-17, 19, 21, 24, and 26-28 are ALLOWED.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 2 and 3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends.
Regarding claims 2 and 3, the recited amounts of modified-hydrocarbyl methylaluminoxane are broader than the recited amount in claim 1, in that the lower limits in claims 2 and 3 may be interpreted to be under 2.5 mol percent. For example, the amount in claim 2 is simply “less than 25 mole percent,” which may be interpreted to mean any amount between a non-zero amount and 25 mole percent.
Applicant may cancel the claims, amend the claims to place the claims in proper dependent form, rewrite the claims in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claims comply with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 5-9, 11, 12, 14-17, 19, 21, 24, and 26-28 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The present claims are allowed for the reasons set forth in the November 21, 2025 Office Action at paragraphs 16-19, which are incorporated by reference herein. In addition, the closest prior art references do not teach or fairly suggest a modified-hydrocarbyl methylaluminoxane with an AlRA1RB1RC1 within the claimed range.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE S BRANCH whose telephone number is (571)270-3539. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday.
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CATHERINE S. BRANCH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1763
/CATHERINE S BRANCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
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