DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 15 April 2026 has been entered.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Response to Amendment and Arguments
Applicant’s amendment overcomes the rejection of claim 30 under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph. The rejection has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s amendment does not distinguish from Sridhar.
Applicant’s arguments in light of the amendment have been fully considered but are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Sridhar fails to teach M as amended. The examiner disagrees. Sridhar teaches that the base present in the reaction mixture includes DMAP ([0033]), i.e., dimethylaminopyridine, which anticipates a salt formation reaction between the COOH group and the base, i.e., dimethylaminopyridine, thus the presence of heteroaryl-substituted ammonium since a pyridine ring is heteroaromatic thus meets the term of an “aryl” group.
As such the rejection over Sridhar stand.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-3, 5-7 and 18-21 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Sridhar.
Regarding claims 1-3, 7, 20 and 21, Sridhar teaches a composition comprises a reaction product of polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (PIBSA)with hydroxyalkyl acrylate monomers such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate form a compound such as a compound of the formula ( [0049]):
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210
272
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Which has two ester groups and m+n is 1.
Sridhar teaches the reaction is carried out in the presence of a base including DMAP ( [0033]), i.e., dimethylaminopyridine, which anticipates the presence of -COO-N+H(CH3)2(C5H4N) due to the reaction of the DMAP base with acidic group COOH, i.e., a heteroaryl substituted ammonium , which meets the claimed aryl-substituted ammonium.
Sridhar teaches that the PIBSA has a molecular weight of less than 2300 exemplified as about 1000 ([0031] and [0081]), thus the polyisobutylene chain has a molecular mass of about 900 which corresponds to about 16 isobutylene units or 64 carbon number estimated by the examiner based on formula mass of about 56 of isobutylene and formula mass of 100 of succinic anhydride((1000-100)/56X4), which meets the claimed R1.
Sridhar further discloses that the reaction product can be cured through free radical cure mechanism ([0056]), and curing of the reaction product through free radical would result in a polymer of structure as evidenced by instant disclosure ([0036])
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229
147
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which contains multiester group, wherein the COOH is converted to an OM group, i.e., -COO-N+H(CH3)2(C5H4N) in the presence of DMAP ([0033]) as discussed above.
Additionally, Sridhar discloses a compound of the structure ([0041]):
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242
214
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which also anticipates the claimed compound of claims 1-3 and 7 since the compound is prepared in the presence of a base such as DMAP ([0031] and [0033]), thus the presence of - -COO-N+H(CH3)2(C5H4N) due to the reaction of DMAP base with acidic group - COOH.
Regarding claims 5 and 6, Sridhar teaches that the compound has a molecular weight of 30,000 ([0029]), which meets the claimed range.
Regarding claims 18 and 19, Sridhar teaches that the reaction mixture comprises toluene as solvent ([0031] and [0093]), and exemplified 600 mL toluene in a reaction mixture of about 1000 g, which is about 55% estimated by the Examiner based on a density of toluene of about 0.87g/mL, which meets the claimed amount.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 24-31 are allowed as directed to allowable species indicated in previous Office action.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AIQUN LI whose telephone number is (571)270-7736. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 am -4:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Randy Gulakowski can be reached at 571-2721302. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AIQUN LI/Ph.D., Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1766
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