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 § 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.
Claims 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Martin et al (US 2005/0061327), hereinafter Martin.
Regarding claim 1, Martin teaches a respirator (Fig. 1, abstract, filtering face mask), comprising:
a harness (Fig. 1: 15);
a mask body (Fig. 1: 12); and
an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body (Fig. 1: exhalation valve 14), wherein the exhalation valve comprises:
a valve seat (Fig. 4: 20);
a valve cover (Fig. 6: 40); and
a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat (Fig. 3: flap 22 in contact with seat 20), wherein the flexible flap comprises at least a top stiff layer and a bottom layer (Fig 7: layers 44, 46, paragraph 68), and wherein the bottom layer is made from a material that has a lower modulus of elasticity than the top stiff layer.(Paragraph 74, the second layer has a modulus of elasticity that is higher than the first layer, paragraph 78, the layer that is softer, more flexible is disposed on the portion of the flap that makes contact with the valve seat’s seal surface)
Regarding claim 2, Martin teaches the respirator of claim 1, and further teaches wherein the bottom layer has a modulus of elasticity between one and seven Mega Pascals (MPa). (Paragraph 74, layer 44 is preferable about 1 to 7 MPa)
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claim 7 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 and 2 of U.S. Patent No.10,905,903. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because all of the limitations of the instant claim are found in the patented claims.
Claim 7, a respirator (claim 1, a respirator), comprising:
a harness (claim 1, a harness);
a mask body (claim 1, a mask body); and
an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body (claim 1 an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body), wherein the exhalation valve comprises:
a valve seat (claim 1, a valve seat);
a valve cover (claim 2); and
a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat (claim 1 flexible flap), wherein the flexible flap comprises a band shifting film having multiple layers. (Claim 1, has a specularly reflecting film)
Claim 7 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,005,277. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because all of the limitations of the instant claim are found in the patented claim.
Claim 7, a respirator (claim 1, a respirator), comprising:
a harness (claim 1, a harness);
a mask body (claim 1, a mask body); and
an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body (claim 1 an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body), wherein the exhalation valve comprises:
a valve seat (claim 1, a valve seat);
a valve cover (claim 2); and
a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat (claim 1 flexible flap), wherein the flexible flap comprises a band shifting film having multiple layers. (Claim 1, has a specularly reflecting film)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-6 and 8-15 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARGARET M LUARCA whose telephone number is (303)297-4312. The examiner can normally be reached 6:30 am - 3:00 pm MT.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brandy Lee can be reached at 571-270-7410. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARGARET M LUARCA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3785
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