Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 04, 2026
Application No. 18/279,056

CURABLE SILICONE COMPOSITION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Aug 26, 2023
Priority
Mar 05, 2021 — RE 10-2021-0029560 +1 more
Examiner
WHITELEY, JESSICA
Art Unit
1763
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Dow Silicones Corporation
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
1320 granted / 1492 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
47 currently pending
Career history
1539
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
31.5%
-8.5% vs TC avg
§102
34.8%
-5.2% vs TC avg
§112
16.6%
-23.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1492 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. Claim s 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yoshikawa et al (US 2006/0079592) in view of Imazawa et al (US 2010/0103507) . With regards to claim s 1 , 4 , and 5 , Yoshikawa teaches a photo-curable coating composition (title) that contains a silicone compound having at least three epoxycyclohexyl-bearing organic groups each directly attached to a silicone atom (abstract) in an amount of 100 parts (abstract) , an epoxycyclohexyl-bearing organic group (abstract) in an amount of 18-230 parts (abstract) and a photoacid generator (abstract) in an amount of 0.1-5 parts (abstract) . Yoshikawa teaches the first silane compound to have the following structure: (0032) wherein R 1 is an epoxycyclohexyl-bearing organic group (003 6) and the second silane compound to have the following structure: (0066) wherein R 1 is an epoxycyclohexyl-bearing organic group (0036). Yoshikawa does not teach the addition of a black azo dye. Imazawa teaches a silicone rubber composition that contains an organopolysiloxane, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, a catalyst, and an azo dye (abstract). Imazawa teaches the azo dye to include a black azo dye (0028) and teaches the motivation for adding the black azo dye to be because it provides a composition that cures into a film which shields visible light but transmits IR light (abstract and 0028). Yoshikawa and Imazawa are analogous in the art of curing coating compositions. In light of the benefit above, it is would be obvious to one skilled in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present invention to add the dye of Imazawa to the composition of Yoshikawa, thereby obtaining the present invention. With regards to claim s 2 and 3 , Yoshikawa teaches both silane compounds to be one in which the R 1 group on both compounds includes an epoxycyclohexyl-bearing organic group (0036) . Claim s 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (2009, Macromolecular Research, vol 17, no 9, 651-657) in view of Imazawa et al (US 2010/0103507) . With regards to claim s 1 -5 , Kim teaches a composition containing a b inder and a photoacid generator (PAG) (abstract) wherein the binder is present in a concentration from 75-125% and the PAG is >6% (abstract). Kim teaches the binder to include two epoxy silane compounds that include: (page 652) and (page 652). Kim does not teach the addition of an azo dye. Imazawa teaches a silicone rubber composition that contains an organopolysiloxane, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, a catalyst, and an azo dye (abstract). Imazawa teaches the azo dye to include a black azo dye (0028) and teaches the motivation for adding the black azo dye to be because it provides a composition that cures into a film which shields visible light but transmits IR light (abstract and 0028). Kim and Imazawa are analogous in the art of curing coating compositions. In light of the benefit above, it is would be obvious to one skilled in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present invention to add the dye of Imazawa to the composition of Kim , thereby obtaining the present invention. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT JESSICA WHITELEY whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-5203 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Joseph Del Sole can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 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 571-272-100 0. /JESSICA WHITELEY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 26, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12612577
PERFUMED COMPOSITIONS, PROCESS OF PREPARING THEREOF AND USES
3y 10m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12612353
METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MUSK FRAGRANCE INGREDIENT
3y 3m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12600808
CROSSLINKABLE PREPOLYMERS FOR CHEMICALLY STABLE POLYMER GELS
3y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12600888
DUAL-CURABLE ADHESIVE COMPOSITION
3y 6m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12590264
PROFRAGRANCE CONJUGATES
3y 4m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

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 1492 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month