DETAILED ACTION
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 02, 2026 has been entered.
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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment and response filed on January 02, 2026 has been entered. Claims 1-7, 10-14, and 16-21 are pending.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 6, 7, and 18 are objected to because of the following informalities.
In claim 1, line 9, the term “was” should be changed to “is”.
In claim 6, line 2, after the term “paraffins” one of the commas should be deleted.
In claim 7, line 3, after the term “paraffins” one of the commas should be deleted.
In claim 18, line 2, a space should be inserted after the term “aluminum,”.
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 1-7, 10-14, and 16-21 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.
In claim 1, line 7, the phrase “and so the layer is thus heat-sealable” is indefinite for the following reasons. First, the term “the layer” lacks proper antecedent basis, since the coated paper comprises multiple layers. Second, the term “heat-sealable” does not require that the layer is sealed and only requires that it is capable of being sealed; however, the language that follows appears to require that a “sealed-seam” is present. Thus, it is unclear whether a “heat-sealable” third barrier layer or a “heat-sealed” third barrier layer is being claimed.
In claim 1, line 8, the term “the sealed-seam” lacks antecedent basis.
Claim 14 is indefinite for the following reasons. First, it is dependent upon a canceled claim. Second, in line 2, the “and/or” is indefinite because the “or” part would expand and not further limit the inorganic pigment material of claim 1, which is required to be present and comprise silicate (see claim 1, line 13).
In claim 20, line 2, the term “the starting materials” lacks proper antecedent basis.
In claim 20, line 5, the term “the curtain coating process” lacks antecedent basis.
Claims 2-7, 10-13, 16-19, and 21 are rejected as indefinite due to their dependence upon a rejected claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7, 10-14, and 16-21 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-9, filed January 02, 2026, with respect to prior art rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. These prior art rejections have been withdrawn.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Blaine Copenheaver whose telephone number is (571)272-1156. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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/BLAINE COPENHEAVER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1781