DETAILED ACTION
This communication responds to the application and claim set filed May 5, 2023, and the Response to Restriction Requirement filed May 26, 2026. Claims 1-20 are currently pending.
Non-elected claims 1-6 are WITHDRAWN. Elected claims 7-20 are under examination.
Claims 7-20 are REJECTED under 35 USC 112 for the reasons set forth below, but otherwise contain allowable subject matter.
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, claims 7-20, in the reply filed on May 26, 2026 is acknowledged. Claims 7-20 are under examination.
Priority
This application claims priority to US 63/339,691, filed May 9, 2022.
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.
Claims 7-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Regarding claims 7, 14, and 18, m in defined as 1 or 2, but there is no m in formula (II). In addition, q is not defined. Finally, formula (II) does not clearly show the dotted line that indicates an optional double bond. The examiner assumes that the dotted line is intended to be between the structural unit of formula (II) and the adjacent structural unit, but that line could just as easily be a solid line broken by the wavy line. The examiner invites Applicant to clarify.
Claims 8-13, 15-17, 19, and 20 contain all of the limitations of claims 7, 14, and 18, and do not correct their deficiencies. Therefore, they are also indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claims 7-20 contain allowable subject matter in view of the closest prior art, Oi et al. (JP 2004-002721). Oi teaches a copolymer comprising a structural unit derived from the following monomer:
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232
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(Oi, paras. [0001], [0008].)
However, Oi does not teach or fairly suggest the claimed polymer. The polymer of Oi differs in that the fused ring made by groups corresponding to R2 and R3 is an alkyl ring, whereas the polymer of Oi requires that, when a fused ring is formed, it is an aryl ring. Further, Oi does not teach or fairly suggest that the fused ring may be anything other than an alkyl ring.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE S BRANCH whose telephone number is (571)270-3539. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joseph Del Sole can be reached at 571-272-1130. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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CATHERINE S. BRANCH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1763
/CATHERINE S BRANCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
