Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/238,600

MULTIBLOCK COPOLYMER CONTAINING POLYLACTIC ACID AND POLYAMIDE FOR TOUGHENING POLYLACTIC ACID AND METHOD FOR PREPARING THE SAME

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Aug 28, 2023
Examiner
WOODWARD, ANA LUCRECIA
Art Unit
1765
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Korea Research Institute Of Chemical Technology
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allow Rate
888 granted / 1216 resolved
+8.0% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+16.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
1255
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
31.3%
-8.7% vs TC avg
§102
21.0%
-19.0% vs TC avg
§112
34.4%
-5.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1216 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 Claims 1 - 13 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. In claim 1, last line, it is unclear whether the range of “1 to 10” is qualifying both of the antecedently-recited integer s and prime number s . In claim 2, lines 5-6, there is no express antecedent basis for the polyamide 11 “having the diamine end group”. In claim 7, line 10, it is unclear whether the range of “1 to 10” is qualifying both of the antecedently-recited integer s and prime number s . In claim 9, it is unclear how steps (b-1) and (b-2) differ from each other. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis ( i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claim s 1-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a1) as being anticipated by "Semicrystalline-Glassy Multiblock Copolymers via Mechanochemical Synthesis toward Tough Poly(lactide ” ( Hong ) per IDS filed 08/28/2023. As to claim 1, Hong discloses (Scheme 1) a polyamide 11-polylactide multiblock copolymer having the structure ( meets Applicants’ Formula 1 wherein R 2 is a C 6 straight chain, R 3 is a C 6 arylene, x is 60, y and z are 83-194 and n is an integer ). As to claim s 2 and 7 , Hong’s polyamide 11-polylactide multiblock copolymer is similarly prepared by urethane bonding of diisocyanate to a hydroxyl telechelic polylactide-polyamide 11-polylactide, the latter being prepared by ring-opening polymerization of lactide with a polyamide 11 having amino end groups (Scheme 1). As to claim s 3 and 8 , Hong’s polyamide 11 having amino end groups is similarly prepared by polycondensation of ( meets Applicants’ Formula 2 wherein R 1 is H ) with ( meets Applicants’ Formula 3 wherein R 2 is a C6 straight chain ) (Scheme 1). As to claim 4, Hong’s polyamide 11 having amino end groups has the structure ( meets Applicants’ Formula 4 wherein R 2 is a C 6 straight chain and x is 60 ). As to claim 5, Hong’s hydroxyl telechelic polylactide-polyamide 11-polylactide has the structure ( meets Applicants’ Formula 5 wherein R 2 is a C 6 straight chain, x is 60, y and z are 83-194 ) (Scheme 1). As to claim 6, Hong discloses 4,4’-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) ( meets Applicants’ Formula 6 wherein R3 is a C 13 arylene ). As to claims 9 -12, Hong discloses a similar process performed by a mechanochemical method wherein Sn(Oct)2 is used as a catalyst (p 14528) . As to claim 13, Hong discloses molded test specimens (Table 2). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT Ana L Woodward whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-1082 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 8am-5pm . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Heidi Kelley can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 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. /ANA L. WOODWARD/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1765
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 28, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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THERMOPLASTIC RESIN COMPOSITION AND EXTERIOR MATERIAL INCLUDING THE SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12595363
THERMOPLASTIC RESIN COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12590176
HIPE FOAM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12577399
RESIN COMPOSITION, RESIN MOLDED ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12577367
THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITION, CONSOLIDATED LAMINATE STRUCTURE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+16.6%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1216 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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