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 .
2. This office action is responsive to the application Nº 18/548,335 filed on August 30th, 2023 in which claims 1-39 are pending and ready for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. Acknowledgment is made of Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) form PTO-1449. These IDS have been considered.
Priority
4. Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
5. 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 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.
6. 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.
7. Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Ishida (US Pub. Nº 2018/0282567).
8. Regarding independent claim 1: Ishida disclosed a pretreatment composition that is used to form a wet precoat layer ([0165], lines 2-4) for receiving a water-based ink composition for forming an image on a fabric by an inkjet method ([0168], lines 1-2 and [0074], line 1), and satisfies all of the following requirements [1] to [4]:
[1] the water-based ink composition contains water ([0074], line 1), a pigment ([0052], lines 1-2), a resin emulsion ([0063], lines 1-2 and [0069], lines 1-2), a water-soluble organic solvent ([0076], lines 1-2), and a surfactant ([0083], line 1),
[2] the pretreatment composition is used to form the wet precoat layer in which an amount of the pretreatment composition applied per unit area is more than 0.035 g/cm2 and less than 0.070 g/cm2 ([0163], lines 1-2),
[3] the pretreatment composition contains water ([0029], line 2), more than 1.4 mass% and less than 10.5 mass% of a cationic polymer with respect to a total mass of the pretreatment composition ([0133], line 1; [0134], line 1 and [0141], lines 3-4), and 0.1 mass% or more and less than 2.7 mass% of a crosslinking agent with respect to the total mass of the pretreatment composition ([0112], lines 1-2 and [0115], lines 1-3), and
[4] the cationic polymer contains at least one selected from the group consisting of an allylamine structural unit, a diallylamine structural unit, a diallylammonium structural unit, and an epihalohydrin structural unit ([0136], lines 1-2 and [0139], lines 1-8).
9. Regarding claim 2: Ishida disclosed the pretreatment composition according to claim 1, wherein the crosslinking agent includes one or more cationic crosslinking agents selected from the group consisting of a blocked isocyanate group-containing compound, a carbodiimide group-containing compound, and an oxazoline group-containing compound ([0113], lines 1-2).
10. Regarding claim 3: Ishida disclosed the pretreatment composition according to claim 2, wherein a dissociation temperature of the blocked isocyanate group-containing compound is 120°C or more ([0113], lines 1-2 disclosed the same type of crosslinking agents; the dissociation temperature is an intrinsic property of the crosslinking agent).
11. Regarding claim 4: Ishida disclosed the pretreatment composition according to claim 1, wherein a surface tension at 25°C is 35 mN/m to 60 mN/m ([0157], lines 1-2).
12. Regarding claim 5: Ishida disclosed a print set comprising: the pretreatment composition according to claim 1 (see the rejection of claim 1); and a water-based ink composition containing water ([0074], line 1), a pigment ([0052], lines 1-2), a resin emulsion ([0063], lines 1-2 and [0069], lines 1-2), a water-soluble organic solvent ([0076], lines 1-2), and a surfactant ([0083], line 1).
13. Regarding claim 6: Ishida disclosed an inkjet textile printing method comprising: a pretreatment step of applying the pretreatment composition according to claim 1 to a fabric ([0161], lines 1-3) to form a wet precoat layer ([0165], lines 2-4); and a recording step of applying, to at least part of a region where the wet precoat layer is formed ([0161], lines 3-4), a water-based ink composition containing water ([0074], line 1), a pigment ([0052], lines 1-2), a resin emulsion ([0063], lines 1-2 and [0069], lines 1-2), a water-soluble organic solvent ([0076], lines 1-2), and a surfactant ([0083], line 1) by an inkjet method to form an image region ([0161], line 3).
14. Regarding claim 7: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 6, whereinafter the pretreatment step, the recording step is performed in a state in which a remaining amount of the pretreatment composition applied to the fabric is 20 mass% or more with respect to a total amount of the pretreatment composition applied in the pretreatment step ([0167], lines 3-5; the recording step is performed right after the pretreatment composition application step without drying).
