Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/265,445

RESIN COMPOSITION, METHOD FOR PRODUCING RESIN COMPOSITION, OPTICAL FIBER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL FIBER, OPTICAL FIBER RIBBON, AND OPTICAL FIBER CABLE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jun 06, 2023
Priority
Dec 21, 2020 — JP 2020-211203 +1 more
Examiner
WHITELEY, JESSICA
Art Unit
1763
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
1329 granted / 1502 resolved
+23.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
42 currently pending
Career history
1542
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
54.8%
+14.8% vs TC avg
§102
35.3%
-4.7% vs TC avg
§112
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1502 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 § 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. Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Asano et al (JP 2000344844) in view of Homma (WO 2021145103). With regards to claims 1, 5, and 6, Asano teaches a liquid radiation curing resin composition (0001) that includes a polyurethane acrylate oligomer containing an acrylic group (0006) that includes a multifunctional polyurethane having two or more (meth)acrylic groups and a urethane mono functional (meth)acrylate (0008). Asano teaches the multi-functional urethane to be a product of a reaction between polyols, diisocyanates, and (meth)acrylate compounds having hydroxyl groups (0009) wherein the polyols include diols (0010). Asano teaches the monofunctional urethane to be formed from polyether monools (0031), diisocyanates (0033), and (meth)acrylate compounds with hydroxyl groups (0034). Asano does not teach the monofunctional urethane to be formed using polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether. Homma teaches a curable composition that includes a urethane (meth)acrylate that is a reactant of polyoxyalkylene monoalkylether with a diisocyanate and a hydroxyl (meth)acrylate (0025). Homma teaches the polyoxyalkylene monoalkylether to include polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether (0013) having a molecular weight (Mn) for 2500 to 10000 (0019). Homma teaches the motivation for using the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether to be because it improves wear resistance (0025) and improves surface slippage (0021). Asano and Homma are analogous in the art of curable compositions containing urethane components. In light of the benefit above, it would be obvious to one skilled in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present invention to use the polyoxyalkylene monoalkylether of Homma in the urethane of Asano, thereby obtaining the present invention. With regards to claims 2 and 3, Asano teaches the polyol to have a molecular weight from 200 to 10,000 (011). With regards to claim 4, Asano teaches the polyol for the multifunctional urethane to be polypropylene glycol (0059). With regards to claim 7, Asano teaches the amount of the monofunctional (meth)acrylate to be from 5 to 70% (0038) with a preferred amount of 23.3 parts per 100 parts of the entire composition (0067). With regards to claim 8, Asano teaches the addition of compounds with ethylene unsaturated groups (0039) that includes N-vinyl compounds (0039). With regards to claim 9, Asano teaches a liquid radiation curing resin composition (0001) that includes a polyurethane acrylate oligomer containing an acrylic group (0006) that includes a multifunctional polyurethane having two or more (meth)acrylic groups and a urethane mono functional (meth)acrylate (0008). Asano teaches the multi-functional urethane to be a product of a reaction between polyols, diisocyanates, and (meth)acrylate compounds having hydroxyl groups (0009) wherein the polyols include diols (0010). Asano teaches the monofunctional urethane to be formed from polyether monools (0031), diisocyanates (0033), and (meth)acrylate compounds with hydroxyl groups (0034). Asano teaches the process to include forming the urethanes using the above reactions followed by (0055-0065) followed by mixing the urethane compounds the ethylene unsaturated groups and photopolymerization initiators (0065). Asano does not teach the monofunctional urethane to be formed using polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether. Homma teaches a curable composition that includes a urethane (meth)acrylate that is a reactant of polyoxyalkylene monoalkylether with a diisocyanate and a hydroxyl (meth)acrylate (0025). Homma teaches the polyoxyalkylene monoalkylether to include polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether (0013) having a molecular weight (Mn) for 2500 to 10000 (0019). Homma teaches the motivation for using the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether to be because it improves wear resistance (0025) and improves surface slippage (0021). Asano and Homma are analogous in the art of curable compositions containing urethane components. In light of the benefit above, it would be obvious to one skilled in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present invention to use the polyoxyalkylene monoalkylether of Homma in the urethane of Asano, thereby obtaining the present invention. With regards to claim 10, Asano teaches the composition to be used to coat optical fibers that include glass (0002), has a core (0049) and a cladding (title). Asano teaches the composition to be used as a primary coating layer and for the fiber to have a secondary coating (0002). With regards to claims 11 and 12, Asano teaches the curable composition to be applied to the optical fiber (0053) and cured using irradiation (0066). With regards to claims 13 and 14, Asano teaches the fiber to be fiber cables (0053). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JESSICA WHITELEY whose telephone number is (571)272-5203. The examiner can normally be reached 8 - 5:00. 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, Joseph Del Sole can be reached at 5712721130. 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. /JESSICA WHITELEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 06, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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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
88%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.1%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1502 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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