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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 4/7/26 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: In line 9, the word "performations" is misspelled and should be changed to "perforations". Additionally, in line 29, in the phrase "an selected". Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 26 is objected to because of the following informalities: In line 23, in the phrase "an selected", the word "an" should be changed to "a". Appropriate correction is required.
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 5 and 27 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.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "said seamless septum" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 27 recites the limitation "said seamless septum" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Interpretation
Regarding the limitations of claims 1 and 26 requiring “intentionally forming in real time a non-uniform seamless cell wall thickness to form a varying wall thickness along the length of one or more of the plurality of seamless cell walls”, it is noted that Applicant appears to attribute the “real time” tailoring/manufacturing to the use of an additive manufacturing machine or 3D-printer that is controlled by some kind of programable controller (See Specification [00180]). Because it is well known in the art that an additive manufacturing machine or 3D-printer must be connected to some kind of computer/hardware/software controller, the “real-time” nature of the manufacturing process is inherent to any device which can be formed by additive manufacturing/3D-printing, in the same way as Applicant’s, and as is well known in the art. Applicant’s disclosure does not include any novel method or process associated with the “real time” tailoring or manufacturing beyond that described in [00180], which is merely describing what is commonly known in the art in terms of additive manufacturing machines or 3D-printing being controlled by a programable controller that inherently has the capability of real time adjustments.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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, 4-8, 10-28 and 56-57 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin (2022/0389882) in view of Murugappan (2020/0309028).
With respect to claim 1, Lin teaches an apparatus (Figures 1, 15B-18 and 21A-D, #100) for attenuating sound in an aircraft assembly (140/102), the apparatus comprising: a seamless unitary acoustic panel assembly (100) comprising: a seamless, integral first facesheet (one of #202/204 - note some Figures point to top face #216 of acoustic screen #202); a seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #202/204), at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204) comprising a plurality of integral perforations (clearly seen in the Figures, also see [0069]) extending through said at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet and said seamless, integral second facesheet, said integral perforations (clearly seen in the Figures, also see [0069]) formed into the at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204) during manufacture of the at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204); and a seamless, integral cellular-core section (200) seamlessly interposed between said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204), said seamless, integral cellular-core section (200) comprising a plurality of seamless cells (defined by H-shaped ones of cell #206 as seen in Figures 16A-C, 17A/C and 21D), said plurality of seamless cells each comprising a plurality of seamless cell walls (300), at least one of said plurality of seamless cell walls comprising a cell wall length, said at least one of said seamless cell walls comprising a manufactured varying cell wall thickness along the cell wall (varying wall thickness clearly seen in H-shaped cells of Figures 17A/C and 21D) length to intentionally form in real time a non-uniform seamless cell wall thickness along the cell wall length of the at least one of the plurality of seamless cell walls (“intentional real-time formation of varying cell walls” and “volume tailoring” are inherent to the computer design and additive manufacturing/3D printing processes used by Lin [0177]-[0194] to form the panel assembly in the same way as Applicant’s, and as described in the claim interpretation section above), said plurality of said plurality of seamless cell walls (300) defining a seamless cell chamber (defined by upper/lower resonant spaces #602/604, or converging/diverging cells #1306/1308) in each of said plurality of seamless cells (206), said seamless cell chamber (602/604 or 1306/1308) comprising a selected seamless cell-chamber contour, said selected chamber contour comprising a curving irregular geometry (curving irregular geometry contour of H-shaped cells clearly seen in Figures #17A/C and 21D), said seamless cell chamber comprising a selected and tailored seamless cell-chamber volume (defined volume of each of individual upper/lower resonant spaces #602/604, or converging/diverging cell volumes #1306/1308); and wherein said seamless cell chamber (602/604 or 1306/1308) comprises an selected internal cell chamber contour (contour clearly seen), said internal cell chamber contour comprising an internal cell chamber contour geometry (contour geometry clearly seen).
Lin fails to explicitly teach wherein said internal cell chamber contour geometry configured to form a selected internal cell chamber contour curved bend, said internal cell chamber contour curved bend oriented to change direction toward and away from a cell-wall section more than once within and along an at least one seamless cell chamber length.
