DETAILED ACTION
1 This action is responsive to the amendment filed on March 30, 2026.
2 The rejection of the claims under 112, second paragraph, is withdrawn because of the applicant’s amendment.
3 The rejection of claims 2 and 3 under 103 are withdrawn because the prior art of Mitsuoka et al. (US’ 934 A1) does not teach the claimed percentages amounts of methanol as claimed in claims 2 and 3.
4 Claims 1, 4-5 and 16 are rejected under 102(a)1 for the reasons set forth in the previous Office action that mailed on 01/07/2026.
Allowable Subject Matter
5 Claims 2-3, 6-15 and 17-18 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The closest prior art of record (US’ 934 A1) does not teach the percentages of methanol as claimed in claims 2 and 3. The closest prior art of record (US’ 934 A1) also does not teach the limitations of claims 6-15 and 17-18.
Response to Applicant’s Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 03/30/2026, have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The rejection of the claims under 103 is withdrawn. Therefore, the applicant’s argument is rendered moot.
Regarding the rejection of the claims under 102(1), as been anticipated by Mitsuoka et al. (US’ 934 A1), applicant argued that Mitsuoka et al. (US’ 934 A1) does not teach. Disclose or suggests the claimed azeotrope or azeotropic compositions of (Z)-1-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoroprop-i-ene (1233yd(Z) and methanol as claimed.
The examiner respectfully, disagree with the above argument because Mitsuoka et al. (US’ 934 A1) teaches and discloses the following compositions:
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(see page 11, Table 1-1, Example 3-6), wherein “HCFO-1233yd(Z)” is (Z)-1-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene as recited in the claimed specification at page 4, paragraphs, 0014-0017). The prior art of record (US’ 934 A1) teaches the same composition which inherently should has same boiling point as claimed in claim 4. The prior art of record (US’ 934 A1) also teaches a solvent composition that comprises other solvents include ethanol and isopropanol (co-solvents) as claimed in claims 5 and 16 (see page 2, paragraph, 0020). Mitsuoka et al. (US’ 934 A1) teaches all the limitations of the instant claims. Hence, Mitsuoka et al. (US’ 934 A1) anticipates the claims. Therefore, the rejection under 102(a) is proper and maintained.
6 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 EISA B ELHILO whose telephone number is (571)272-1315. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
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/EISA B ELHILO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761
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