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 Claims 1-6 in the reply filed on October 9th, 2025 is acknowledged.
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.
Claim 1-6 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.
Claim 1 and Claim 5 recite “all or part of an oxygen atom of the carbonyl group are substituted with a nitrogen atom” is unclear as the language refers to all or part of a singular “an oxygen atom” is unclear how part of an oxygen atom can be substituted. For purposes of examination the examiner is interpreting “all or part of an oxygen atom of the carbonyl group are substituted with a nitrogen atom” to refer to substituting one of the oxygen atoms out of all or part of the carbonyl groups”.
Claim 1 and claim 5 further recite “all or a part of an oxygen atom of the carbonyl group are substituted with a nitrogen atom of the amino groups such that a first end of the linker is bonded to the carbonyl group of one polymer and a second end of the linker is bonded to the carbonyl group of another polymer” is unclear as the claim language claims “a polymer comprising a carbonyl group” and it is unclear as to whether the carbonyl groups of the first polymer and another polymer are also substituted with amino groups. For purposes of examination, the examiner is interpreted this claim language to mean that when the binder overall polymer structure is crosslinked, that the crosslinkers of the polymer are substituted carbonyl groups where the oxygen is substituted with the nitrogen atom of the amino group.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 are indicated as allowable.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claim 1 and Claim 5 claim a binder for a lithium secondary battery comprising: a polymer comprising a carbonyl group; and a linker comprising amino groups at both ends, wherein the binder is in state of crosslinked, and all or a part of an oxygen atom of the carbonyl group are substituted with a nitrogen atom of the amino groups such that a first end of the linker is bonded to the carbonyl group of one polymer and a second end of the linker is bonded to the carbonyl group of another polymer.
The closest prior art is Zou (US20170191955). Zou discloses a polyurethaneurea polymers with electrophilic functional groups includes carbonyl and amine groups ([0120]). Zou further discloses wherein the polyurethaneurea polymers can be crosslinked amongst the electrophilic groups ([0120]). Zou further discloses wherein the polymer synthesis is completed in an NMP solvent ([0267]). Zou further discloses wherein acid can be used in the synthesis process ([0268]).
Zou’s synthesis process is distinct from the instant in that Zou does not teach or disclose acetic acid as used in the instant. Furthermore Zou does not teach or suggest the carbonyl group are substituted with a nitrogen atom of the amino groups such that a first end of the linker is bonded to the carbonyl group of one polymer and a second end of the linker is bonded to the carbonyl group of another polymer.
Therefore Claim 1 and Claim 5 contain allowable subject matter. Claims 2-4 and 6 are allowable as dependent claims from an allowable independent claim.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANKITH R SRIPATHI whose telephone number is (571)272-2370. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00pm.
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/ANKITH R SRIPATHI/Examiner, Art Unit 1728
/MATTHEW T MARTIN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1728