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 .
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 1-15 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.
Claims 1 and 2, recite “cellulosic nanofibers,” which are organic NOT inorganic. It is unclear if the inorganic fiber sizing is a composition comprising a resin and cellulose fibers or something else. Please clarify. For the purposes of examination, the term inorganic is not being given weight and any cellulose based nanofiber will read on the limitation.
Dependent claims 3-15 are objected to as being based on a rejected base claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) or (a) (2) as being anticipated by JP2017119936A issued to Kobayashi et al.
Regarding Claim 1, where Applicant seeks an inorganic fiber sizing agent comprising a resin and cellulose nanofibers, wherein the cellulose nanofibers are contained in a nonvolatile content of the sizing agent in an amount of 10 ppm or more and less than 50000 ppm; Applicant is directed to the overall reference which teaches a sizing agent coated carbon fiber by coating a carbon fiber with a sizing agent containing nanocellulose with number average fiber diameter of 1 to 1000 nm and a compound having an epoxy group, wherein the compound having the epoxy group. The instant reference does not teach the amount in the same measure of units as sought by Applicant however, at ¶ 0014 , they disclose that the sizing agent preferably contains 5 to 80% by mass of nanocellulose. When converted 50,000 ppm equals 5%.
Regarding Claim 2, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose nanofibers contain cellulose nanofibers with a fiber diameter of 1 nm or more and 1000 nm or less; Applicant is directed to ¶ 0012 and 0015, where the instant reference teaches using average fiber diameter of 1 to 1000 nm.
Regarding modified claim 3, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the resin contains at least one selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, a vinyl ester resin, a polyamide resin, a polyolefin resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, a phenoxy resin, a polyimide resin, and a polyimide resin precursor; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding modified claim 4, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, further comprising a surfactant; Applicant is directed to ¶ 0062-0063. It should be noted that adhesion promoters are surfactants.
Regarding modified Claim 5, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic fiber sizing agent is applied to a glass fiber or a carbon fiber; Applicant is directed to the abstract and ¶ 0001-0012.
Regarding modified Claim 6, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the resin contains at least one selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin and a polyester resin, and the inorganic fiber sizing agent is applied to a composite material in which a matrix resin is an epoxy resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding modified Claim 7, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the resin contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyimide resin, and a polyimide resin precursor, and the inorganic fiber sizing agent is applied to a composite material in which a matrix resin is a polyamide resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding modified Claim 8, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the resin contains a vinyl ester resin, and the inorganic fiber sizing agent is applied to a composite material in which a matrix resin is a vinyl ester resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding modified Claim 9, where Applicant seeks that the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1, wherein the resin contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin resin and a phenoxy resin, and the inorganic fiber sizing agent is applied to a composite material in which a matrix resin is a polyolefin resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding Claim 10, where Applicant seeks that an inorganic fiber having the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1 attached thereto; Applicant is directed to rationale for claim 1. Carbon can be both organic and inorganic.
Regarding Claim 11, where Applicant seeks that a method for producing an inorganic fiber, comprising attaching the inorganic fiber sizing agent according to claim 1 to an inorganic fiber; Applicant is directed to the abstract. Carbon can be both organic and inorganic.
Regarding Claim 12, where Applicant seeks that a composite material comprising the inorganic fiber according to claim 10 and a matrix resin, wherein the resin in the inorganic fiber sizing agent contains at least one selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin and a polyester resin, and the matrix resin is an epoxy resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. The epoxy can be functionalized with other thermoplastic polymers. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding Claim 13, where Applicant seeks a composite material comprising the inorganic fiber according to claim 10 and a matrix resin, wherein the resin in the inorganic fiber sizing agent contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyimide resin, and a polyimide resin precursor, and the matrix resin is a polyamide resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. The epoxy can be functionalized with other thermoplastic polymers. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding Claim 14, where Applicant seeks a composite material comprising the inorganic fiber according to claim 10 and a matrix resin, wherein the resin in the inorganic fiber sizing agent contains a vinyl ester resin, and the matrix resin is a vinyl ester resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. The epoxy can be functionalized with other thermoplastic polymers. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Regarding Claim 15, where Applicant seeks a composite material comprising the inorganic fiber according to claim 10 and a matrix resin, wherein the resin in the inorganic fiber sizing agent contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin resin and a phenoxy resin, and the matrix resin is a polyolefin resin; Applicant is directed to the abstract, ¶¶ 0005, 0012-0013, 0020, 0037-0055 for the epoxy resin. The epoxy can be functionalized with other thermoplastic polymers. At ¶ 0100, other resins such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene ether, phenoxy resin, and vinyl polymer can be preferably used.
Conclusion
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/Arti Singh-Pandey/
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 1759
asp