DETAILED ACTION
This communication responds to the application filed April 21, 2023, and the Response to Restriction Requirement and amended claim set filed February 9, 2026. Claims 27-46 are currently pending.
The Requirement for Restriction dated December 22, 2025 is WITHDRAWN. Claims 27-46 are under examination.
Claims 27-46 are REJECTED under 35 USC 112, but otherwise contain allowable subject matter.
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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s amendments and arguments regarding the December 22 Requirement for Restriction are persuasive. Claims 27-46 now share a common technical feature, and given the examiner’s inability to find prior art teaching or fairly suggesting the subject matter of the present claims, that common technical feature is also special. Thus, the Requirement for Restriction is WITHDRAWN.
Priority
This application is the national stage entry of PCT/CN2021/125724, filed October 22, 2021, which claims priority to CN 202011148949.8, filed October 23, 2020. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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.
Claims 27-46 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 27, it is not clear what the different planes are. For compactness of prosecution, the examiner relies on the published Specification at paragraph [0008] to determine the planes, but invites Applicant to clarify.
Claims 28-46 depend from claim 27, either directly or indirectly, and do not correct claim 27’s deficiencies. Thus, they are also indefinite.
Regarding claim 31, it is not clear how the recited process results in the spun fiber of claim 27. Specifically, it is not clear what the fiber precursors are – the crystalline polymer, monomers, or something else. Further, it is not clear how the process results in the particular grain size. The examiner invites Applicant to clarify.
Claims 32-46 depend from claim 31, either directly or indirectly, and do not correct claim 31’s deficiencies. Thus, they are also indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 27-46 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
After a thorough and complete search, the examiner cannot find prior art teaching or fairly suggesting the claimed spun fiber. In particular, the examiner cannot find prior art teaching or fairly suggesting the recited grain sizes along the recited planes.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE S BRANCH whose telephone number is (571)270-3539. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday.
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CATHERINE S. BRANCH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1763
/CATHERINE S BRANCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
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