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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/21/2024 has been considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: "the applying the liquid resin" in lines 4 and 6 should read "the step of applying the liquid resin". Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
Claim objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
Claim objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
Claim objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
Claim objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
Claim objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
Claim objected to because of the following informalities: "the . Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-8 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "such that the side supplied with the liquid resin be inside" in lines 10-11. It is unclear specifically where the liquid resin is with respect to being “inside”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Is the liquid resin on an inside surface? An inner surface? Internal to the film? For examination purposes, Examiner has interpreted the limitation is required the liquid resin be on an inner surface of the film during the step of spreading the liquid resin based on the plain meaning of inside.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "spreading the liquid resin on a [the] surface of the film on a [the] side supplied with the liquid resin" in lines . Does said surface and said side reference to the surface and side referenced in line 7? Examiner has presumed as such. For examination purposes, the limitation is read as “spreading the liquid resin on the surface of the film on the side supplied with the liquid resin”.
Claims 2-8 are rejected for dependence on claim 1.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "used in the liquid resin applying method according to claim" in line 1. However, none of the preceding claims is a liquid resin applying method. It is noted the preceding claims are “method for producing a resin molded product” having a step of applying liquid resin (reference claim 1, line 3). Examiner has interpreted the limitation to mean “used in the step of applying the liquid resin in the method according to claim”.
Claim 7 is rejected for dependence on claim 5.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 would be allowable if the 112b rejections identified above are resolved.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 1 would be allowable for requiring:
“…wherein the applying the liquid resin comprises:
supplying the liquid resin on a part of a surface of the film on a side to be applied with the liquid resin;
spreading the liquid resin on a surface of the film on a side supplied with the liquid resin, by folding the film supplied with the liquid resin such that the side supplied with the liquid resin be inside, and
opening the film folded in the spreading the liquid resin.”
The closest prior art, Kawamoto (JP2017196752A), teaches a method for producing a resin molded product (paragraphs 0008-0012) using a liquid resin (paragraph 0089) applied on a film (release film 11; paragraph 0070), comprising: applying the liquid resin on the film (Figures 1, 5-6; paragraphs 0010, 0070, 0093-0094, a coating process for applying a fluid resin for resin molding to a coating area on an object to be coated), and performing resin molding with the liquid resin applied in the [step of] applying the liquid resin (Figures 2-4; paragraphs 0119-0120, the release film 11 coated with the fluid resin 21 is transported to the molding die 544a), wherein the step of applying the liquid resin comprises: supplying the liquid resin on a part of a surface of the film on a side to be applied with the liquid resin (Figures 1, 5-6; paragraphs 0010, 0070, 0093-0094).
However, Kawamoto fails to teach or suggest the step of applying the liquid resin comprises: spreading the liquid resin on the surface of the film on a the side supplied with the liquid resin, by folding the film supplied with the liquid resin such that the side supplied with the liquid resin be inside, and opening the film folded in the step of spreading the liquid resin.
Another prior art, Nakamura (US 2001/0033894 A1), discloses a method for producing a resin product (paragraphs 0009-0012) using a liquid (36) applied on a film (30 in Figures 13-14), comprising: applying the liquid on the film (Figure 14; paragraphs 0125-0129), wherein the step of applying the liquid comprises: supplying the liquid on a part of a surface of the film on a side to be applied with the liquid (as shown in Figure 14a, 36 is supplied to the surface of 30); spreading the liquid on the surface of the film on the side supplied with the liquid (Figures 14a-14b; paragraph 0128, 36 spreads from the center to the perimeter on surface of 30), by bending the film supplied with the liquid resin (Figure 14a; paragraph 0127, 30 is deformed such that recess is formed). However, similar to Kawamoto, Nakamura fails to teach or suggest spreading the liquid resin on the surface of the film on a the side supplied with the liquid resin, by folding the film supplied with the liquid resin such that the side supplied with the liquid resin be inside, and opening the film folded in the step of spreading the liquid resin. As disclosed in the current application, the method as claimed provides a method for producing a resin molded product without the use of a spreading member to spread a resin and achieves applying a liquid resin in a short time even when the area to be applied with the resin is large (paragraph 0009 of the instant Specification).
Claims 2-8 would be allowable at least for depending on claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Oi (US 2021/0053258 A1) discloses using a wiper to spread liquid resin on a substrate.
Talledo (US 9,842,828 B1) discloses providing adhesive material between a folded substrate.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Virak Nguon whose telephone number is (571)272-4196. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday (and alternate Fridays) 7:30-5:00.
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, Alison L Hindenlang can be reached at 571-270-7001. 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.
/VIRAK NGUON/Examiner, Art Unit 1741 1/16/2026