DETAILED ACTION
Notice of 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 .
Claims 1-20 are pending and are rejected.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDSs) filled on 11/21/2023 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
Drawings filled on 11/21/2023 are acceptable for the examination purpose.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim 8:
Claims 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
The claim does not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter, because the subject matter of claim are directed to transitory form of computer-readable storage medium.
Non-limiting examples of claims that are not directed to any of the statutory categories include:
Transitory forms of signal transmission (often referred to as "signals per se"), such as a propagating electrical or electromagnetic signal or carrier wave;
Claim recites “A computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium” such that the subject matter of claim are directed to transitory form of computer-readable storage medium. A transitory, propagating signal does not fall within any statutory category. Mentor Graphics Corp. v. EVE-USA, Inc., 851 F.3d 1275, 1294, 112 USPQ2d 1120, 1133 (Fed. Cir. 2017); Nuijten, 500 F.3d at 1356-1357, 84 USPQ2d at 1501-03.
The specification ¶63 states that computer program product residing on the computer readable storage medium and the computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium,… a computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable storage media. Therefore, the computer readable storage medium is not patentable since the limitation does not fall under one of the statutory categories such that process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter. Also, computer-readable storage media can be construed to encompass an unpatentable medium such as data and programs electrically, magnetically, optically, mechanically or by chemical action. Therefore, the claim is not a statutory subject matter and is rejected under 35 U.S. C. § 101 as not being tangible.
Therefore, claim 8 does not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter.
For the same reasons as described above for claim 8, dependent claims 9-14 also do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter.
Claim Objections
Claims 6, 13 and 19:
Claims 6, 13 and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
These claims recite the abbreviation PVA but doesn’t recite the full term. The specification ¶25 describes it as poly vinyl alcohol, and thus for the examination purpose, this term PVA is construed as poly vinyl alcohol for all these claims.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 6, 13 and 19:
Claims 6, 13 and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
These claims simply states, synthesizing PVA solution by mixing water and adding mesoporous C, and NiAg and then removing supernatant from the solution that are mere mixing and combining chemicals and removing liquid after chemical reaction and doesn’t further recite what is done with this PVA solution. Therefore, it isn’t clear what is done with this solution.
Applicant’s specification ¶5 describes, coating the TCPFL with the PVA solution; therefore, for the examination purpose, it is construed that, the claims include additional limitation of coating the TCPFL with the PVA solution.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4 and 15-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li et al. (US20200088175A1) [hereinafter Li].
Regarding claim 1:
Li discloses, A method for using a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line (TCPFL) actuator for controlling a component comprising:, [¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally…
¶122: Though polymer fibers used as precursors for making twist-inserted,..coiled polymer fiber muscles can be specially made using well known methods, advantage has been found in using commercially available high-strength fibers (either single filament or multifilament)—most often those used as fishing line...
¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…Such actuation, like the torsional rotation of a paddle so that either hydrophilic or hydrophobic paddle surface is exterior, can also be used to change surface energy.],
receiving a TCPFL actuator, wherein the TCPFL actuator is fabricated from a plurality of TCPFL muscles; [¶134: Because of their high strengths, all of these suitable polymer fibers are often used for fishing lines…These polymer fibers that are suitable for conversion to polymer fiber artificial muscles…
¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally],
and using the TCPFL actuator to adjust a vehicle component [ ¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…Such actuation, like the torsional rotation of a paddle so that either hydrophilic or hydrophobic paddle surface is exterior, can also be used to change surface energy.].
Regarding claim 2:
Li discloses, The method of claim 1, and
Li further discloses, wherein the TCPFL actuator adjusts the vehicle component based upon at least one of air temperature and water temperature. [Examiner notes that claim requires only one of the element separate by “or,” and thus, only one of them is given the patentable weight.
Accordingly, Li discloses, TCPFL actuator adjusts the vehicle component based on one of air/gas temperature and water temperature (heating/cooling)
¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally…
¶165: the nanofiber yarn and twist-inserted polymer fiber muscles by using active cooling to reverse actuation or by using surrounding ambient temperature media that rapidly absorb the heat of actuation. Water is one such useful media for cooling. Other useful choices for passive cooling are high thermal diffusivity gases, like hydrogen and helium…in preparation with subsequent mixture of the hydrogen with air (or oxygen) to provide forward actuation…
¶261: Upon heating to approximately 80° C. by using the hot air…the coils expanded, moving apart a set of plastic tubes that were supported by nylon filament running between the turns of the coils (FIG. 23A). Upon natural cooling, the coils return to their original position (FIG. 23B), thereby closing the shutter.].
