DETAILED ACTION
1 This action is responsive to the amendment filed on May 15, 2026.
2 The cancellation of claims 2 and 3 is acknowledged. Pending claims are 1 and 4-24.
3 The rejections of the claims under 112, second paragraph and under 102(a)1 as anticipated by Cox et al. (US’ 869 A1) are withdrawn because of the applicant’s amendment.
4 Claims 1 and 3-6 stand rejected under 102(a)1 as being anticipated by Allef et al. (US’ 902 A1) for the reasons set forth in the previous Office action that mailed on February 18, 2026.
5 Claims 7-24 are withdrawn from further consideration by the examiner, as being drawn to a non-elected invention.
Response to Applicant’s Arguments
6 Applicant's arguments filed on 5/15/2026 with respect to the rejections of the claims under 112, second paragraph and under 102(a)1 as anticipated by Cox et al. (US’ 869 A1) are rendered moot because the rejections are withdrawn.
Applicant’s argument with respect to the rejection of the claims under 102(a)1 as being anticipated by Allef et al. (US’ 902 A1) have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The examiner respectfully, disagrees with the applicant’s arguments because Allef et al. (US’ 902 A1) clearly teaches and discloses aqueous hair and skin cleaning composition comprising sophorolipid (surfactant) in the amount of 1.5% by wt., Cocamidopropyl Betaine and sodium Lauryl sulfate (anionic surfactant) in the amount of 6.0% by wt., (see page 18, Table 84, Example XX) and wherein the weight ratio of the sophorolipid surfactant to the anionic surfactant is 1:4 which is within the claimed range as claimed in claim 1. Allef et al. (US’ 902 A1) teaches a hair and skin cleaning composition same to those claimed, which inherently, should have same property of improving the mildness to the skin by reducing the amount of zein protein solubilized by the composition as claimed in claims 1 and 6, and wherein the composition does not comprise anionic surfactants of glycinate or sulphosuccinate as claimed in claim 1 (see page 18, Table 84, Example XX) and wherein the composition also comprises additional hair and skin care ingredients as claimed in claims 4 and 5 (see page 18, Table 84, Example XX). Allef et al. (US’ 902 A1) teaches all the limitations of the instant claims. Therefore, the rejection of claims 1 and 4-6 under 102(a)1 as being anticipated by Allef et al. (US’ 902 A1) is proper and maintained.
7 THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EISA B ELHILO whose telephone number is (571)272-1315. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Angela Brown-Pettigrew can be reached at (571)272-2817. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EISA B ELHILO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761
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