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 .
FINAL REJECTION
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 1-10 and 13-22 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.
Respectfully, the claims are still replete with significant errors that render said claims entirely unclear. For example, the limitations “the cured composite part” in claim 1 lacks proper antecedent basis. The remainder of the errors are identified in the proposed amendments below:
Claim 1:
e) conducting a crystallization of the material of the hollow mandrel formed by step d), and then curing the composite material to form the composite part; f) removing the hollow mandrel from the mold; and
Claim 2:
step e) further comprises controlling a temperature of the hollow mandrel to perform the crystallization of
Cancel claims 3, 13, 20 and 21
Claim 6:
-- the providing of the hollow mandrel is
Claim 7:
-- wherein step d) comprises one or more of:
Claim 8:
increasing a temperature of the hollow mandrel during the crystallization of pressure inside the hollow mandrel to keep the hollow mandrel pressed against the mold; controlling the temperature of the hollow mandrel, such that the hollow mandrel crystallizes before a final curing temperaturewherein the of the temperature of the hollow mandrel -is performed gradually.
Claim 9:
-- The method according to claim [[3]] 1, wherein the curing of the composite part between the mold and the crystallized hollow mandrel comprises: increasing a temperature from a first temperature, at which the crystallization of the semi-crystalline thermoplastic material of the hollow mandrel occurs the curing of the composite material; and/or increasing and maintaining a pressure inside the hollow mandrel to press the composite material against the forming surface of the mold during the curing. --
Claim 10:
-- The method according to claim 1, wherein the composite material is a different material from the material of the hollow mandrel
Claim 16:
-- and the fiber material comprises fibers and the matrix material comprises a thermo-curable resin
Claim 17
-- The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step c): hollow mandrel hollow mandrel
Claim 18:
-- The method according to claim 1, wherein step d) comprises the hollow mandrel; pressing the fiber material and the matrix material against the forming surface of the mold; and evacuating a region between the forming surface of the mold and the hollow mandrel
19. (New) The method according to claim 1, wherein step e) comprises: gradually increasing a temperature of the hollow mandrel, during the crystallization of the hollow mandrel hollow mandrel crystallizes before a final curing temperature,
22. (New) A method for manufacturing a composite part, the method comprising sequential steps of: a) providing a hollow mold that has a forming surface, a cavity, an undercut, and is a part of a pressing tool; b) providing a composite material, which is in a form of a laminate or a prepreg material and includes a fiber material, which comprises fibers, and a matrix material, which is a thermo-curable resin the forming surface of the mold; c) providing a hollow mandrel, which is another part of the pressing tool, is made of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material in an amorphous state, is in a form of a bladder or a hose, and is configured to fit inside the hollow mold, on the forming surface of the hollow mold, wherein: the hollow mandrel is provided at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the semi-crystalline thermoplastic material; the semi-crystalline thermoplastic material is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyetheretherketone; and the pressing tool comprises a skin or foil made from the semi- crystalline thermoplastic material; d) forming the hollow mandrel by: pressing the hollow mandrel against the forming surface of the hollow mold; the temperature of the hollow mandrel to perform the crystallization of gradually increasing [[a]] the temperature of the hollow mandrel to a first temperature, at which the crystallization occurs the temperature of the pressing tool from [[a]] the first temperature, final curing temperature the hollow mandrel from the hollow mold; and h) removing the composite part from the hollow mold. --
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 11/20/25 have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Potential Allowable Subject Matter
The prior art of record does not disclose, in combination with the other limitations, the following sequentially performed steps: removing the hollow mandrel from the hollow mold; and removing the composite part from the hollow mold. Instead, the closest prior art (Clay, see Non-Final Rejection), discloses the mandrel is removed simultaneously with the composite part. One intended purpose of Clay is to bond the mandrel to the composite part. As such, modifying Clay such that the mandrel and composite part are removed sequentially would render Clay in operable for it’s intended purpose.
However, in view of the severity of the 35 U.S.C 112(b) rejections above, no allowable subject has been indicated. If the applicant amendments the claims in forgoing manner, the application may be in condition for allowance. However, any potential allowably is highly dependent upon the nature of any amendments.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER T SCHATZ whose telephone number is (571)272-6038. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 9-6.
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/CHRISTOPHER T SCHATZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746