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 Invention II in the reply filed on December 02, 2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-3, 5-9 and 11-13 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.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 December 02, 2025.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 4 and 10 are 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.
In claim 4, it is unclear how the maleimide resin per claim 1 is “modified”. Notably, while it is clear that the condensation polymerization of a dicyclopentadiene-based resin having an amino group and maleic anhydride gives rise to a maleimide resin, it is unclear how said resin would be modified. Clarification is requested as to what modification the maleimide resin is subjected to so as to engender the “modified” feature.
In claim 10, it is unclear how the maleimide resin depicted in Formula (1) per claim 7 is “modified”. While the formula depicts a maleimide resin obtain from the reaction of a dicyclopentadiene-based diamine and maleic anhydride, it is unclear how said resin would be modified. Clarification is requested as to what modification the maleimide resin is subjected to so as to engender the “modified” feature.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 and 10 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The present claims are deemed allowable over the prior art of record in that said art neither discloses nor renders obvious the presently claimed components in combination. US 6,037,438 (Endo) discloses a composition comprising a cyanate compound , a maleimide compound containing at least two N-maleimido groups and a curing agent. Specifically, the maleimide compound includes those per the formula
PNG
media_image1.png
83
219
media_image1.png
Greyscale
wherein X can be represented by dicyclopentadiene-based groups (6) or (7)
PNG
media_image2.png
151
242
media_image2.png
Greyscale
. Endo, however, neither discloses nor provides any motivation for further including an additional maleimide resin and a styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer. US 5,326,881 (Hirano) discloses a thermosetting resin composition comprising an unsaturated imide compound, an epoxy resin and a curing agent. Specifically, the unsaturated imide compound is of structure
PNG
media_image3.png
81
259
media_image3.png
Greyscale
obtained by reacting a diamino compound per
PNG
media_image4.png
63
239
media_image4.png
Greyscale
wherein Q can be the dicyclopentadiene group
PNG
media_image5.png
45
91
media_image5.png
Greyscale
, with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride such as maleic anhydride. Hirano, however, neither disclose nor provides any motivation for further including an additional maleimide resin and a styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer. A thorough search has failed to reveal an additional prior art which would fairly teach, suggest or otherwise motivate one having ordinary skill in the art to arrive at the presently claimed invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ana L Woodward whose telephone number is (571)272-1082. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5pm.
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.
/ANA L. WOODWARD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1765
Prosecution Insights