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 1-5, 7, and 9-18 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.
Independent claim 1 defines a surface coating as comprising at least a bonding layer, an antioxidant layer, an oxygen-blocking propagation layer, and a heat-insulation cooling layer. However, the claims further require that a thermal expansion coefficient buffer layer be provided between the oxygen-blocking propagation layer and the heat-insulation cooling layer. As such, it is unclear if in fact the thermal expansion coefficient buffer layer is part of the claimed surface coating or said buffer layer is a layer that is separate and distinct from the surface coating layer and is added to “the surface coating” comprising at least a bonding layer, an antioxidant layer, an oxygen-blocking propagation layer, and a heat-insulation cooling layer after formation of the surface coating layer and thus defines a modified surface coating layer. Applicant is asked to clarify the scope of the claimed invention without the introduction of new matter. Lastly, if all of the layers positioned on the composite matrix in Figure 3 correspond with the surface coating, then it is suggested that claim 1 be amended to define the surface coating as comprising at least a bonding layer, an antioxidant layer, an oxygen-blocking propagation layer, a thermal expansion coefficient buffer layer, and a heat-insulation cooling layer.
Regarding claim 14, the surface coating as defined by claim 1 is inconsistent with the method defined by claim 14. More particularly, claim 14 requires placing a heat-insulation cooling layer on a surface of the oxygen-blocking propagation layer; however, the surface coating of claim 1 includes a thermal expansion coefficient buffer layer such that the oxygen-blocking propagation layer and the heat-insulation cooling layer are spaced from one another. Thus, the thermal expansion coefficient buffer layer, and not the heat-insulation cooling layer, is placed on a surface of the surface of the oxygen-blocking propagation layer. It is suggested that Applicant amend the claims without the introduction of new matter.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUSTIN R FISCHER whose telephone number is (571)272-1215. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 5:30-2:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Katelyn Smith can be reached at 571-270-5545. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Justin Fischer
/JUSTIN R FISCHER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1749 July 13, 2026
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