DETAILED ACTION
This communication responds to the application and claim set filed February 15, 2024, and the Response to Restriction Requirement filed July 6, 2026. Claims 1-25 are currently pending.
Upon further consideration, the Requirement for Restriction dated May 11, 2026 is WITHDRAWN. Claims 1-25 are under examination.
Claims 20-22 are REJECTED under 35 USC 112, but otherwise contain allowable subject matter.
Claims 1-19 and 23-25 are ALLOWED.
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
The May 11, 2026 Requirement for Restriction is WITHDRAWN. Claims 1-25 are under examination.
Priority
This application claims priority to US 63/485123, filed February 15, 2023.
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 20-22 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 20-22, the preamble recites a method, but the claims depend ultimately from claim 19, which recites a composition.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-19 and 23-25 are allowed. Claims 20-22 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claims 1-25 contain allowable subject matter in view of the closest prior art reference, Nemcek et al. (EP 0 013 491). Nemcek teaches siliceous particles that are dispersed in polymerizable liquids that are then polymerized to form a solid composition. (Abstract; Examples.) However, Nemcek does not teach or fairly suggest the claimed method. In particular, Nemcek does not teach or fairly suggest that the polymerizable material is a bio-oil. Rather, the liquids of Nemcek are monomers such as styrene, vinyl ethyl ether, and (meth)acrylates (see p. 5, lines 1-7), and there is no teaching or suggestion otherwise.
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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CATHERINE S. BRANCH
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1763
/CATHERINE S BRANCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
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