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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of claims 1-18 in the reply filed on 9-12-25 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that there is no serious burden to search both inventions. This is not found persuasive because there’s a serious burden to search in different classes/subclasses.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 19-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 9-12-25.
Claim Objections
Claims 5 and 14 are objected to because of the following informalities: “where in” should read “wherein”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 8 and 17 are objected to because of the following informalities: “the distance between defined between the first bracket and the second bracket” should read “the distance between the first bracket and the second bracket”. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 10-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DeVlieger (2016/0075062).
Regarding claim 1, DeVlieger discloses a mold 2 for use in creating a surface replication of a surface of a component, the mold comprising:
A body including a first bracket 4, 5 and an opposite second bracket 6, 7 spaced a distance from the first bracket, the first bracket includes a first inner surface and the second bracket includes a second inner surface, wherein the first and second inner surfaces define at least a portion of a boundary of a mold cavity 8; and
An adjustment mechanism 26, 40 for selectively increasing or decreasing the distance defined between the first and second brackets, wherein the adjustment mechanism may selectively couple the first and second brackets to the surface of the component in sealing contact such that the mold cavity is at least partially defined by the boundary of the mold and the surface of the component (see abstract, fig. 1-7, claim 1).
Regarding claim 2 and 11, DeVlieger discloses wherein the body includes a passage defined within at least one of the first bracket and the second bracket such that the passage extends between an inlet and an outlet defined through the boundary of the mold cavity (see para 20-21).
Regarding claim 10, DeVileger discloses a mold system for use in creating a surface replication of a surface of a component, the mold system comprising:
A reservoir for use in storing a solidifying compound (inherent);
An injection tool fluidically connected to the reservoir (para 20-21); and
A mold 2 comprising:
A body including a first bracket 4, 5 and an opposite second bracket 6, 7 spaced a distance from the first bracket, the first bracket includes a first inner surface and the second bracket includes a second inner surface, wherein the first and second inner surfaces define at least a portion of a boundary of a mold cavity 8; and
An adjustment mechanism 26, 40 for selectively increasing or decreasing the distance defined between the first and second brackets, wherein the adjustment mechanism may selectively couple the first and second brackets to the surface of the component in sealing contact such that the mold cavity is at least partially defined by the boundary of the mold and the surface of the component (see abstract, fig. 1-7, claim 1).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-9, 12-18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claim 3 and 12, the prior art does not each wherein the body further comprises a middle bracket extending between eh first bracket and the opposing second bracket, the middle bracket includes a middle inner surface that defines a portion of the boundary of the mold cavity.
Regarding claim 4 and 13, the prior art does not teach wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded bore extending at least partially through at east one of the first bracket and the second bracket, and a threaded bolt sized to couple within the threaded bore such that rotation of the threaded bolt relative to the threaded bore selectively adjusts the distance defined between the first and second brackets.
Regarding claim 5 and 14, the prior art does not teach wherein the body further includes a seal extending from the inner surfaces of the first bracket and the second bracket, the seal defines at least a portion of the boundary of the mold cavity.
Regarding claim 8 and 17, the prior art does not teach wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a hinge rotationally coupling the first bracket and the second bracket and a biasing mechanism for selectively adjusting rotations of the hinge to enable the distance between the first bracket and the second bracket to be selectively adjusted.
Claims 6-7, 9, 15-16, 18 are allowable for depending from claims 3, 5, 12 and 14, respectively.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XUE H LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-5522. The examiner can normally be reached 1PM - 10PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christina Johnson can be reached at 5702721176. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/X.H.L/Examiner, Art Unit 1742 /CHRISTINA A JOHNSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1742
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