Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/566,377

AQUEOUS COATING COMPOSITION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Dec 01, 2023
Examiner
MILLER, DANIEL H
Art Unit
1783
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Omya International AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
53%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
4y 2m
To Grant
73%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 53% of resolved cases
53%
Career Allow Rate
367 granted / 687 resolved
-11.6% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+19.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 2m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
717
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
66.2%
+26.2% vs TC avg
§102
14.7%
-25.3% vs TC avg
§112
11.6%
-28.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 687 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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, 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. Claim (s) 1-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sharma (US 2007/0066729) . Sharma teaches two polymer mixed (a and b) one being labeled a binder in Sharma and a pigment (See claims , abstract, and Examples). Regarding claims 1-18, the polymer can have a alpha-olefin (See claims). The Examiner notes the wax is optional in claim 1 and therefore not required by any claim s as written. The top coating can be a mixture of acrylates and methacrylates (See [0050] and claims ). The binder can be an acrylate (See [0027 and Examples). The coatings can be products of maleic acid anhydride (See [0029]). Regarding at least claim 2, t he pigment can be a calcium carbonate or silicate (See claims, [0051]). The pigment fillers may also be phyllosilicates at 0.5 to 10 percent (see [0115-0118]) meeting claim 1 percentage requirement . The polymers can be copolymers as required by dependent claims (See abstract and claims). The copolymer can comprise ethylene or polyethylene rendering claim 1 0 obvious (see [0057]). The coating may contain a wax (see [0064]). Regarding claims to carbons and/or concentrations, Sharma teaches providing a variety of coatings composition having different properties with overlapping or identical properties (concentrations and carbons) to those claimed. (See [[0109-0111] and claims). Regarding claims 15-18, [0045] t he coatings compositions according to the invention can be applied to any desired substrates, for example to metal, wood, plastic or ceramic materials. They are for example used as a top coat in the finishing of automobiles. Regarding claim 18, Sha r ma teaches using a binder (especially when coating wood) and the disclosed coating layer can be a “ top coating ” thus rendering obvious providing an undercoating as claimed and providing the coating as a top coating as desired (see [0042-0049]). While arriving at the claimed invention may require combinations of embodiments. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to provide the claimed invention as within the scope of the taught embodiments and scope of what one of ordinary skill would understand are within the scope of the disclosure of the reference. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT DANIEL H MILLER whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-1534 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-TH 9-6 . 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. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Veronica Ewald can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-8519 . The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent- center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /DANIEL H MILLER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1783
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 01, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12594579
ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER COATING AND METHOD OF REPAIRING THE SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12577023
Recyclable paper packaging with high barrier to water vapor and oxygen
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12571129
TWO-DIMENSIONAL VERTICAL COMPOSITE LAMINATE INCLUDING GRAPHENE AND HEXAGONAL BORON NITRIDE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12540105
HIGH TEMPERATURE COATINGS
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 03, 2026
Patent 12534639
MICHAEL ADDITION CURABLE COMPOSITION, COATING COMPOSITION CONTAINING THE SAME, AND COATED ARTICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted Jan 27, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
53%
Grant Probability
73%
With Interview (+19.3%)
4y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 687 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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