Regarding claim 3:
Li discloses, The method of claim 1, and
Li further discloses, wherein fabricating the plurality of TCPFL muscles includes incorporating a resistance wire into the plurality of TCPFL muscles. [¶102: an actuating yarn can…include actuating non-yarn segments, such as a thermally actuated shape memory polymer or a shape metal memory wire…
¶102: conductor is needed to provide electrothermal actuation…This conductor can be, for example, a conducting coating (like a metal or carbon coating) on a high-strength polymer fiber; metal wire or wires; electronically conducting nanofibers that are helically wrapped about an non-twisted polymer fiber muscle, a coiled polymer fiber muscle, or a twisted but non-coiled polymer fiber muscle; an electronic conductor that is external to the muscle fiber (like metal wires woven into an actuating textile); or an electronic conductor that is interior to a muscle array (like interior to actuating polymer fiber braids).].
Regarding claim 4:
Li discloses, The method of claim 1, and
Li further discloses, wherein fabricating the plurality of TCPFL muscles includes utilizing one of a mandrel coiling process [¶51: FIG. 18A shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for fiber coiling about a mandrel…
¶128: process for simultaneously introducing polymer fiber twist and fiber coiling around a mandrel and FIGS. 18B-18C show examples of coiled polymer fibers made by mandrel wrapping…
¶127: producing polymer fiber muscles, a twisted polymer fiber can be helically wrapped around a capillary tube or any like cylindrical or non-cylindrical mandrel, and subsequently and optionally released from this mandrel];
and a thermal annealing process. [¶128: FIG. 18A schematically illustrates a process for simultaneously introducing polymer fiber twist and fiber coiling around a mandrel and FIGS. 18B-18C show examples of coiled polymer fibers made by mandrel wrapping. The exact coil shape and the degree and direction of twist both for the coil and fiber can be controlled and the geometry of the coil can be set by thermal annealing.].
Regarding claim 15:
Li discloses, A twisted and coiled polymer fishing line (TCPFL) actuator for adjusting a vehicle component comprising: [¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally…
¶122: Though polymer fibers used as precursors for making twist-inserted,..coiled polymer fiber muscles can be specially made using well known methods, advantage has been found in using commercially available high-strength fibers (either single filament or multifilament)—most often those used as fishing line...
¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…Such actuation, like the torsional rotation of a paddle so that either hydrophilic or hydrophobic paddle surface is exterior, can also be used to change surface energy.],
a TCPFL actuator, wherein the TCPFL actuator is fabricated from a plurality of TCPFL muscles; [¶134: Because of their high strengths, all of these suitable polymer fibers are often used for fishing lines…These polymer fibers that are suitable for conversion to polymer fiber artificial muscles…
¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally],
a vehicle component operatively connected to the TCPFL actuator enabling adjustment of the vehicle component via the TCPFL actuator. [ ¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…Such actuation, like the torsional rotation of a paddle so that either hydrophilic or hydrophobic paddle surface is exterior, can also be used to change surface energy.].
Regarding claim 16:
Li discloses, The TCPFL actuator of claim 15, and
Li further discloses, wherein the TCPFL actuator adjusts the vehicle component based upon at least one of air temperature and water temperature. [Examiner notes that claim requires only one of the element separate by “or,” and thus, only one of them is given the patentable weight.
Accordingly, Li discloses, TCPFL actuator adjusts the vehicle component based on one of air/gas temperature and water temperature (heating/cooling)
¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally…
¶165: the nanofiber yarn and twist-inserted polymer fiber muscles by using active cooling to reverse actuation or by using surrounding ambient temperature media that rapidly absorb the heat of actuation. Water is one such useful media for cooling. Other useful choices for passive cooling are high thermal diffusivity gases, like hydrogen and helium…in preparation with subsequent mixture of the hydrogen with air (or oxygen) to provide forward actuation…
¶261: Upon heating to approximately 80° C. by using the hot air…the coils expanded, moving apart a set of plastic tubes that were supported by nylon filament running between the turns of the coils (FIG. 23A). Upon natural cooling, the coils return to their original position (FIG. 23B), thereby closing the shutter.].
