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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Status of Claims
Responsive to the amendment filed 31 December 2025, claim 1 is amended and claims 2-3 are cancelled. Claims 1 and 4-6 are currently under examination. Claims 7-12 are withdrawn.
Status of Previous Rejections
Responsive to the amendment filed 31 December 2025, new grounds of rejection are presented.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 4-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US 20230017833 A1 (hereinafter “Jian”).
Regarding claim 1, Jian teaches a coated soft magnetic alloy particle (See title). Jian teaches that the particle has a composition of an amorphous phase with a first film coating thereon (See SUMMARY or Fig 1 or claim 1). Jian teaches that a non-spherical particle shape causes problems in the prior art (see SUMMARY). Jian teaches that the particle has a composition of FeaSibBcCdPeCufSngM1hM2i (see [0044]-[0056] or claims 1-4). Jian teaches a spherical shape (see [0071]).
Jian teaches Example 1 in which an iron alloy with composition of Fe84.2Si1B9C1P3Cu0.8Sn1 is melted and quenched (See Example 1). Jian teaches that the powder is amorphous (see [0109]). Jian teaches that the powder is subjected to a spheroidization treatment (see [0104]-[0105]). Thus the particles meet the limitation of being spherical.
Regarding claim 4, Jian teaches Sn (Example 1). Jian teaches also that M2 may include V, Mn, or Sn (see claim 4).
Regarding claim 5, Jian teaches that the particle has a composition of FeaSibBcCdPeCufSngM1hM2i (see [0044]-[0056] or claims 1-4). Jian teaches that M1 includes NI or Co, while M2 includes Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Cr, Al, Mn, Ag, V, Zn, As, Sb, Bi, Y, and a rare earth element.
All of the numerical limitations are considered to be optional. Thus the composition meets the claim limitations.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jian.
Regarding claim 6, Jian teaches that the particles are sieved to generate the size as needed (see Example 1). Jian teaches that an average size of the powder would desirably be 10-50 microns (See [0064]-[0067]). Jian taches that the small particle size causes problems in the prior art (see SUMMARY).
The optimization of the particle size of the powder of Jian would have been an obvious matter to the skilled artisan based on these teachings to optimize particle size. The selection of a suitable desired particle would have required no more thana routine investigation of the broad teachings of Jian.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) filed 31 December 2025 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER S KESSLER whose telephone number is (571)272-6510. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Curt Mayes can be reached at 571-272-1234. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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CHRISTOPHER S. KESSLER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1734
/CHRISTOPHER S KESSLER/ Examiner, Art Unit 1759
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