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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 17 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim recites “a elastomeric hot-melt outer layer” in lines 3-4. It appears the claim should recite “an elastomeric hot-melt outer layer.” 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 1-6, 14-20 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 1-6 and 14-20 are presently directed to “An embossed hot-melt adhesive sheet for heat lamination to a porous fabric layer”, however, claim 1 recites what happens during heat lamination to the porous fabric layer, the porous fabric layer not being an element of the embossed hot-melt adhesive sheet, and also recites the final product after the heat lamination. Thus, the claim is confusing. Therefore, claim 1 and claims dependent from it were considered as directed to “A laminate, comprising a porous fabric layer and an embossed hot melt adhesive sheet for heat lamination to the porous fabric layer, the adhesive sheet comprising…”
Claim 6 recites “a second plurality of three-dimensional adhesive structures” in line 2, and “the second plurality” in lines 3-4 and 7-8. The claim is confusing as there is no “first plurality” recited in claim 1 or claim 6.
Claim 18 recites “a second plurality of discrete three-dimensional adhesive structures” in line 2, and “the second plurality” in line 4. The claim is confusing as there is no “first plurality” recited in claim 1 or claim 18.
Examiner’s Note
Claims 1-6 and 14-20 would be allowable if amended as discussed above in the 35 USC 112(b) rejections section.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for indicating allowable subject matter: the art of record fails to teach or suggest a laminate comprising an embossed adhesive sheet and a porous fabric layer, wherein adjacent ones of the discrete three-dimensional adhesive structures are spaced about 0.9 mm to about 4 mm apart, and an average penetration depth into the porous fabric layer is between about 25% and about 33% of h.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed on Dec. 29, 2025 have been fully considered.
In view of the recent amendment 35 USC 112(b) rejections of claims 1-6 and 14-17 of the last Office action have been withdrawn. New 35 USC 112(b) rejections have been issued as discussed above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 JOANNA PLESZCZYNSKA whose telephone number is (571)270-1617. The examiner can normally be reached M-F ~ 11:30-8.
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/Joanna Pleszczynska/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1783
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