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 .
Withdrawn Rejections
Any rejections made in the previous Office Action mailed on 9/24/2025 and not repeated below are hereby withdrawn due to Applicant's amendment filed on 12/22/2025.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitations “the first base layer segment” and “the second base layer segment” in lines 22-23 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material” and “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”.
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitation “the first base layer segment of electroless plated material” in line 25 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Additionally, the limitation “the second base layer segment of electroless plated material” in lines 26-27 should be corrected to recite “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 8 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitations “the first base layer segment” and “the second base layer segment” in lines 22-23 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material” and “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”.
Claim 8 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitation “the first base layer segment of electroless plated material” in line 25 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Additionally, the limitation “the second base layer segment of electroless plated material” in lines 26-27 should be corrected to recite “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitations “the first base layer segment” and “the second base layer segment” in lines 22-23 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material” and “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitation “the first base layer segment of electroless plated material” in line 25 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Additionally, the limitation “the second base layer segment of electroless plated material” in lines 26-27 should be corrected to recite “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitation “said first molded barrier” in line 25 should be corrected to recite “said molded first barrier”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitations “the first base layer segment” and “the second base layer segment” in lines 23-24 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material” and “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”.
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: the limitation “the first base layer segment of electroless plated material” in line 25 should be corrected to recite “the plateable first base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Additionally, the limitation “the second base layer segment of electroless plated material” in lines 26-27 should be corrected to recite “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-23 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.
Claims 1 and 8 recite the limitation "the overall shape" in lines 6-7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims.
Claim 18 recite the limitation "the overall shape" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the base substrate" in lines 5-6, lines 12-13, line 39, line 42 and line 44. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to the “molded base substrate” or a different base substrate.
Claims 1 and 8 recite the limitation "the shape of the molded component" in lines 9-10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the front surface of the base substrate" in lines 12-13. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 1 and 8 recite the limitation "said base layer thereon" in lines 24-25. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear which base layer is being referred to.
Claims 1 and 8 recite the limitation "the second base layer segment" twice in lines 26-27. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. It is not clear if this is referring to “the second segment” or “the plateable second base layer segment”.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the first plateable base layer" in line 41. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the second plateable base layer" in line 44. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the front surface and the back surface of the base substrate" in lines 40-41 and lines 43-44. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the base layer" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear what base layer is being referred to.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the same base metal" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the front surface of the base substrate" in lines 11-12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitations "the front surface of the base substrate portion" and “the base substrate portion” in lines 12-13. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitation in the claim
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the first decorative layer" in line 39. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the first decorative metal layer” or a different decorative layer.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the second decorative layer" in lines 39-40. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the second decorative metal layer” or a different decorative layer.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the base substrate portion" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "the absence of the base layer" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 13 and 14 recites the limitation "the first decorative layer". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the first decorative metal layer” or a different decorative layer.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the second decorative layer" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the second decorative metal layer” or a different decorative layer.
Claim 15 recites the limitation “the base substrate” in lines 2, 4, 5 and 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear is this is referring to the “molded base substrate” or a different base substrate.
Claim 15 recites the limitation “the front surface and the back surface of the base substrate” in lines 3-4 and lines 6-7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the first plateable base layer" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the second plateable base layer" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation “the base substrate” in lines 5-6 and 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear is this is referring to the “molded base substrate” or a different base substrate.
Claim 16 recites the limitations “the base substrate portion” and “the front surface of the base substrate portion” in lines 12-13. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the overall shape" in lines 6-7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the shape" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the barrier" in line 40. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "said base layer thereon" in lines 24-25. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites “the second base layer segment” in line 27. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to the “second segment” or “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the front surface" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear what “front surface”. Is it the front surface of the molded component or the molded base substrate?
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the first barrier" in line 7, line 12, line 14, line 21, line 22, line 31, line 34, and line 38. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the molded first barrier” or a different first barrier.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the base substrate" in lines 6-7, line 45, line 47, line 48 and line 50. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to the “molded base substrate” or a different base substrate.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the shape" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the base substrate portion" in lines 13-15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "said base layer thereon" in lines 25-26. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear which base layer is being referred to.
Claim 18 recites “the second base layer segment” in lines 28-29. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the second segment” or “the plateable second base layer segment of electroless plated material”?
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the same metal material or alloys thereof" in line 36. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the first plateable base layer" in line 47. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the second plateable base layer" in line 50. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitation "the base layer thereon" in lines 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear which base layer is being referred to.
Claim 20 recites the limitations "the back surface of the base substrate portion" and “the base substrate portion” in lines 3-4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim.
Claim 20 recites the limitation "the first barrier" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the molded first barrier” or a different first barrier.
Claim 21 recites the limitation "said first barrier" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the molded first barrier” or a different first barrier.
Claim 22 recites the limitation "said first barrier" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not clear if this is referring to “the molded first barrier” or a different first barrier.
Claim 23 recites the limitation "the barrier" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], 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.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, 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. Claim 19 recites “wherein the first barrier is a molded barrier integrally molded with the base substrate”. Claim 18, from which claim 19 depends from, recites “a molded base substrate integrally molded with a molded first barrier” which is similar to what is being recited in claim 19. Thus, claim 19 fails to further limit the subject matter of claim 18 upon which it depends. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE A SIMONE whose telephone number is (571)272-1501. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Frank Vineis can be reached at 571-270-1547. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Catherine A. Simone/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1781
CATHERINE A. SIMONE
Examiner
Art Unit 1781