DETAILED ACTION
This Office action is in response to Applicant’s amendment filed March 12, 2026. Applicant has amended claim 5. Currently, claims 1-3, 5-7 and 10-14 remain pending in the application.
The text of those sections of Title 35 U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in the prior Office actions, Paper Nos. 20250805, 20251029 and 20260210.
The rejection of claim 5 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, is withdrawn in view of applicant’s amendments and remarks.
The rejection of claims 1-3, 5-7 and 10-14 under 35 U.S.C. 102((a)(1)) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Conboy et al, US 2002/0123437, is maintained for the reasons of record.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed March 12, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Conboy et al, US 2002/0123437, does not teach or suggest in general a first fragrance that represents 15-60% by weight of the total fragrances, as required by applicant in the instant claims. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Conboy et al clearly discloses that their composition cyclohexadecanone in an amount of up to 50% by weight (see paragraph 24), per the requirements of the instant invention.
Applicant further argues that Conboy et al, US 2002/0123437, does not teach or suggest in general a first fragrance having a boiling point from about 270 to about 400 degrees Celsius, as required by applicant in the instant claims. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Conboy et al clearly discloses that their composition contains cyclohexadecanone (see paragraph 24), and, as evidenced by McGinty et al, “Food and Chemical Toxicology”, Volume 49, Supplement 2, that cyclohexadecanone has a boiling point of 339.75 degrees Celsius (see page 3 of Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 49, Supplement 2), per the requirements of the instant invention.
Applicant further argues that Conboy et al, US 2002/0123437, does not teach or suggest in general a solid detergent composition, as required by applicant in the instant claims. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Conboy et al clearly discloses that the composition is in the form of a solid (see paragraphs 25 and 28), per the requirements of the instant invention. Furthermore, the examiner asserts that Conboy et al clearly discloses that the composition is used in a process to clean toilets (see paragraph 21), per the requirements of the instant invention. Also, the examiner asserts that claim 10 recites that the composition is a toilet rim block or a solid detergent composition, and as stated above, Conboy et al clearly teaches solid compositions.
Applicant further argues that Conboy et al, US 2002/0123437, does not teach or suggest in general contacting the fragrance composition with water, as required by applicant in the instant claims. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Conboy et al clearly discloses that their composition is mixed with water (see paragraph 29), per the requirements of the instant invention.
Applicant further argues that Conboy et al, US 2002/0123437, does not teach or suggest in general a composition that contains a solid water soluble carrier, as required by applicant in the instant claims. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Specifically, the examiner respectfully maintains that Conboy et al clearly discloses that their composition contains 10-50% by weight of a carrier, such as a polysaccharide (see paragraph 27), per the requirements of the instant invention.
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 BRIAN P MRUK whose telephone number is (571)272-1321. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:00am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Angela Brown-Pettigrew, can be reached on 571-272-2817. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRIAN P MRUK/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761
Brian P Mruk
May 8, 2026
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