Prosecution Insights
Last updated: September 26, 2026
Application No. 18/287,198

EPOXY RESIN CURABLE COMPOSITION AND ADHESIVE CONTAINING THE SAME

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Oct 17, 2023
Priority
Apr 28, 2021 — JP 2021-076164 +1 more
Examiner
KELLEY, HEIDI RIVIERE
Art Unit
1765
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Toray Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
16%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
38%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 16% of cases
16%
Career Allowance Rate
43 granted / 271 resolved
-49.1% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 1m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
274
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.1%
-25.9% vs TC avg
§103
41.7%
+1.7% vs TC avg
§102
18.9%
-21.1% vs TC avg
§112
22.4%
-17.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 271 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
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 § 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. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 12 and 17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 12 states the Mt/Me is the ratio of moles of epoxy to moles of thiol, yet Mt is defined as the thiol amount and Me is defined as the epoxy amount. It is unclear how claim 17’s “is used for an adhesive” limits the claim. Is this a future intended use? Is this a poor attempt at a process claim? How does claim 17 differ from claim 18? 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. Claims 10-18 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP2008260850. The reference exemplifies (#11 of table 1) combining 70 parts *1, 10 parts *5, 20 parts *8 and 2 parts *13. According to paragraph 29 this is: Parts compound g/eq 70 tetrafunctional -SH (applicant’s thiol) 120 10 trifunctional -SH (applicant’s thiol) 280 20 bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane (applicant’s A) 2eq/142g (see Spectrum) 2 EH30 trifunctional tertiary amine (applicant’s B) 3eq/265g (see CHEMBSF) The reference then utilizes 67.4 parts of the mixture to react with 100 parts of epoxy resin 1 in example 11 of table 2. Epoxy resin 1 (paragraph 40) is Epikote 828 of 190g/eq. 100g of Epoxy 1 provides 100g/(190g/eq) or 0.526eq of epoxy (ie applicant’s Me). The amount of primary amine groups is: 20g/102g x 67.4g x 2eq/142g = 0.186mol -NH2 (ie applicant’s M1+2) The amount of tertiary amine groups is: 2g/102g x 67.4g x 3eq/265g = 0.015mol -NR2 (ie applicant’s M3) M1+2/Me is 0.186/0.526 = 0.35 M3/Me is 0.015/0.526 = 0.029 In regards to applicant’s dependent claims: M3/M1+2 is 0.015/0.186 = 0.081 – meeting applicant’s claim 11. The amount of thiol groups is: (70g/102g x 67.4g x 1eq/120g) + (10g/102g x 67.4g x 1eq/280g) = 0.409eq -SH (ie applicant’s Mt) Mt/Me=0.409/.526 = 0.78 – meeting applicant’s claim 12. The reference does not report the properties of applicant’s claims 14-16. Given the reference utilizes applicant’s materials in the same amounts, the same properties are assumed to result. The composition is useful as an adhesive (abstract) – meeting applicants claims 17 and 18. Claims 10-18 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by EP523001. The reference exemplifies (table 1 #1) combining 100 parts epoxy 2, 21 parts hardener 1, 12 parts triethyleneglycol dimercaptan, 2.5 parts pentamethylenediethylenetriamine and 7 parts anhydride. Hardener 1 (paragraph 69) is diaminodiphenylsulfone (ie applicant’s “A”). Triethyleneglycol dimercaptan is a polythiol. Pentamethylenediethylenetriamine has three tertiary amines (see the PubChem data sheet) which qualifies as applicant’s “B”. This is: Parts compound g/eq 100 epoxy 165g/eq 12 dimercaptan (applicant’s thiol) 2eq/182g (see PubChem sheet ) 21 diaminodiphenylsulfone (applicant’s A) 2eq/248g (see ChemBook) 2.5 Pentamethylenediethylenetriamine 3eq/173g (see PubChem sheet) 100g of Epoxy 2 provides 100g/(165g/eq) or 0.606eq of epoxy (ie applicant’s Me). The amount of primary amine groups is: 21g x 2eq/248g = 0.169mol -NH2 (ie applicant’s M1+2) The amount of tertiary amine groups is: 2.5g x 3eq/173g = 0.043mol -NR2 (ie applicant’s M3) M1+2/Me is 0.169/0.606 = 0.28 M3/Me is 0.043/0.606 = 0.07 In regards to applicant’s dependent claims: M3/M1+2 is 0.07/0.28 = 0.25 – meeting applicant’s claim 11. The amount of thiol groups is: 12g x 2eq/248g = 0.097eq -SH (ie applicant’s Mt) Mt/Me=0.097/.606 = 0.16 – meeting applicant’s claim 12. The reference does not report the properties of applicant’s claims 14-16. Given the reference utilizes applicant’s materials in the same amounts, the same properties are assumed to result. The composition is useful as an adhesive (paragraph 62) – meeting applicants claims 17 and 18. Claims 10,11 and 13-18 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by EP523001. The reference exemplifies (table 1 #4) combining 100 parts epoxy 2, 21 parts hardener 1, 12 parts Capcure3-800, 1.8 parts dimethylaminoethyl-3-dimethylaminopropylether and 3.6 parts anhydride. Hardener 1 (paragraph 69) is diaminodiphenylsulfone (ie applicant’s “A”). Capcure (page 7 of original doc) is a polythiol. Dimethylaminoethyl-3-dimethylaminopropylether has two tertiary amines (see the ChemSpider data sheet) which qualifies as applicant’s “B”. This is: Parts compound g/eq 100 epoxy 165g/eq 12 Capcure (applicant’s thiol) ------- 21 diaminodiphenylsulfone (applicant’s A) 2eq/248g (see ChemBook) 1.8 dimethylaminoethyl-3-dimethylaminopropylether 2eq/174g (see ChemSpid) 100g of Epoxy 2 provides 100g/(165g/eq) or 0.606eq of epoxy (ie applicant’s Me). The amount of primary amine groups is: 21g x 2eq/248g = 0.169mol -NH2 (ie applicant’s M1+2) The amount of tertiary amine groups is: 1.8g/102g x 2eq/174g = 0.021mol -NR2 (ie applicant’s M3) M1+2/Me is 0.169/0.606 = 0.28 M3/Me is 0.021/0.606 = 0.035 In regards to applicant’s dependent claims: M3/M1+2 is 0.035/0.28 = 0.125 – meeting applicant’s claim 11. The reference does not report the properties of applicant’s claims 14-16. Given the reference utilizes applicant’s materials in the same amounts, the same properties are assumed to result. The composition is useful as an adhesive (paragraph 62) – meeting applicants claims 17 and 18. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID J BUTTNER whose telephone number is (571)272-1084. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-3pm. 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, Heidi Kelley can be reached at 571-270-1831. 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. /DAVID J BUTTNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1765 6/9/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 17, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
16%
Grant Probability
38%
With Interview (+21.9%)
4y 1m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 271 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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