Regarding claim 17:
Li discloses, The TCPFL actuator of claim 15, and
Li further discloses, wherein the plurality of TCPFL muscles includes a resistance wire incorporated into the plurality of TCPFL muscles. [¶102: an actuating yarn can…include actuating non-yarn segments, such as a thermally actuated shape memory polymer or a shape metal memory wire…
¶102: conductor is needed to provide electrothermal actuation…This conductor can be, for example, a conducting coating (like a metal or carbon coating) on a high-strength polymer fiber; metal wire or wires; electronically conducting nanofibers that are helically wrapped about an non-twisted polymer fiber muscle, a coiled polymer fiber muscle, or a twisted but non-coiled polymer fiber muscle; an electronic conductor that is external to the muscle fiber (like metal wires woven into an actuating textile); or an electronic conductor that is interior to a muscle array (like interior to actuating polymer fiber braids).].
Regarding claim 18:
Li discloses, The TCPFL actuator of claim 15, and
Li further discloses, wherein one of a mandrel coiling process… utilized to fabricate the plurality of TCPFL muscles. [¶51: FIG. 18A shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for fiber coiling about a mandrel…
¶128: process for simultaneously introducing polymer fiber twist and fiber coiling around a mandrel and FIGS. 18B-18C show examples of coiled polymer fibers made by mandrel wrapping…
¶127: producing polymer fiber muscles, a twisted polymer fiber can be helically wrapped around a capillary tube or any like cylindrical or non-cylindrical mandrel, and subsequently and optionally released from this mandrel];
a thermal annealing process are utilized to fabricate the plurality of TCPFL muscles. [¶128: FIG. 18A schematically illustrates a process for simultaneously introducing polymer fiber twist and fiber coiling around a mandrel and FIGS. 18B-18C show examples of coiled polymer fibers made by mandrel wrapping. The exact coil shape and the degree and direction of twist both for the coil and fiber can be controlled and the geometry of the coil can be set by thermal annealing.].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 5 and 8-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and further in view of Browne et al. (US20050218710A1) [hereinafter BROWNE].
Regarding claim 5:
Li discloses, The method of claim 1, and
Li further discloses, the vehicular component [¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…
¶261: Upon heating to approximately 80° C. by using the hot air…the coils expanded, moving apart a set of plastic tubes that were supported by nylon filament running between the turns of the coils (FIG. 23A). Upon natural cooling, the coils return to their original position (FIG. 23B), thereby closing the shutter.
Examiner notes that, Li teaches the use of TCPFL actuators for various components of vehicles including various surfaces (could be seat)], but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
BROWNE discloses, wherein the vehicular component includes a seat. [¶6: A seat assembly includes a seat fabric, wherein at least a portion of the seat fabric comprises a yarn comprising a shape memory polymer adapted to undergo a change in a modulus of elasticity at a thermal transition temperature;…
¶21: The shape memory polymer may be heated by any suitable means. For example, for elevated temperatures, heat may be supplied using hot gas (e.g., air), steam, hot liquid, or electrical current].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of using the TCPFL actuators for various components of vehicles including various surfaces (could be seat) by taking advantage of the TCPFL extension and retraction properties in response to thermal changes and use these TCPFL actuators for the surface of a vehicle component such as a seat in order to providing a vehicle seat that is less expensive, quieter, more lightweight, and/or less interfering than existing seat assemblies with techniques that allows to avoid discomfort or sore spots by adjusting the shape of the seat assembly to the shape of the seat user taught by BROWNE with the method taught by Li as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to providing a vehicle seat that is less expensive, quieter, more lightweight, and/or less interfering than existing seat assemblies with techniques that allows to avoid discomfort or sore spots by adjusting the shape of the seat assembly to the shape of the seat user [BROWNE, ¶25: avoid discomfort or sore spots, the shape of the seat assembly 20 can be adjusted to the shape of the seat user….¶36: the seat assembly can be less expensive, quieter, more lightweight, and/or less interfering than existing seat assemblies.].
Regarding claim 8:
Li discloses, …perform operations for using a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line (TCPFL) actuator comprising: [¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally…
¶122: Though polymer fibers used as precursors for making twist-inserted,..coiled polymer fiber muscles can be specially made using well known methods, advantage has been found in using commercially available high-strength fibers (either single filament or multifilament)—most often those used as fishing line...
¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…Such actuation, like the torsional rotation of a paddle so that either hydrophilic or hydrophobic paddle surface is exterior, can also be used to change surface energy.],
receiving a TCPFL actuator, wherein the TCPFL actuator is fabricated from a plurality of TCPFL muscles; [¶134: Because of their high strengths, all of these suitable polymer fibers are often used for fishing lines…These polymer fibers that are suitable for conversion to polymer fiber artificial muscles…
¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally],
using the TCPFL actuator to adjust a vehicle component. [¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…Such actuation, like the torsional rotation of a paddle so that either hydrophilic or hydrophobic paddle surface is exterior, can also be used to change surface energy.], but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
BROWNE discloses, A computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed across one or more processors, causes at least a portion of the one or more processors to perform operations for using a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line [¶22: The seat assembly further includes a controller 14 in operable communication with the SMP. The controller 14 is operable to selectively apply the activation signal (i.e., heat) to at least a portion of the SMP to effect the change in the modulus of elasticity, which enables the seat fabric 10 to undergo a change in its compliance and/or shape. In one embodiment, the change in compliance and/or shape is reversible.