15. Regarding claim 8: Ishida disclosed a printed matter obtainable by printing, on a fabric to which the pretreatment composition according to claim 1 is applied, the water-based ink composition ([0161], lines 1-4; the printed textile).
16. Claims 9-17 and 19-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Ishida (US Pub. Nº 2018/0282567).
17. Regarding independent claim 9: Ishida disclosed a print set ([0001], line 1) comprising:
a pretreatment composition ([0020], line 1) containing water ([0104], lines 4), a cationic polymer ([0133], line 1 and [0134], line 1), and a crosslinking agent ([0112], lines 1-2); and
a water-based white ink composition ([0020], lines 1-2; [0054], line 1) containing water ([0074], line 1), a white pigment ([0052], lines 1-2 and [0054], line 1), a urethane resin ([0063], line 1 and [0064], lines 1-2), and a water-soluble organic solvent ([0076], lines 1-2),
wherein in the pretreatment composition, a content of the cationic polymer is more than 1.4 mass% and less than 10.5 mass% with respect to a total mass of the pretreatment composition ([0133], line 1; [0134], line 1 and [0141], lines 3-4), and a content of the crosslinking agent is 0.1 mass% or more and less than 2.7 mass% with respect to the total mass of the pretreatment composition ([0112], lines 1-2 and [0115], lines 1-3).
18. Regarding claim 10: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, wherein the cationic polymer is a polymer containing at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of an allylamine structural unit, a diallylamine structural unit, a diallylammonium structural unit, and an epihalohydrin structural unit ([0136], lines 1-2 and [0139], lines 1-8).
19. Regarding claim 11: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, wherein the crosslinking agent includes one or more cationic crosslinking agents selected from the group consisting of a blocked isocyanate group-containing compound, a carbodiimide group-containing compound, and an oxazoline group-containing compound ([0113], lines 1-2).
20. Regarding claim 12: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 11, wherein a dissociation temperature of the blocked isocyanate group-containing compound is 120°C or more ([0113], lines 1-2 disclosed the same type of crosslinking agents; the dissociation temperature is an intrinsic property of the crosslinking agent).
21. Regarding claim 13: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, wherein a surface tension of the pretreatment composition at 25°C is 35 mN/m to 60 mN/m ([0157], lines 1-2).
22. Regarding claim 14: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, wherein the urethane resin includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyether-based urethane resin and a polycarbonate-based urethane resin ([0067], lines 1-3).
23. Regarding claim 15: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, wherein a glass transition temperature of the urethane resin is 0°C or less ([0071], lines 2-4).
24. Regarding claim 16: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, wherein the water-based white ink composition further contains a base ([0094], lines 1-3).
25. Regarding claim 17: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 9, further comprising a water-based ink composition containing water ([0074], line 1), a pigment ([0052], lines 1-2), and a polymeric dispersant ([0063], line 1).
26. Regarding claim 19: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 17, wherein the water-based ink composition further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a urethane resin, a styrene-butadiene resin, and an acrylic resin ([0063], line 1 and [0064], lines 1-3).
27. Regarding claim 20: Ishida disclosed an inkjet textile printing method comprising:
a pretreatment step of applying, to a fabric, the pretreatment composition included in the print set according to claim 9 ([0161], lines 1-3) to form a wet precoat layer ([0165], lines 2-4); and
a step of, without drying the fabric after the pretreatment step ([0167], lines 3-4), ejecting the water-based white ink composition included in the print set according to claim 9 onto a region of part or whole of the wet precoat layer by an inkjet method to form an image ([0161], lines 3-4).
28. Regarding claim 21: Ishida disclosed an inkjet textile printing method comprising:
a pretreatment step of applying, to a fabric, the pretreatment composition included in the print set according to claim 17 ([0161], lines 1-3) to form a wet precoat layer ([0165], lines 2-4);
a step of, without drying the fabric after the pretreatment step ([0167], lines 3-4), ejecting the water-based white ink composition included in the print set according to claim 17 onto a region of part or whole of the wet precoat layer by an inkjet method to form an image ([0161], lines 3-4); and
a step of ejecting, by an inkjet method, the water-based ink composition included in the print set according to claim 17 onto part or whole of a region where the image is formed by ejecting the water-based white ink composition, to form an image ([0161], lines 3-4).
