CTNF 18/399,397 CTNF 75007 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 07-42-05 AIA 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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle , 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 26 May 2026 has been entered. 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. 07-34-01 Claims 1-12 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. Claims 1 and 4 recite the limitation, “wherein the composite coating layer is a composite material containing a metallic phase, a quasicrystalline phase, and a ceramic phase.” The plain meaning of the phrase requires the presence of three distinct phases. However, the terms metallic and ceramic indicate the composition of the phase whereas the term quasicrystalline indicates ordering of the atoms. One might imagine a coating layer containing a metallic phase and a ceramic phase, and the metallic phase is entirely quasicrystalline. Can the metallic phase correspond to both the metallic phase, and the quasicrystalline phase? Or does the claim require the presence of a metallic phase (not in the form of a quasicrystalline phase), a separate quasicrystalline phase (such as a ceramic or metallic quasicrystalline form) AND a ceramic phase (not in the form of a quasicrystalline phase)? The specification fails to clearly resolve the issue. Claim 2 refers to quasicrystalline structure phases. The claims are unclear if the quasistructural phases are the same or different than the “quasicrystalline” phase referred to in claim 1. Claims 3 and 5-12 are rejected for failing to correct the deficiencies of claims 1 or 4. Allowable Subject Matter 07-43-01 AIA Claim s 1-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David Sample whose telephone number is (571)272-1376. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 7AM to 3:30 PM. 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, Humera Sheikh can be reached at (571)272-0604. 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. /David Sample/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1784 Application/Control Number: 18/399,397 Page 2 Art Unit: 1784 Application/Control Number: 18/399,397 Page 3 Art Unit: 1784 Application/Control Number: 18/399,397 Page 4 Art Unit: 1784
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