Examiner notes that, BROWNE discloses, controller that includes cpu and storage medium, memory etc.].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed across one or more processors, causes at least a portion of the one or more processors to perform operations for using a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line in order to providing a vehicle seat that is less expensive, quieter, more lightweight, and/or less interfering than existing seat assemblies with techniques that allows to avoid discomfort or sore spots by adjusting the shape of the seat assembly to the shape of the seat user taught by BROWNE with the system taught by Li as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to providing a vehicle seat that is less expensive, quieter, more lightweight, and/or less interfering than existing seat assemblies with techniques that allows to avoid discomfort or sore spots by adjusting the shape of the seat assembly to the shape of the seat user [BROWNE, ¶25: avoid discomfort or sore spots, the shape of the seat assembly 20 can be adjusted to the shape of the seat user….¶36: the seat assembly can be less expensive, quieter, more lightweight, and/or less interfering than existing seat assemblies.].
Regarding claim 9:
Li and BROWNE disclose, The computer program product of claim 8, and
Li further discloses, wherein the TCPFL actuator adjusts the vehicle component based upon at least one of air temperature and water temperature. [Examiner notes that claim requires only one of the element separate by “or,” and thus, only one of them is given the patentable weight.
Accordingly, Li discloses, TCPFL actuator adjusts the vehicle component based on one of air/gas temperature and water temperature (heating/cooling)
¶27: actuators (artificial muscles) including twist-spun nanofiber yarn and twisted polymer fibers that generate torsional and/or tensile actuation when powered electrically,…thermally…
¶165: the nanofiber yarn and twist-inserted polymer fiber muscles by using active cooling to reverse actuation or by using surrounding ambient temperature media that rapidly absorb the heat of actuation. Water is one such useful media for cooling. Other useful choices for passive cooling are high thermal diffusivity gases, like hydrogen and helium…in preparation with subsequent mixture of the hydrogen with air (or oxygen) to provide forward actuation…
¶261: Upon heating to approximately 80° C. by using the hot air…the coils expanded, moving apart a set of plastic tubes that were supported by nylon filament running between the turns of the coils (FIG. 23A). Upon natural cooling, the coils return to their original position (FIG. 23B), thereby closing the shutter.].
Regarding claim 10:
Li and BROWNE disclose, The computer program product of claim 8, and
Li further discloses, wherein fabricating the plurality of TCPFL muscles includes incorporating a resistance wire into the plurality of TCPFL muscles. [¶102: an actuating yarn can…include actuating non-yarn segments, such as a thermally actuated shape memory polymer or a shape metal memory wire…
¶102: conductor is needed to provide electrothermal actuation…This conductor can be, for example, a conducting coating (like a metal or carbon coating) on a high-strength polymer fiber; metal wire or wires; electronically conducting nanofibers that are helically wrapped about an non-twisted polymer fiber muscle, a coiled polymer fiber muscle, or a twisted but non-coiled polymer fiber muscle; an electronic conductor that is external to the muscle fiber (like metal wires woven into an actuating textile); or an electronic conductor that is interior to a muscle array (like interior to actuating polymer fiber braids).].
Regarding claim 11:
Li and BROWNE disclose, The computer program product of claim 8, and
Li further discloses, wherein fabricating the plurality of TCPFL muscles includes utilizing one of a mandrel coiling process and [¶51: FIG. 18A shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for fiber coiling about a mandrel…
¶128: process for simultaneously introducing polymer fiber twist and fiber coiling around a mandrel and FIGS. 18B-18C show examples of coiled polymer fibers made by mandrel wrapping…
¶127: producing polymer fiber muscles, a twisted polymer fiber can be helically wrapped around a capillary tube or any like cylindrical or non-cylindrical mandrel, and subsequently and optionally released from this mandrel];
and a thermal annealing process. [¶128: FIG. 18A schematically illustrates a process for simultaneously introducing polymer fiber twist and fiber coiling around a mandrel and FIGS. 18B-18C show examples of coiled polymer fibers made by mandrel wrapping. The exact coil shape and the degree and direction of twist both for the coil and fiber can be controlled and the geometry of the coil can be set by thermal annealing.].
