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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-5 in the reply filed on January 21, 2026 is acknowledged.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Imamura et al (WO 2018043003).
With regards to claim 1, Imamura teaches a process for producing modified molded article (title) that is a modified tetrafluoroethylene unit and a modified monomer (0011) wherein the amount of monomer is 0.001 to 1% (0012). Imamura teaches the thickness of the molded article to be 0.1 to 3.0 mm (reading on 100 to 3000 µm) and an acceleration voltage of 300 kV (0092).
With regards to claim 2, Imamura teaches the irradiation dose to be 40 kGy (0092).
With regards to claim 3, Imamura teaches the temperature at radiation to be 280°C (0092).
With regards to claim 4, Imamura teaches the modified polytetrafluoroethylene to have a secondary melting point of 320-329°C (claim 3).
With regards to claim 5, Imamura teaches the modified molded product to be a diaphragm (claim 6).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The following art teaches the claimed molded article: Imamura et al (JP 2018/035234), Imamura et al (CN 109642038), and Imamura et al (US 2019/0218320).
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