CTNF 18/025,721 CTNF 77177 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15-03-aia AIA Claim s 1, 2 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kawabe (CA 2 658 572) . With respect to claim 1 , Kawabe discloses a thermoplastic fiber reinforcing sheet wherein the thermoplastic resin is sandwiched between two sheets of carbon fibers as shown in figure 3A: PNG media_image1.png 228 454 media_image1.png Greyscale The thickness of the thermoplastic film (sheet) as shown in examples, Nylon pellets were extruded into a film having thickness of 15 microns (Example 8), another resin is polyether imide also having thickness of 15 microns (p. 129). The sheet had fiber weight of 42 g/m 2 (p. 129). Fibers utilized had diameter of about 7 microns and there were approximately 15000 fibers utilized per two. [0212]. While Kawabe does not disclose the actual volume content of the reinforcing fiber in that specific example, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the content of the fiber, is directly proportional to the weight per m 2 . Since thickness of the thermoplastic polymer is in the same range and the weight of the fiber is within the same range, it’s content is also bound to be within the claimed range. See also examples 9-10) using PEI, PPS, Nylon 6. The fibers as shown in Figure 3A are all aligned in one direction (MD direction) (also see Abstract). It should be noted that limitation of “formed from the bundle of reinforcing fibers” is viewed as product by process limitation wherein the patentable weight is given to the product and not process by which it is made. With respect to claim 2 , multilayer product is formed by staking and integrating a plurality of thermoplastic resin reinforces sheets and orienting them in predetermined direction [0026] before being thermally bonded. To make such multilayered structure, the sheets were arranged at angles of 45 o , 0 o , -45 o and 90 o (p. 139). With respect to claim 4 , the reinforced sheets are stacked in the thickness direction [0048]. The sheets are cut in a lengthwise direction to form plurality of narrow thermoplastic resin reinforced sheet materials (p.19) and arranging them such that the orientation of the fibers in each layer is different (see examples for angles). The multilayered structure is placed in a mold to form molded article, see for example Figure 23D: PNG media_image2.png 178 460 media_image2.png Greyscale 07-15-03-aia AIA Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kawabe (EP 3 333 214) . With respect to claim 1 , Kawabe discloses fiber reinforced thermoplastic sheet comprising thermoplastic resin layer sandwiched between to fiber layers as depicted in Figure 8A: PNG media_image3.png 278 214 media_image3.png Greyscale Wherein fibers are partially embedded in the polymeric layer, the fiber volume is 30-60% [0086]. The thickness of the resin sheet is 14-52 microns, fiber areal volume is 40 g/m 2 or 60 g/m 2 . At fiber weight of 60 g/m 2 the layer of carbon fiber has thickness of 22-78 microns [0086] and resin thickness will be 11-39 microns. In more detailed description thermoplastic resin such as PEI has thickness of 15-18 microns [0086] and nominal thickness of 15 microns. Js being thermoplastic layer, Tsa and Tsb being fiber layers. As such the thickness of the reinforced sheet meets instant claim 1. See also [0023] for fiber weight. Spread fiber bundles are arranged or aligned in the in machine direction (see figures). Kawabe discloses that the inventive sheet is excellent in making molded articles . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. 07-23-aia AIA The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. 07-21-aia AIA Claim s 3 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawabe (CA 2 658 572) . With respect to claim 3 , term chopped and cut are viewed as functional equivalent as they are utilized to obtain the same result, specifically cutting or chopping fiber reinforced sheet into smaller pieces in order to stack them to obtain a multilayered structure. The reinforced sheets are stacked in the thickness direction [0048]. The sheets are cut in a lengthwise direction to form plurality of narrow thermoplastic resin reinforced sheet materials (p.19) and arranging them such that the orientation of the fibers in each layer is different (see examples for angles). While Kawabe does not disclosed the sheet being cut to the claimed dimensions, one of ordinary skill in the art would clearly understand that the size to which the reinforced sheets are cut depends on intended use and the size of the mold. Kawabe clearly enables such choice by stating on page 19 that the formed sheet can be cut at predetermined interval in both length direction and width direction. In the light of the above disclosure it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art that reinforces sheets have to be cut to such dimension that would enable one of ordinary skill in the art to form a molded product. This would include any size of the cut sheet which then depends on the mold that is used. With respect to claim 5 , the multilayered structure is placed in a mold to form molded article, see for example Figure 23D: PNG media_image2.png 178 460 media_image2.png Greyscale 07-21-aia AIA Claim 2-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawabe (EP 3 333 214) in view of Kawabe (EP 3 168 257) . Discussion of Kawabe’214 from paragraph 2 of this office action is incorporated here by reference. Kawabe’214 creates thermoplastic resin fiber reinforced sheet and Kawabe’257 uses that sheet to make molded article With respect to claims 2 and 3 , fiber sheets are chopped [0046, 0059] such that the width is set from 1-30mm, and length from 5-100 mm and stacked. The stacking is done such that the chopped material is aligned without gaps in thickness direction wherein the direction of the fibers is in at least two angles (claim 1). With respect to claims 4 and 5 , Kawabe’257 utilizes layered sheets to form molded article (claims). In the light of the above disclosure it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to utilize sheet of Kawabe’214 to make molded article of Kawabe’257 because this is exactly what Kawabe is doing. As such combination of the two references meets instantly claimed invention. Note: Applications 17/619045, 17/784774 and 17/825514 are abandoned. If revived the ODP rejections will be stated without affecting the status of this application (ex. Finality). Correspondence Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KATARZYNA I KOLB whose telephone number is (571)272-1127. The examiner can normally be reached M-F. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mark Eashoo can be reached at 5712701046. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /KATARZYNA I KOLB/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1767 2 September 2025 Application/Control Number: 18/025,721 Page 2 Art Unit: 1767 Application/Control Number: 18/025,721 Page 3 Art Unit: 1767 Application/Control Number: 18/025,721 Page 4 Art Unit: 1767 Application/Control Number: 18/025,721 Page 5 Art Unit: 1767