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 .
Status of Application
Claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 8-10, 13-15, 17, 19-24, 26, 29, 31 and 32 are pending and presented for examination. Claims 5, 6, 8, 21 and 29 were amended via the instant amendment dated 29 January 2026 which is acknowledged and entered. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8-10, 13-15, 17, 19-24, 26, 31 and 32 are allowed for reasons already of record.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s remarks dated 29 January 2026 (hereinafter, “Remarks at __”) are acknowledged and entered.
The rejection of claims 5, 6, 8 and 21 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) is WITHDRAWN over the instant amendment removing the preferably language and correcting the improper Markush groups to state “selected from the group consisting of”.
The rejection of claim 29 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) over Choi is WITHDRAWN over the instant amendment removing the alkoxy group from the claim and limiting it to just a fatty acid ester which Choi does not disclose.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim 29 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US PG Pub No. 20170165943 to Kim et al. (hereinafter, “Kim at __”).
Regarding claim 29, Kim discloses a silica aerogel having hydrophobicity and a side group of PEG fatty acid ester (Kim at [0019]). As the thermal conductivity is optional it is not required.
Conclusion
Claim 29 is finally rejected. Claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 8-10, 13-15, 17, 19-24, 26, 31 and 32 are allowed.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RICHARD M RUMP whose telephone number is (571)270-5848. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 06:45 AM to 04:45 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Duane Smith can be reached at 571-272-1166. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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RICHARD M. RUMP
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1759
/RICHARD M RUMP/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759
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