Murugappan teaches a similar apparatus (Figures 1-2D and 12A-13B, #100) for attenuating sound in an aircraft assembly (102), the apparatus comprising: a seamless unitary acoustic panel assembly (100) comprising: a seamless cell chamber (denoted by internal wall surface #1202 delimiting chamber of cells #206 in Figures 12A-B) and wherein said seamless cell chamber comprises an selected internal cell chamber contour (contour defined by sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 on wall surfaces #1202), said internal cell chamber contour comprising an internal cell chamber contour geometry (geometry formed by sound-attenuating protuberances #1200), said internal cell chamber contour geometry configured to form a selected internal cell chamber contour curved bend (note sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 form many curved ben portions), said internal cell chamber contour curved bend oriented to change direction toward and away from a cell-wall section more than once within and along an at least one seamless cell chamber length (note sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 form many curved ben portions oriented to change directions as claimed) ([0103]-[0110], [0117]-[0118]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the apparatus of Lin, with the apparatus of Murugappan so as to further attenuate sound in the resonant cells of Lin by forming the sound-attenuating protuberances of Murugappan on the similar resonant cell walls of Lin.
With respect to claim 4, Lin teaches wherein at least one of said plurality of seamless cells (206) comprises a seamless septum (402), said seamless septum (402) positioned seamlessly within the at least one of said plurality of seamless cells (206), said seamless septum (402) positioned seamlessly at a first selected depth within the seamless cell chamber of at least one of said plurality of seamless cells (206), said seamless septum (402) integrally formed with the plurality of seamless cell walls (300 - clearly seen in each of Figures 15B-D, 17A, 17C and 21D).
With respect to claim 5, Lin teaches wherein said first seamless cell (Figure 17D, defined by of middle one of cells #206) comprises a seamless septum (402) positioned seamlessly at a first selected depth within a first seamless cell chamber, said second seamless cell (Figure 17D, defined by of right-most one of cells #206) comprises a seamless septum (402) positioned seamlessly at a second selected depth within a second seamless cell chamber, wherein the first selected depth differs from the second selected depth (clearly seen in Figure 17D), said seamless septum (402) integrally formed with the seamless cell wall (300).
With respect to claim 6, Lin teaches wherein said seamless cell wall comprises a seamless cell-wall first section (See annotated view of Figure 21D, provided below, defined by one of wall sections #PWS or #NPWS) and a seamless cell-wall second section (defined by other of wall sections #PWS or #NPWS), and wherein at least one of said seamless cell-wall first section, said seamless cell- wall second section, and said seamless cell chamber is configured to be non-perpendicular (defined by wall sections #NPWS) to at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204) along the length of the at least one of said seamless cell-wall first section, said seamless cell-wall second section, and said seamless cell chamber (clearly seen in annotated view of Figure 21 D, also see Figures 16B/17D).
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With respect to claim 7, Lin teaches wherein more than one of said at least one of the plurality of seamless cell walls (300) comprises a selected non-uniform thickness along its length (clearly seen in the annotated view of Figure 21D above).
With respect to claim 8, Lin teaches wherein the at least one of said seamless cell-wall first section and said seamless cell-wall second section (See annotated view of Figure 21D, provided above, defined by one of/other of wall sections #PWS or #NPWS) has a selected seamless cell-wall thickness that is non-uniform along its length.
With respect to claim 10, Lin and Murugappan teach the apparatus of claim 1. Lin further teaches wherein at least one of the seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and the seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204) comprises an inherent, but unspecified density along its area. Lin further teaches that “the acoustic core 200, the acoustic screen 202, and/or the back sheet 204 may be formed using an additive manufacturing technology, which may allow for acoustic liners 100 with novel configuration, geometries, and/or features that provide certain improvements and/or avoid certain shortcomings as compared with previous acoustic liners ([0073]).”
Lin and Murugappan fail to teach anything about the density, including whether it includes a uniform or a non-uniform density along its area.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein at least one of the seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and the seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204) comprises a non-uniform density along its area, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or working range involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. In this case, providing a non-uniform, or range of density would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to tune the device. Further, as noted above, Lin as modified teaches that using an additive manufacturing to form the device, including the facesheets, allows for novel configuration, geometries, and/or features that provide certain improvements and/or avoid certain shortcomings as compared with previous acoustic liners. Altering or varying the density of a component is well known in the art to acoustically tune or increase/decrease strength of a component and would be one of many parameters that one of ordinary skill might adjust to achieve a desired acoustical performance or an increase/decrease in strength of a component, which as noted by Lin as modified, would be easily achievable when using an additive manufacturing process for forming the device.
