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 .
Election/Restrictions
Non-elected claims 14-18 have been cancelled by Applicant.
Information Disclosure Statement
Numerous information disclosure statements were filed on June 25, 2026. The information referred to therein has been considered except as follows:
Foreign Patent Documents IN201717042989, IN336480, IN202047045846, IN351780, IN382056, and JP2010524569 are listed however a legible copy of none of these documents appears to have been included. In addition, the following Non-Patent Literature documents are included with the June 25, 2026 information disclosure statements, but none are listed therein: Extrusion Method and Device (35 pages), Three-Dimensional Net-Like Structure Manufacturing Apparatus and Three-Dimensional Net-Like Structure Manufacturing Method (61 pages), Net Structure Manufacturing Apparatus and Net Structure Manufacturing Method (108 pages), Manufacturing Method of Three-Dimensional Net-Like Structure, and Manufacturing Apparatus of Three-Dimensional Net-Like Structure (74 pages), and Three-Dimensional Crosspiece Structure (40 pages).
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 4, 9, 10, and 23-29 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.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the cavity of the unitary mesh of expanded thermoplastic resin strands". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the cavity formed in the unitary mesh". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "the cavity of the unitary mesh". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 23 recites the limitation "the cavity formed in the unitary mesh" in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 24-29 are indefinite as each depends from an indefinite claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3, 7, 11-13, and 19-22 are allowed.
Claim 23 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.
Claims 4, 9, 10, and 24-29 would be allowable if rewritten 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 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:
Regarding claim 1, the prior art of record does not show singly or in union an assembly wherein the cushion comprises a unitary mesh of expanded thermoplastic resin strands, wherein a first segment of expanded thermoplastic resin strand is welded to a second segment of expanded thermoplastic resin strands at least partially over the cavity, in combination with other specifically claimed features.
Regarding claim 23, the prior art of record does not show singly or in union an assembly wherein the cushion comprises a unitary mesh of expanded thermoplastic resin strands, wherein the trim component is welded to a region of the unitary mesh of expanded thermoplastic resin strands adjacent to a cavity formed in the unitary mesh in combination with other specifically claimed features.
Response to Amendment/Arguments
Applicant’s response filed July 8, 2026 has been fully considered. Remaining issues are described 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 MILTON NELSON JR whose telephone number is (571)272-6861. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 5:30am-1:30pm.
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mn /MILTON NELSON JR/August 11, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
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