Regarding claim 12:
Li and BROWNE disclose, The computer program product of claim 8, and
Li further discloses, the vehicular component [¶163: Both torsional and tensile actuation of hybrid twist-spun yarns and twist inserted fibers can be deployed for actuating smart surfaces on local and larger scales. For instance, tensile actuation can reversibly retract…thereby changing surface roughness. One or more cycles of pin extension and retraction can be used to remove marine organisms from the surface of marine vehicles…
¶261: Upon heating to approximately 80° C. by using the hot air…the coils expanded, moving apart a set of plastic tubes that were supported by nylon filament running between the turns of the coils (FIG. 23A). Upon natural cooling, the coils return to their original position (FIG. 23B), thereby closing the shutter.
Examiner notes that, Li teaches the use of TCPFL actuators for various components of vehicles including various surfaces (could be seat)], but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
BROWNE further discloses, wherein the vehicular component includes a seat. [¶6: A seat assembly includes a seat fabric, wherein at least a portion of the seat fabric comprises a yarn comprising a shape memory polymer adapted to undergo a change in a modulus of elasticity at a thermal transition temperature;…
¶21: The shape memory polymer may be heated by any suitable means. For example, for elevated temperatures, heat may be supplied using hot gas (e.g., air), steam, hot liquid, or electrical current].
Claim(s) 6 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and further in view of Custer et al. (US20100189988A1) [hereinafter Custer].
Regarding claim 6:
Li discloses, The method of claim 1, but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
Custer discloses, further comprising synthesizing a PVA solution, wherein synthesizing the PVA solution includes: dissolving an amount of PVA in water to create a solution; adding mesoporous C, and NiAg metal mesh powder to the solution; and removing supernatant from the solution. [¶22: The fibrous material 10, 11 and 12 may be coated or impregnated with curative…
¶52: suitable curatives may include…poly(vinyl alcohol);…
¶11: combining a fibrous element with one or more matrix precursor elements…
¶25: The matrix precursor elements may be composed of thermosetting resin (R), curatives (C) for the thermosetting resin or a mixture of thermosetting resin and curative for the thermosetting resin (M)….
¶55: The thermosetting resin in matrix precursor element R may also include any of the known additives… Exemplary additives include performance enhancing or modifying agents…The performance enhancing or modifying agents, for example, may be selected from…fillers,…
¶56: Suitable fillers include, by way of example, any of the following…in combination:..Suitable conducting particles, by way of example, include any of the following…in combination: silver,…nickel, conducting grades of carbon,... Metal-coated fillers may also be used, for example nickel coated carbon particles and silver coated copper particles.
Examiner notes the claim objections as set forth in this office action, and it is construed that the mixture claimed is used for coating.
Examiner notes that, Custer teaches of creating a mixture (combination) and combining it with the element (fibrous material). Examiner further notes that one of the ordinary skilled in the art will understand that, the supernatant that is liquid lying above solid residue after chemical combination/reaction can be removed and disposed off before obtaining the solid residue after precipitation (coating/combining)].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of combining the mixture of polyvinyl alcohol, carbon-nickel-Ag powder material to obtain coating in order to have the advantage of eliminating the formation of undesirable pores to create mesoporous (super nanoporous) coating that provides advantages of high surface area with high-capacity loading and improved shaping (stretching/shrink) taught by Custer and removing the supernatant using technique known to the ordinary skilled in the art in order to dispose of the unusable leftover after a chemical reaction with the method taught by Li as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to have the advantage of eliminating the formation of undesirable pores to create mesoporous (super nanoporous) coating that provides advantages of high surface area with high-capacity loading and improved shaping (stretching/shrink) [Custer, ¶9: eliminate the formation of undesirable pores…¶21: improve its capability of being shaped.].
Regarding claim 19:
Li discloses, The TCPFL actuator of claim 15, but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
Custer discloses, synthesizing a PVA solution, wherein the PVA solution is synthesized by at least one of: an amount of PVA dissolved in water to create a solution; mesoporous C, and NiAg metal mesh powder added to the solution; and supernatant removed from the solution. [¶22: The fibrous material 10, 11 and 12 may be coated or impregnated with curative…
¶52: suitable curatives may include…poly(vinyl alcohol);…
¶11: combining a fibrous element with one or more matrix precursor elements…
¶25: The matrix precursor elements may be composed of thermosetting resin (R), curatives (C) for the thermosetting resin or a mixture of thermosetting resin and curative for the thermosetting resin (M)….
