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 Objections
Claims 10-21 are objected to because of the following informalities. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claim 10, a period is used at the end of a claim. Periods may not be used elsewhere in the claims except for abbreviations. See MPEP 608.01(m). The examiner suggests changing “a.”, “b.”, “c.” and “d.” to --a)--, --b)--, --c)-- and --d)--, respectively.
Regarding claim 10, line 3, the examiner suggests replacing the first instance of “comprising” with --by-- to improve the grammar. Similarly, in lines 7 and 10 “, comprising” should be replaced with --by--.
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 10-21 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.
Regarding claims 10-13, reference characters corresponding to elements recited in the detailed description and the drawings generally do not affect the scope of a claim. See MPEP 608.01(m). Accordingly, the reference numerals are not a clear way to distinguish all of the recited components. The examiner suggests using --first component--, --second component--, etc. to distinguish the components. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Regarding claim 10, step d), it is unclear if the “at least two” are independently selected from the recited list. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Regarding claim 11, it is unclear what is meant by “bare” in “bare linear low density polyethylene”. The specification does not provide any clarification, and this is not a term which is commonly used in the related art. The examiner suggests deleting “bare”.
Regarding claim 12, the examiner suggests using proper Markush language to clearly indicate the recited list is closed, i.e. it is limited only to the recited elements. As written, it is unclear if the group is closed. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Regarding claim 13, as noted above, the use of a reference numeral is not a clear way to identify a particular component in a claim. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Regarding claims 14-16, several layers are recited. It is unclear which are being referenced by “the layers”. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Regarding claim 17, it is unclear what is required by “obtained with an alkaline solvent”. The specification explains that this refers to a solvent bonding step. However, it is not clear that solvent bonding should be read into the claim. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Regarding claim 18, it is unclear which layers are being referenced by “adding layers”. The examiner also suggests adding language to clarify that the 2 to 5°C increase refers to an increase in fusion temperature with each sequential combining of a laminate. As written, it is not clear what this increase refers to. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below. The suggestion also uses language consistent with proposed changes to parent claim 10.
Regarding claim 20, it is unclear if the “at least three” are independently selected from the recited list. It is also unclear which layer each of the recited layers is referencing. In particular multiple layers are recited in claim 10 and each roll has different layers. A suggestion is made in the proposed claim listing below.
Allowable Claims Proposed by the Examiner
DO NOT ENTER
DRAFT ONLY
18/243,461 - GAU: 1745
/MT/ 06 November 2025
10. (Currently Amended) A process for making a multilaminate comprising polymers of variable density, the method comprising:
a)[[.]] making a bilayer roll 1 by laminating a first layer comprising a first component second layer comprising a second component first component second component
b)[[.]] making a trilayer roll 2 containing three laminated layersby laminating a third layer comprising a third component the third component
c)[[.]] making a trilayer roll 3 containing three laminated layersby laminating a fourth layer comprising a fourth component the fourth component
d)[[.]] making a multilayer roll 4 and a multilayer roll 5, wherein each of roll 4 and roll 5 is made by combining laminates, each of the at least two laminates independently selected from the group consisting of a bilayer from roll 1, a trilayer from roll 2, and a trilayer from roll 3.
11. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein the first component
12. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 11, wherein the first component material selected from the group consisting of a glossy bioriented polypropylene, a matte bioriented polypropylene, and a metallic bioriented polypropylene.
13. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein the bioriented polypropylene of the third component
14. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein the step of making the roll 1 comprises fusing the first and second layers at 130°C to 140°C at a rate of 20 meters per minute.
15. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein the step of making the roll 2 comprises fusing the third layer and the bilayer
16. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein the step of making the roll 3 comprises fusing the fourth layer and the bilayer
17. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein combining at least two laminates in step d) to make roll 4 and/or roll 5 comprises combining the respective at least two laminates
18. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein combining at least two laminates in step d) comprises sequentially combining the at least two laminates with each sequential combining step to a maximum of 25°C to 140°C.
19. (Previously Presented) The process according to claim 10, wherein the multilaminate contains at least five layers.
20. (Currently Amended) The process according to claim 10, wherein the multilaminate comprises at least three laminates, each of the at least three laminates independently selected from the group consisting of a bilayer from roll 1, a trilayer from roll 2, a trilayer from roll 3, a multilayer from roll 4, and a multilayer from roll 5.
21. (Previously Presented) The process according to claim 10, wherein the multilaminate is GRAS (generally recognized as safe).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10-21 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
As noted above, a proposed claim listing is provided to correct the above noted objections and issues of clarity.
Regarding claim 10, in combination with the claimed limitations, no teaching or suggestion was found in the prior art of record to provide the combined claimed limitations of making the claimed bilayer roll 1 having the claimed non-woven polypropylene fabric and the claimed trilayer rolls 2 and 3 having a bilayer from roll 1 and bioriented polypropylene or polyethylene foam, respectively, and making multilayer rolls 4 and 5 containing laminates independently selected from the recited list of laminates in step d). It is emphasized that it is the combination of claimed limitations which distinguishes over the prior art. Akao (US 5492741) is considered the closest prior art of record. Akao forms a multilayer laminate from various layers including nonwoven fabric, polymer adhesive, bioriented polypropylene and polyethylene foam (Figures 1-6; column 3, lines 57-58; column 6, lines 2, 13-18, 36 and 52-54; column 7, lines 60-67; column 8, lines 25-35; column 44; column 46, lines 45-52). However, it is clear from claim 10 that all of the roll laminates 1, 2 and 3 comprise a nonwoven layer adjacent a polymer adhesive layer. Thus step d) produces multilayer rolls with at least two such layer arrangements of a nonwoven layer adjacent a polymer adhesive layer. Such an arrangement is not clearly indicated by Akao, nor does Akao teach forming the claimed roll laminates 1, 2 and 3 and then combining laminates as in claimed step d).
Additional prior art is cited of interest. Koslowski (US 2020/009822 A1) joins multiple layers of bioriented polypropylene, polymer adhesive and nonwoven fabric (paragraphs 8-18, 85, 114-115, and 130-131). Szabad (US 4850913) is generally directed to forming a laminate and then further laminating an additional layer (Figures 1-3). Cohen (US 2004/0151922) teaches laminates of nonwoven material or foam with bioriented polypropylene and polymer adhesive layers (paragraphs 12, 33 and 35-36). However none of these references, alone or in combination with the prior art of record, teaches or suggests the above noted allowable subject matter.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL A TOLIN whose telephone number is (571)272-8633. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 am - 6 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Phillip C. Tucker can be reached at (571) 272-1095. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL A TOLIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1745