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 .
Applicant’s amendment and accompanying remarks filed February 18, 2026 are acknowledged.
Examiner acknowledges amended claim 1.
Examiner acknowledges withdrawn claim 3.
Examiner acknowledges newly added claim 4.
The rejection of claims 1-2 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Xu, CN10807021 is overcome by Applicant’s amendment.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-2 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ihara et al, WO2018-088471.
Regarding claims 1-2 and 4, Ihara discloses a carbon fiber reinforced resin material which includes rods [0020]. Paragraph 0023 discloses that the resin can include a thermoplastic resin such as polyamide resin, polycarbonate resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, polypropylene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polyetheretherketone resin and polyetherimide resin. Paragraph 0036 discloses that the carbon fibers are present in the resin in the amount of 10 to 50 w/w% which is encompassed by Applicant’s claims. Applicant’s claims are directed to a welding rod. Ihara discloses a rod. Applicant’s preamble in claim 1 recites purpose or intended use. Ihara discloses a rod having the same structural limitations as the welding rod as claimed. Applicant’s preamble does not limit the structure of the claimed welding rod. SEE MPEP 2111.02 (I & II).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the present claims have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CAMIE S THOMPSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1530. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 am - 5:30 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Boyd, can be reached at 571-272-7783. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CAMIE S THOMPSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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