DETAILED ACTION
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 election without traverse of Group I, Species (i) from Group A and Species (iv) from Group B in the reply filed on 09/22/2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 5-8 and 10-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 09/22/2025.
Information Disclosure Statement
Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) submitted on 07/13/2023 is considered and signed IDS form is attached.
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.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Blasing, Jr. (3,859,243 cited in IDS).
Regarding claims 1-4, Blasing, Jr. disclose a composition comprising melamine/formaldehyde resin (melamine-based resin) and internally reactive plasticizer (internal modifier) such as 2-(2-Aminoethyoxy) ethanol in amount of 3.5 wt% (see Abstract and col. 3, lines 5-11). There are no other modifiers, i.e. modifiers is below 10% or below 5%. Further, given that there are no external modifiers, the composition is free from external modifiers. Given that the composition is identical to that presently claimed, the composition is thermosetting resin composition.
Claims 1-4 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Weinkoetz et al. (US 2020/0095453 A1).
Regarding claims 1-4 and 9, Weinkoetz et al. disclose a liquid composition comprising etherified melamine formaldeyde resin and solvent (see paragraphs 0128-0129). There is no disclosure of modifiers in the liquid composition. That is, modifier amount is 0 wt% (free from modifier). Given that the liquid composition is identical to that presently claimed, the liquid composition is thermosetting resin composition.
Citation of Relevant Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Weinert et al. (US 2004/0219378 A1) disclose a coating composition comprising an alkyl-etherified melamine formaldehyde and polyester (see Abstract).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRUPA SHUKLA whose telephone number is (571)272-5384. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00-3:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Callie Shosho can be reached at 571-272-1123. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KRUPA SHUKLA/Examiner, Art Unit 1787
/CALLIE E SHOSHO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1787
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