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 .
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I claims 1-11 in the reply filed on 5/4/26 is acknowledged.
Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
In chemical patent abstracts for compounds or compositions, the general nature of the compound or composition should be given as well as its use, e.g., “The compounds are of the class of alkyl benzene sulfonyl ureas, useful as oral anti-diabetics.” Exemplification of a species could be illustrative of members of the class. For processes, the type of reaction, reagents and process conditions should be stated, generally illustrated by a single example unless variations are necessary. Applicant must provide a proper abstract with the next response.
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 1-11 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.
When “x” of claim is zero or one, a “polymer” does not result.
The electron acceptor group RA must be a divalent entity according to claim 1’s formula (I). However, the depicted structures of claims 2 and 3 are not divalent entities. These are complete stand alone compounds.
The electron donor group RB must be a monovalent entity according to claim 1’s formula (I). However, the depicted structures of claims 4 and 5 are not monovalent entities. These are complete stand alone compounds.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-11 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Pu 2021/0087463.
Pu exemplifies (#7) produces PPV-PEGL polymer. This PPV-PEGL is both fluorescent and degradable (paragraph 252) which meets applicant’s “depolymerizable and luminescent”.
Applicant’s claims require no particular structure when “x” is zero.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. CN111471036 discloses a diamine monomer for making polymers that has applicant’s >carbazole - RA- RB . However, the reference’s dianhydrides to be reacted with this diamine do not provide the specific RC units required by applicant.
The Liu article in Nature Materials teaches similar polymers to applicant, but lack the second RC in applicant’s repeating unit as shown by:
PNG
media_image1.png
250
803
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Applicant requires adjacent -RC- when “x” is two or more as shown by:
PNG
media_image2.png
195
650
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Additionally, the Liu article does not suggest the RE (eg ester, amide or imide) of applicant’s claims.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID J BUTTNER whose telephone number is (571)272-1084. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-3pm.
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, Heidi Kelley can be reached at 571-270-1831. 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.
/DAVID J BUTTNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1765 6/4/26
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