29. Regarding claim 22: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to 21, wherein the fabric is polyester or a blend containing polyester ([0159], lines 1-3).
30. Regarding claim 23: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 22, comprising a step of drying, at 130°C or less, the fabric on which the image is formed, after the step of applying the water-based ink composition ([0177], lines 1-7 and [0178], lines 1-2).
31. Regarding claim 24: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 20, wherein the fabric is cotton or a blend containing cotton ([0159], lines 1-3).
32. Regarding claim 25: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 24, comprising a pressure application step of applying pressure to a region where the wet precoat layer is formed, after the pretreatment step ([0167], lines 8-9).
33. Claims 26-28 and 30-39 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Ishida (US Pub. Nº 2018/0282567).
34. Regarding independent claim 26: Ishida disclosed an inkjet textile printing method ([0161], lines 1-2) of forming an image on a fabric ([0161], line 3) using:
a pretreatment composition ([0020], line 1) containing water ([0104], lines 4), a cationic polymer ([0133], line 1 and [0134], line 1), and a crosslinking agent ([0112], lines 1-2); and at least one water-based ink composition ([0074], line 1), the inkjet textile printing method comprising:
a pretreatment step of applying the pretreatment composition to the fabric ([0161], lines 1-3) to form a wet precoat layer; and
a step of, without drying the fabric after the pretreatment step, applying the water-based ink composition to a region of the wet precoat layer ([0165], lines 2-4),
wherein an amount of the pretreatment composition applied per unit area of the fabric is more than 0.035 g/cm2 and less than 0.070 g/cm2 ([0163], lines 1-2),
in the pretreatment composition, a content of the cationic polymer is more than 1.4 mass% and less than 10.5 mass% with respect to a total mass of the pretreatment composition ([0133], line 1; [0134], line 1 and [0141], lines 3-4), and a content of the crosslinking agent is 0.1 mass% or more and less than 2.7 mass% with respect to the total mass of the pretreatment composition ([0112], lines 1-2 and [0115], lines 1-3), and
the water-based ink composition contains water ([0074], line 1), a pigment ([0052], lines 1-2), a resin emulsion ([0063], lines 1-2 and [0069], lines 1-2), a water-soluble organic solvent ([0076], lines 1-2), and a surfactant ([0083], line 1).
35. Regarding claim 27: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to wherein the resin emulsion contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a urethane resin, a styrene-butadiene resin, and an acrylic resin ([0063], line 1 and [0064], lines 1-3).
36. Regarding claim 28: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein the water-based ink composition further contains a polymeric dispersant ([0063], line 1).
37. Regarding claim 30: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein the pigment is a white pigment ([0052], lines 1-2 and [0054], line 1).
38. Regarding claim 31: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 27, wherein the urethane resin includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyether-based urethane resin and a polycarbonate-based urethane resin ([0067], lines 1-3).
39. Regarding claim 32: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein the cationic polymer is a polymer containing at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of an allylamine structural unit, a diallylamine structural unit, a diallylammonium structural unit, and an epihalohydrin structural unit ([0136], lines 1-2 and [0139], lines 1-8).
40. Regarding claim 33: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein the crosslinking agent includes one or more cationic crosslinking agents selected from the group consisting of a blocked isocyanate group-containing compound, a carbodiimide group-containing compound, and an oxazoline group-containing compound ([0113], lines 1-2).
41. Regarding claim 34: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 33, wherein a dissociation temperature of the blocked isocyanate group-containing compound is 120°C or more ([0113], lines 1-2 disclosed the same type of crosslinking agents; the dissociation temperature is an intrinsic property of the crosslinking agent).
