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
Claims 2-8 are objected to because of the following informalities: “A” at the beginning of each dependent claim must be replaced with “The”. 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 5-6 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. Regarding claim 5, the phrase "such as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Claim 6 is 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. The limitation “in the raw materials for preparing the polycarbonate carbonate elastomer in step S2” is indefinite because the components preceding it are not present in step S2 of claim 5.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the raw materials" in claim 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The limitation “organo tin” is indefinite since “organic tin catalyst” is recited in claim 5.
Claims 7-8 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 7 recites the limitation "the silane and titanate coupling agent" in claim 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the oxidant, antiozonant and environmentally friendly plasticizer" in claim 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 is allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Wang et al. (CN 105802145A) is the closest prior art. Wang et al. teach a biodegradable elastomeric material [0002] comprising polylactic acid [0013], propylene carbonate [0013, 0044], silica [0044], and an isocyanate [0032] or titanate [0015]. However, Wang et al. fail to teach a pickleball comprising the claimed composition.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN USELDING whose telephone number is (571)270-5463. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8am to 6:30pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joseph Del Sole can be reached on 571-272-1130. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOHN E USELDING/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1763
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