¶55: The thermosetting resin in matrix precursor element R may also include any of the known additives… Exemplary additives include performance enhancing or modifying agents…The performance enhancing or modifying agents, for example, may be selected from…fillers,…
¶56: Suitable fillers include, by way of example, any of the following…in combination:..Suitable conducting particles, by way of example, include any of the following…in combination: silver,…nickel, conducting grades of carbon,... Metal-coated fillers may also be used, for example nickel coated carbon particles and silver coated copper particles.
Examiner notes the claim objections as set forth in this office action, and it is construed that the mixture claimed is used for coating.
Examiner notes that, Custer teaches of creating a mixture (combination) and combining it with the element (fibrous material). Examiner further notes that one of the ordinary skilled in the art will understand that, the supernatant that is liquid lying above solid residue after chemical combination/reaction can be removed and disposed off before obtaining the solid residue after precipitation (coating/combining)].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of combining the mixture of polyvinyl alcohol, carbon-nickel-Ag powder material to obtain coating in order to have the advantage of eliminating the formation of undesirable pores to create mesoporous (super nanoporous) coating that provides advantages of high surface area with high-capacity loading and improved shaping (stretching/shrink) taught by Custer and removing the supernatant using technique known to the ordinary skilled in the art in order to dispose of the unusable leftover after a chemical reaction with the system taught by Li as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to have the advantage of eliminating the formation of undesirable pores to create mesoporous (super nanoporous) coating that provides advantages of high surface area with high-capacity loading and improved shaping (stretching/shrink) [Custer, ¶9: eliminate the formation of undesirable pores…¶21: improve its capability of being shaped.].
Claim(s) 7 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and Custer and further in view of Lima et al. (US20200282551A1) [hereinafter Lima].
Regarding claim 7:
Li and Custer disclose, The method of claim 6, and
Custer further discloses, wherein coating the TCPFL with the PVA solution includes: placing the TCPFL in the solution; shaking the TCPFL in the solution; drying the TCPFL by placing the TCPFL in a pre-heated environment for a predetermined amount of time; [¶22: The fibrous material 10, 11 and 12 may be coated or impregnated with curative…
¶52: suitable curatives may include…poly(vinyl alcohol);…
¶11: combining a fibrous element with one or more matrix precursor elements…
¶25: The matrix precursor elements may be composed of thermosetting resin (R), curatives (C) for the thermosetting resin or a mixture of thermosetting resin and curative for the thermosetting resin (M)….
¶55: The thermosetting resin in matrix precursor element R may also include any of the known additives… Exemplary additives include performance enhancing or modifying agents…The performance enhancing or modifying agents, for example, may be selected from…fillers,…
¶56: Suitable fillers include, by way of example, any of the following…in combination:..Suitable conducting particles, by way of example, include any of the following…in combination: silver,…nickel, conducting grades of carbon,... Metal-coated fillers may also be used, for example nickel coated carbon particles and silver coated copper particles.
Examiner notes that, Custer explicitly discloses placing the material in the solution/combination of elements to provide coating,
Examiner notes that one of the ordinary skilled in the art will understand that for chemical reaction to occur properly the combination needs to be shaken/agitated such as using centrifuge, and then drying the end component to obtain the component is one of the regular procedure used in the laboratories to obtaining the clean and water residue free end product. Thus, one of the ordinary skilled in the art can use these regularly used chemical laboratory techniques to obtain a coated end product], but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
Lima discloses, crimping the TCPFL. [¶3: plurality of first actuating muscles disposed next to each other…a plurality of second actuating muscles disposed next to each other and in parallel with each other…a crimp secured to the fabric…
¶23: The crimp (104) connects middles of the first actuating muscles (101) to middles of the second actuating muscles (106)…
¶20: the actuating muscle may be a twisted and/or coiled polymer fiber,].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of crimping twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator in order to use the crimping to prevent the twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator from loosening thereby ensuring secure bond in the creation of twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator taught by Lima with the method taught by Li and Custer as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to prevent the twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator from loosening thereby ensuring secure bond in the creation of twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator [Lima, ¶50: prevent the fabric (302) loosening before the transverse ends are attached together.].