42. Regarding claim 35: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein a surface tension of the pretreatment composition at 25°C is 35 mN/m to 60 mN/m ([0157], lines 1-2).
43. Regarding claim 36: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein the fabric is polyester or a blend containing polyester ([0159], lines 1-3).
44. Regarding claim 37: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 36, comprising a step of drying, at 130°C or less, the fabric on which the image is formed, after the step of applying the water-based ink composition ([0177], lines 1-7 and [0178], lines 1-2).
45. Regarding claim 38: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, wherein the fabric is cotton or a blend containing cotton ([0159], lines 1-3).
46. Regarding claim 39: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 26, comprising a pressure application step of applying pressure to a region where the wet precoat layer is formed, after the pretreatment step ([0167], lines 8-9).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
47. 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 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.
48. 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 of this title, 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 filing 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.
49. Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida (US Pub. Nº 2018/0282567), in view of Hara et al. (JP 2019-194368).
50. Regarding claim 18: Ishida disclosed the print set according to claim 17.
Ishida is silent about wherein the polymeric dispersant is a polymer containing at least two constituent monomers selected from the group consisting of a monomer A, a monomer B, and a monomer C represented by the following formula (1):
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where the monomer A is a monomer in which R is a hydrogen atom in the formula (1), the monomer B is a monomer in which R is a C1-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1), and the monomer C is a monomer in which R is an aryl group or an aryl Cl-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1).
Hara et al. disclosed an ink set ([0006], lines 1-3) comprising an inkjet ink for textile printing ([0001], lines 1-2) composition comprising a polymeric dispersant ([0011], lines 2-4 (a dye polymer is a dispersant)), wherein the polymeric dispersant is a polymer containing at least two constituent monomers selected from the group consisting of a monomer A, a monomer B, and a monomer C represented by the following formula (1):
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where the monomer A is a monomer in which R is a hydrogen atom in the formula (1), the monomer B is a monomer in which R is a C1-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1), and the monomer C is a monomer in which R is an aryl group or an aryl Cl-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1) (see [0131], chemical formula 35-b; [0132], chemical formula 36-b; [0134], chemical formula 38-b and [0135], chemical formula 39-b).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Hara et al. with those of Ishida by using readily available polymeric dispersants or combinations thereof in order to reduce production costs of the ink set.
51. Claim 29 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida (US Pub. Nº 2018/0282567), in view of Hara et al. (JP 2019-194368).
52. Regarding claim 29: Ishida disclosed the inkjet textile printing method according to claim 28.
Ishida is silent about wherein the polymeric dispersant is a polymer containing at least two constituent monomers selected from the group consisting of a monomer A, a monomer B, and a monomer C represented by the following formula (1):
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where the monomer A is a monomer in which R is a hydrogen atom in the formula (1), the monomer B is a monomer in which R is a Cl-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1), and the monomer C is a monomer in which R is an aryl group or an aryl Cl-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1).
Hara et al. disclosed an ink set ([0006], lines 1-3) comprising an inkjet ink for textile printing ([0001], lines 1-2) composition comprising a polymeric dispersant ([0011], lines 2-4 (a dye polymer is a dispersant)), wherein the polymeric dispersant is a polymer containing at least two constituent monomers selected from the group consisting of a monomer A, a monomer B, and a monomer C represented by the following formula (1):
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where the monomer A is a monomer in which R is a hydrogen atom in the formula (1), the monomer B is a monomer in which R is a C1-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1), and the monomer C is a monomer in which R is an aryl group or an aryl Cl-C4 alkyl group in the formula (1) (see [0131], chemical formula 35-b; [0132], chemical formula 36-b; [0134], chemical formula 38-b and [0135], chemical formula 39-b).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Hara et al. with those of Ishida by using readily available polymeric dispersants or combinations thereof in order to reduce production costs of the ink set.
Conclusion
53. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YAOVI M. AMEH whose telephone number is (571)272-4578. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
54. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
55. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, STEPHEN MEIER can be reached at (571)272-2149. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/YAOVI M AMEH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853