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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claim 2, “where each R1 is an independently selected monovalent hydrocarbon group free of aliphatic unsaturation, each R2 is an independently selected aliphatically unsaturated monovalent hydrocarbon group” is suggested to be changed to “wherein each R1 is an independently selected monovalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group, each R2 is an independently selected monovalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2, “monofunctional units” and “difunctional units” should read “monovalent units” and “divalent units” because a, b and c are not associated with functional groups. This objection is applicable to all the occurrences in the present claims. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2, “subscripts a and b” should read “a and b”. This objection is applicable to all the occurrences in the present claims. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2, “sufficient to impart a viscosity …” should read “sufficient to impart a viscosity of the branched polyorganosiloxane polymer…”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2, “aliphatically unsaturated group” should read “unsaturated aliphatic group”. This objection is applicable to all the occurrences in the present claims. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2, “based on weight of silicone the release coating dispersion” should read “based on weight of the silicone release coating dispersion”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9, “R4 is selected from the group consisting of H and an alkyl group” should be re-written to follow a chemical formula containing this group. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 and 18, “where (A) the ionic liquid comprises 90 weight %, based on combined weights of (A1) and (A2), of (A1) lithium trifluoromethylsulfonate, and10 weight %, based on combined weights of (A1) and (A2), of (A2) lithium bis(trifluoro methylsulfonyl)imide; thereby forming an aqueous solution, …” is suggested to be changed to “where (A) the ionic liquid comprises 90 weight% of (A1) lithium trifluoro methylsulfonate and 10 weight% of (A2) lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, based on total weight of (A1) and (A2), thereby form an aqueous solution; and…”.
Claim 13 is objected to under 37 CFR 1.75(c) as being in improper form because a multiple dependent claim should refer to other claims in the alternative only. See MPEP § 608.01(n). Accordingly, the claim 13 has not been further treated on the merits.
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 2-7, 12, 15 -19 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 2 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when the claim recites “provide a molar ratio of silicon bonded hydrogen atoms to aliphatically unsaturated groups (SiH:Vi ratio) in the release coating composition of >1:1 to 5:1”, because the molar ratio range “of >1:1 to 5:1” is not clear. In this office action, it is taken that the molar ration is in range of 1:1 to 5:1. Claims 3-4, 7, 12, 15-19 are also rejected for depending from claim 2, thus inclusion of its indefinite features.
Claims 3 and 15 rejected as being vague and indefinite when these claims recite “where the continuous phase further comprises up to 90 weight % of a solvent, with a balance to 100 weight % of the continuous phase being the silicone release coating composition”, because the recitations cause confusion. In this office, it is taken that “the continuous phase comprising the silicone release coating composition”. Claim 16 is also rejected for depending from claim 15, thus inclusion of its indefinite features.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 8 are allowable and claims 2-7 and 9-19 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome objections and 112 rejections as set forth above. The reason for the allowance is that the claims are allowable over closest prior art Onozawa et al (US 2020/0048508, of record, IDS 11/15/23) and Christiano et al (US 6,656,975). Onozawa discloses a silicone composition for release paper or release film ([0018] comprising a linear or a branched polyorganosiloxane polymer having at least two alkenyl groups ([0022], [0034]-[0041]) satisfying chemical formula of branched polyorganosiloxane (C) and polydiorganosiloxanes (E) as in the present claim 2; a polyorganohydrogen -siloxane having at least three silicon bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule ([0023], [0042]-[0048]), with a molar ratio of silicon bonded hydrogen atoms to unsaturated groups satisfying presently claimed range ([0049]); a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst of 5 to 2000 ppm of a platinum group metal based on weight of total silicone resins; an organic solvent ([0052]); and an ionic compound including an ionic liquid as an antistatic agent ([0054]-[0063]). ‘508 also discloses a method of preparing the silicone composition and related release liner ([0102]-[0109]). Christian discloses a silicone dispersion comprising a continuous phase being a polar organic solvent with dispersed silicone material (discontinuous phase) being linear or branched polyorganosiloxane encapsulated with in an organic encapsulating material (C2/L1-L18, C2/L45-C3/25). However, the prior art of record does not disclose or fairly suggest a silicone release coating dispersion as recited in the present claim 1, which comprises a continuous phase comprising a hydrosilylation reaction curable silicone and an aqueous discontinuous phase dispersed in the continuous phase; wherein the aqueous discontinuous phase comprises an ionic liquid dissolved in water.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RUIYUN ZHANG whose telephone number is (571)270-7934. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00-5:00 PM.
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/RUIYUN ZHANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782
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