Regarding claim 20:
Li and Custer disclose, The TCPFL actuator of claim 19, and
Custer further discloses, wherein the TCPFL is coated with the PVA solution by at least one of: the TCPFL placed in the solution; the TCPFL shaken in the solution; the TCPFL dried by placing the TCPFL in a pre-heated environment for a predetermined amount of time; [¶22: The fibrous material 10, 11 and 12 may be coated or impregnated with curative…
¶52: suitable curatives may include…poly(vinyl alcohol);…
¶11: combining a fibrous element with one or more matrix precursor elements…
¶25: The matrix precursor elements may be composed of thermosetting resin (R), curatives (C) for the thermosetting resin or a mixture of thermosetting resin and curative for the thermosetting resin (M)….
¶55: The thermosetting resin in matrix precursor element R may also include any of the known additives… Exemplary additives include performance enhancing or modifying agents…The performance enhancing or modifying agents, for example, may be selected from…fillers,…
¶56: Suitable fillers include, by way of example, any of the following…in combination:..Suitable conducting particles, by way of example, include any of the following…in combination: silver,…nickel, conducting grades of carbon,... Metal-coated fillers may also be used, for example nickel coated carbon particles and silver coated copper particles.
Examiner notes that, Custer explicitly discloses placing the material in the solution/combination of elements to provide coating,
Examiner notes that one of the ordinary skilled in the art will understand that for chemical reaction to occur properly the combination needs to be shaken/agitated such as using centrifuge, and then drying the end component to obtain the component is one of the regular procedure used in the laboratories to obtaining the clean and water residue free end product. Thus, one of the ordinary skilled in the art can use these regularly used chemical laboratory techniques to obtain a coated end product], but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
Lima discloses, wherein the TCPFL is crimped. [¶3: plurality of first actuating muscles disposed next to each other…a plurality of second actuating muscles disposed next to each other and in parallel with each other…a crimp secured to the fabric…
¶23: The crimp (104) connects middles of the first actuating muscles (101) to middles of the second actuating muscles (106)…
¶20: the actuating muscle may be a twisted and/or coiled polymer fiber,].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of crimping twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator in order to use the crimping to prevent the twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator from loosening thereby ensuring secure bond in the creation of twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator taught by Lima with the method taught by Li and Custer as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to prevent the twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator from loosening thereby ensuring secure bond in the creation of twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator [Lima, ¶50: prevent the fabric (302) loosening before the transverse ends are attached together.].
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and BROWNE and further in view of Custer.
Regarding claim 13:
Li and BROWNE disclose, The computer program product of claim 8, but they do not explicitly disclose, and
Custer discloses, synthesizing a PVA solution, wherein synthesizing the PVA solution includes: dissolving an amount of PVA in water to create a solution; adding mesoporous C, and NiAg metal mesh powder to the solution; and removing supernatant from the solution. [¶22: The fibrous material 10, 11 and 12 may be coated or impregnated with curative…
¶52: suitable curatives may include…poly(vinyl alcohol);…
¶11: combining a fibrous element with one or more matrix precursor elements…
¶25: The matrix precursor elements may be composed of thermosetting resin (R), curatives (C) for the thermosetting resin or a mixture of thermosetting resin and curative for the thermosetting resin (M)….
¶55: The thermosetting resin in matrix precursor element R may also include any of the known additives… Exemplary additives include performance enhancing or modifying agents…The performance enhancing or modifying agents, for example, may be selected from…fillers,…
¶56: Suitable fillers include, by way of example, any of the following…in combination:..Suitable conducting particles, by way of example, include any of the following…in combination: silver,…nickel, conducting grades of carbon,... Metal-coated fillers may also be used, for example nickel coated carbon particles and silver coated copper particles.
Examiner notes the claim objections as set forth in this office action, and it is construed that the mixture claimed is used for coating.
Examiner notes that, Custer teaches of creating a mixture (combination) and combining it with the element (fibrous material). Examiner further notes that one of the ordinary skilled in the art will understand that, the supernatant that is liquid lying above solid residue after chemical combination/reaction can be removed and disposed off before obtaining the solid residue after precipitation (coating/combining)].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of combining the mixture of polyvinyl alcohol, carbon-nickel-Ag powder material to obtain coating in order to have the advantage of eliminating the formation of undesirable pores to create mesoporous (super nanoporous) coating that provides advantages of high surface area with high-capacity loading and improved shaping (stretching/shrink) taught by Custer and removing the supernatant using technique known to the ordinary skilled in the art in order to dispose of the unusable leftover after a chemical reaction with the system taught by Li as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to have the advantage of eliminating the formation of undesirable pores to create mesoporous (super nanoporous) coating that provides advantages of high surface area with high-capacity loading and improved shaping (stretching/shrink) [Custer, ¶9: eliminate the formation of undesirable pores…¶21: improve its capability of being shaped.].
Claim(s) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li, BROWNE and Custer and further in view of Lima.