With respect to claim 11, Lin teaches an object (140/102) comprising the apparatus (100) of Claim 1.
With respect to claim 12, Lin teaches an aircraft-engine assembly (102) comprising the apparatus (100) of Claim 1.
With respect to claim 13, Lin teaches an aircraft (140) comprising the apparatus (100) of Claim 1.
With respect to claim 14, Lin teaches wherein said seamless, integral cellular-core section (200 ) comprises: a seamless first cellular-core region (Figure 21D, defined by one of cell groups #1200), said seamless first cellular-core region comprising a plurality of seamless first cells (1306/1308) comprising a plurality of seamless first cell walls (300) defining a seamless first cell chamber (defined by chamber of cells 1306/1308), said seamless first cell chamber having a selected seamless first cell-chamber volume (defined by chamber volume of cells 1306/1308), at least one of said plurality of seamless first cell walls (300) comprising a selected seamless first cell-wall thickness, said at least one of said plurality of seamless first cell walls further comprising a selected first cell-wall density (cell walls #300 inherently have a density); and a seamless second cellular core region (Figure 21D, defined by other of cell groups #1200), said seamless second cellular-core region comprising a plurality of seamless second cells (1306/1008) comprising a plurality of seamless second cell walls (300) defining a seamless second cell chamber (defined by chamber of cells 1306/1308) having a selected seamless second cell-chamber volume (defined by chamber volume of cells 1306/1308), at least one of the plurality of seamless second cell walls (300) comprising a selected seamless second cell-wall thickness, said at least one of said plurality of seamless second cell walls further comprising a selected second cell-wall density (cell walls #300 inherently have a density), said seamless second cellular-core region positioned adjacent the seamless first cellular-core region (note one of cell groups #1200 and other of cell groups #1200 can include adjacent ones of cell groups #1200).
With respect to claim 15, Lin teaches wherein at least a portion of the at least one of said plurality of seamless first cell walls (300 – note right-most wall #300 labeled PWS in the annotated view of Figure 21D above is perpendicular as claimed) is oriented perpendicular to at least one of the seamless, integral first facesheet (one of #202/204) and the seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #202/204).
With respect to claim 16, Lin teaches wherein at least a portion of the at least one of said plurality of seamless second cell walls (300 – note right-most wall #300 labeled PWS in the annotated view of Figure 21D above is perpendicular as claimed) is oriented perpendicular to at least one of the seamless, integral first facesheet (one of #202/204) and the seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #202/204).
With respect to claim 17, Lin teaches wherein at least a portion of the at least one of the plurality of seamless first cell walls (300 – note at least portions of walls labeled as #PWS in the annotated view of Figure 21D above non-perpendicular as claimed) is oriented non-perpendicular to at least one of the seamless, integral first facesheet (one of #202/204) and the seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #202/204).
With respect to claim 18, Lin teaches wherein at least a portion of the at least one of said plurality of seamless second cell walls (300 – note at least portions of walls labeled as #PWS in the annotated view of Figure 21D above non-perpendicular as claimed) is oriented non-perpendicular to at least one of the seamless, integral first facesheet section (one of #202/204) and the seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #202/204).
With respect to claim 19, Lin teaches wherein the selected seamless first cell-chamber volume (defined by volume of one of cells #1306) differs from the selected seamless second cell-chamber volume (defined by volume of one of cells #1308).
With respect to claim 20, Lin teaches wherein the selected seamless first cell-wall thickness differs from the selected seamless second cell-wall thickness (note different wall thicknesses for cells #1306 and 1308 in Figure 21D).
With respect to claims 21 and 22, Lin and Murugappan teach the apparatus of claim 14. Lin further teaches wherein a selected first cell-wall density (defined by density of one of cells #1306) and a selected seamless second cell-density (defined by density of one of cells #1308), wherein it is inherent, but unspecified that the selected first cell-wall density is either substantially equivalent, or differs from the selected second cell-wall density. Lin further teaches that “the acoustic core 200, the acoustic screen 202, and/or the back sheet 204 may be formed using an additive manufacturing technology, which may allow for acoustic liners 100 with novel configuration, geometries, and/or features that provide certain improvements and/or avoid certain shortcomings as compared with previous acoustic liners ([0073]).”
