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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/2/26 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The Examiner acknowledges the remarks and amendments filed on 2/2/26. Claims 1, 2, and 5 have been amended. Claim 4 has been canceled. Claims 1-3 and 5-12 are pending.
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 1-3 and 5-12 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
1. Regarding Claim 1, in line 4, it’s stated “…over at least a layer of a surface of the interior-side surface of the glass sheet”. It’s unclear as to what is the difference between the “layer” and the “sheet”. Are they the same? Is there another “layer” on top of the “sheet”?
2. Regarding Claim 1, under part “d.”, it is stated: “wherein the black ceramic layer has a pattern that mitigates a contrast in emissivity during d. between an area where the thermal radiation reflective coating is not covered by the black layer”. In the case the black ceramic layer does cover the entirety of the thermal radiation reflective coating (as permitted from lines 7-8), which area does the pattern mitigate a contrast in emissivity during step d.?
3. Regarding Claim 1, in the final two lines, it is stated “wherein the black ceramic layer pattern comprises alternating zones provided with and free of black ceramic layer.” Under “d.”, it is stated that “the black ceramic layer has a pattern”. It is not clear how the layer contains the pattern, yet the pattern is being described in the last two lines as being “free of black ceramic layer”.
4. Regarding Claim 1, how do lines 14-16 differ from what is stated in lines 7-9 under “c.”?
5. Regarding Claim 2, in lines 7-8, it’s stated “…over at least a layer of a surface of the interior-side surface of the glass sheet”. It’s unclear as to what is the difference between the “layer” and the “sheet”. Are they the same? Is there another “layer” on top of the “sheet”?
6. Regarding Claim 2, under part “f.”, it is stated: “wherein the black ceramic layer has a pattern that mitigates a contrast in emissivity during d. between an area where the thermal radiation reflective coating is not covered by the black layer”. In the case the black ceramic layer does cover the entirety of the thermal radiation reflective coating (as permitted from lines 10-11), which area does the pattern mitigate a contrast in emissivity during step d.?
7. Regarding Claim 2, in the final two lines, it is stated “wherein the black ceramic layer pattern comprises alternating zones provided with and free of black ceramic layer.” Under “f.”, it is stated that “the black ceramic layer has a pattern”. It is not clear how the layer contains the pattern, yet the pattern is being described in the last two lines as being “free of black ceramic layer”.
8. Regarding Claim 2, under “d.”, it is stated that the black ceramic layer covers “at least partially the thermal radiation reflective coating.” Yet, in lines in the second to last paragraph of the claim, it is stated that “or the black ceramic layer runs alongside an area covered by the thermal radiation reflective coating”, which seems to directly contradict what is stated under “d.”.
9. Regarding Claim 5, in the final two lines, it is stated “wherein the black ceramic layer forms a pattern comprising alternating zones provided with and free of black ceramic layer.” It is not clear how the layer contains the pattern, yet the pattern is being described in the last two lines as simultaneously being “free of black ceramic layer”.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 2/2/26, with respect to the rejection(s) of all claim(s) under Jamart have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of 35 USC 112.
Conclusion
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/TAHSEEN KHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1781 February 7, 2026