Regarding claim 14:
Li, BROWNE and Custer disclose, The computer program product of claim 13, and
Custer further discloses, wherein coating the TCPFL with the PVA solution includes:placing the TCPFL in the solution; shaking the TCPFL in the solution; drying the TCPFL by placing the TCPFL in a pre-heated environment for a predetermined amount of time; [¶22: The fibrous material 10, 11 and 12 may be coated or impregnated with curative…
¶52: suitable curatives may include…poly(vinyl alcohol);…
¶11: combining a fibrous element with one or more matrix precursor elements…
¶25: The matrix precursor elements may be composed of thermosetting resin (R), curatives (C) for the thermosetting resin or a mixture of thermosetting resin and curative for the thermosetting resin (M)….
¶55: The thermosetting resin in matrix precursor element R may also include any of the known additives… Exemplary additives include performance enhancing or modifying agents…The performance enhancing or modifying agents, for example, may be selected from…fillers,…
¶56: Suitable fillers include, by way of example, any of the following…in combination:..Suitable conducting particles, by way of example, include any of the following…in combination: silver,…nickel, conducting grades of carbon,... Metal-coated fillers may also be used, for example nickel coated carbon particles and silver coated copper particles.
Examiner notes that, Custer explicitly discloses placing the material in the solution/combination of elements to provide coating,
Examiner notes that one of the ordinary skilled in the art will understand that for chemical reaction to occur properly the combination needs to be shaken/agitated such as using centrifuge, and then drying the end component to obtain the component is one of the regular procedure used in the laboratories to obtaining the clean and water residue free end product. Thus, one of the ordinary skilled in the art can use these regularly used chemical laboratory techniques to obtain a coated end product], but doesn’t explicitly disclose, and
Lima discloses, crimping the TCPFL. [¶3: plurality of first actuating muscles disposed next to each other…a plurality of second actuating muscles disposed next to each other and in parallel with each other…a crimp secured to the fabric…
¶23: The crimp (104) connects middles of the first actuating muscles (101) to middles of the second actuating muscles (106)…
¶20: the actuating muscle may be a twisted and/or coiled polymer fiber,].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filling date of the claimed invention to have combined the technique of crimping twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator in order to use the crimping to prevent the twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator from loosening thereby ensuring secure bond in the creation of twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator taught by Lima with the system taught by Li and Custer as discussed above in order to have reasonable expectation of success such as to prevent the twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator from loosening thereby ensuring secure bond in the creation of twisted and coiled polymer muscle actuator [Lima, ¶50: prevent the fabric (302) loosening before the transverse ends are attached together.].
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is listed in the PTO-892 Notice of Reference Cited document.
Ridley et al. (US20180291535A1) - Coiled actuator system and method:
¶24: coiled actuators (“artificial muscles”) can be produced through a twist insertion process. For example, a fiber can be twisted to the point of coiling. In another example, a fiber can be twisted nearly to the point of coiling and then wrapped around a mandrel or fiber or yarn core. Although various examples discussed herein refer to a fiber, it should be clear that various embodiments can comprise any suitable elongated element, including a fiber, filament, ribbon, yarn, line, or the like. Additionally, as used herein, a ‘fiber’ can encompass any such elongated elements, including a yarn comprising one or more fibers or other elements, a fiber comprising a single elongated element, or the like.
Sluis et al. (US20240336129A1) - Twisted coiled actuator kinematic system for automotive aero devices:
¶17: soft actuator preferably twisted coiled polymer (TCP) units which are arranged in a kinematic mechanism system that allows the TCP to act as a load generation unit for pre-loading a spring to engage in a trigger-latch mechanism also utilizing a TCP to release the trigger-latch element for each cycle of the overall system.
Hulway (US20150197173A1) - Electro-active polymer actuators for vehicle seating applications:
¶3: vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back, each having a spring structure and a cushion. Planar electro-active polymer actuators each have a first side coupled with the spring structure and an opposing second side positioned distal from the spring structure and in direct communication with the cushion. Each of the actuators is disposed in a first state. A control for the actuators is in communication with the actuators and is configured to deliver a predetermined electrical input to one or more of the actuators. The predetermined electrical input is configured to deform at least one of the actuators to a second state. The deformation of each actuator from the first state to the second state directly operates the cushion between a plurality of comfort positions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED SHAFAYET whose telephone number is (571)272-8239. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kenneth Lo can be reached at (571) 272-9774. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/M.S./
Patent Examiner,
Art Unit 2116
/KENNETH M LO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2116