Lin and Murugappan fail to teach anything about the density, including whether the first cell-wall density is either substantially equivalent, or differs from the selected second cell-wall density.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the first cell-wall density is either substantially equivalent, or differs from the selected second cell-wall density, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or working range involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. In this case, providing first cell-wall density that is substantially equivalent, or differing from the selected second cell-wall density would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to tune the device. Further, as noted above, Lin as modified teaches that using an additive manufacturing process to form the device, including the core, allows for novel configuration, geometries, and/or features that provide certain improvements and/or avoid certain shortcomings as compared with previous acoustic liners. Altering or varying the density of two components to be substantially similar or differ from one another is well known in the art to acoustically tune or increase/decrease strength of a component and would be one of many parameters that one of ordinary skill might adjust to achieve a desired acoustical performance or an increase/decrease in strength of a component, which as noted by Lin as modified, would be easily achievable when using an additive manufacturing process for forming the device.
With respect to claim 23, Lin teaches an object (140/102) comprising the apparatus (100) of Claim 14.
With respect to claim 24, Lin teaches an aircraft-engine assembly (102) comprising the apparatus (100) of Claim 14.
With respect to claim 25, Lin teaches an aircraft (140) comprising the apparatus (100) of Claim 14.
With respect to claim 26, Lin teaches method for attenuating sound (method necessitated by product structure of apparatus of Figures 1, 15B-18 and 21A-D, #100) in an aircraft assembly (140/102), the method comprising: providing an aircraft assembly (140/102); integrating into the aircraft assembly a seamless, unitary acoustic panel (100), said seamless, unitary acoustic panel comprising: a seamless, integral first facesheet (one of #202/204 - note some Figures point to top face #216 of acoustic screen #202); a seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #202/204), at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204) comprising a plurality of perforations (clearly seen in the Figures, also see [0069]) extending through said at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet and said seamless, integral second facesheet; and a seamless, integral cellular-core section (200) seamlessly interposed between said seamless, integral first facesheet (202/204) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (202/204), said seamless, integral cellular-core (200) comprising a plurality of seamless cells (defined by H-shaped ones of cell #206 as seen in Figures 16A-C, 17A/C and 21D), said plurality of seamless cells comprising a plurality of seamless cell walls (300), each of said plurality of seamless cell walls comprising a cell wall length, said plurality of seamless cell walls defining a seamless cell chamber (defined by upper/lower resonant spaces #602/604, or converging/diverging cells #1306/1308) in each of said plurality of seamless cells, said seamless cell chamber comprising a selected chamber contour, said selected chamber contour comprising a curving irregular geometry (curving irregular geometry contour of H-shaped cells clearly seen in Figures #17A/C and 21D), said seamless cell chamber comprising a selected and tailored seamless cell-chamber volume (defined volume of each of individual upper/lower resonant spaces #602/604, or converging/diverging cell volumes #1306/1308); and wherein said seamless cell chamber (602/604 or 1306/1308) comprises a selected internal cell chamber contour (contour clearly seen), said internal cell chamber contour comprising an internal cell chamber contour geometry (contour geometry clearly seen); wherein at least one of the plurality of seamless cells further comprises differing cell properties from at least one of a remainder of the plurality of seamless cells, said differing cell properties comprising at least one of differing cell-wall volume (note differing volumes of cells #602/604 and cells #1306/1308), differing cell-wall thickness (note differing cell wall #300 thickness of cells #1306 and 1308, best seen in Figure 21D), differing cell-wall density, and differing cell sound-attenuation ranges ([0119], [0128]); and wherein the at least one of the plurality of cell walls is manufactured in real time to form a varying cell wall thickness along the length of more than one of the plurality of seamless cell walls (varying wall thickness clearly seen in H-shaped cells of Figures 17A/C and 21D, and “intentional real-time formation of varying cell walls” and “volume tailoring” are inherent to the computer design and additive manufacturing/3D printing processes used by Lin [0177]-[0194] to form the panel assembly in the same way as Applicant’s, and as described in the claim interpretation section above).
Lin fails to explicitly teach wherein said internal cell chamber contour geometry configured to form a selected internal cell chamber contour curved bend, said internal cell chamber contour curved bend oriented to change direction toward and away from a cell-wall section more than once within and along an at least one seamless cell chamber length.
Murugappan teaches a similar apparatus (Figures 1-2D and 12A-13B, #100) for attenuating sound in an aircraft assembly (102), the apparatus comprising: a seamless unitary acoustic panel assembly (100) comprising: a seamless cell chamber (denoted by internal wall surface #1202 delimiting chamber of cells #206 in Figures 12A-B) and wherein said seamless cell chamber comprises an selected internal cell chamber contour (contour defined by sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 on wall surfaces #1202), said internal cell chamber contour comprising an internal cell chamber contour geometry (geometry formed by sound-attenuating protuberances #1200), said internal cell chamber contour geometry configured to form a selected internal cell chamber contour curved bend (note sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 form many curved ben portions), said internal cell chamber contour curved bend oriented to change direction toward and away from a cell-wall section more than once within and along an at least one seamless cell chamber length (note sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 form many curved ben portions oriented to change directions as claimed) ([0103]-[0110], [0117]-[0118]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the apparatus of Lin, with the apparatus of Murugappan so as to further attenuate sound in the resonant cells of Lin by forming the sound-attenuating protuberances of Murugappan on the similar resonant cell walls of Lin.
With respect to claim 27, Lin teaches wherein at least one of said plurality of seamless cells (206) comprises a seamless septum (402), said seamless septum (402) positioned seamlessly within the at least one of said plurality of seamless cells (206), said seamless septum (402) positioned seamlessly at a first selected depth within the seamless cell chamber of at least one of said plurality of seamless cells (206), said seamless septum (402) integrally formed with the plurality of seamless cell walls (300 - clearly seen in each of Figures 15B-D, 17A, 17C and 21D).
With respect to claim 28, Lin teaches wherein the aircraft assembly (140) is at least one of an aircraft-engine assembly (102), an aircraft-fuselage assembly, and an aircraft assembly (102) in communication with an airflow.
With respect to claim 56, Murugappan teaches wherein said internal cell chamber contour geometry (contour geometry defined by sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 on wall surfaces #1202, when applied to walls of Lin cell chambers #602/604 or 1306/1308, when combined as defined above) is an irregular internal cell chamber contour geometry (clearly seen in Figures 12A-B, also see [0104], [1016]).
With respect to claim 57, Murugappan teaches wherein said internal cell chamber contour geometry (contour geometry defined by sound-attenuating protuberances #1200 on wall surfaces #1202, when applied to walls of Lin cell chambers #602/604 or 1306/1308, when combined as defined above) is an irregular internal cell chamber contour geometry (clearly seen in Figures 12A-B, also see [0104], [1016]).
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin (2022/0389882) in view of Murugappan (2020/0309028), as applied ot claim 1 above, and further in view of Morin (2020/0347785).
With respect to claim 9, Lin and Murugappan teach the apparatus of claim 1 including a seamless, integral first facesheet (Lin, one of #202/204 - note some Figures point to top face #216 of acoustic screen #202); a seamless, integral second facesheet (Lin, other of #202/204).
Lin and Murugappan fail to teach wherein at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet and said seamless, integral second facesheet comprises a selected non-uniform thickness along its area.
Morin teaches a similar apparatus (Figures 1 and 7, #38/42 – [0041]-[0042]) for attenuating sound in an aircraft assembly (20), the apparatus comprising: a seamless unitary acoustic panel (42) comprising: a seamless, integral first facesheet (one of 44/46); a seamless, integral second facesheet (other of #44/46), wherein at least one of said seamless, integral first facesheet (44/46) and said seamless, integral second facesheet (44/46) comprises a selected non-uniform thickness along its area (clearly seen in facesheet #46 – [0049]), so as to improve impact resistance by including a variable thickness of a facesheet, which functions to improve its capability to withstand impact from ice that may shed from the fan.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the apparatus of Lin as modified, with the apparatus of Morin so as to improve impact resistance of the facesheet.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 4-28 and 56-57 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. The Examiner considers the obvious combination of Lin, Murugappan and Morin to teach all of the imitations as claimed by Applicant.
It is noted that on Applicant’s arguments dated 4/7/26, page 18 of 21, it is stated that claim 4 is now called, without prejudice. However, the accompany claim amendments filed 4/7/26 do not include cancellation of claim 4. As indicated in the above rejection, claim 4 was examined on the merits as presented.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Pertinent arts of record relating to Applicant’s disclosure are disclosed in the PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEREMY AUSTIN LUKS whose telephone number is (571)272-2707. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (9:00-5:00).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dedei Hammond can be reached at (571) 270-7938. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JEREMY A LUKS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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