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.
Claim 20 is 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.
In claim 20, line 2, the expression “one of more fluid sources” is confusing and unclear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-19 are allowable over the prior art references currently of record.
Claim 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of the prior art references currently of record, alone or in combination, disclose, suggest or teach a process of making a ceramic sandwich-structured composite component, including forming a sealed interior cavity with respect to a tool, wherein one or more CMC plies and ceramic foam precursor are disposed within the sealed interior cavity, and curing the ceramic foam precursor and the one or more CMC plies within the sealed interior cavity, the ceramic foam precursor configured to expand within the sealed interior cavity to apply pressure to one or more CMC plies (as recited in claim 1). None of the prior art references currently of record, alone or in combination, disclose, suggest or teach a process of making a ceramic sandwich-structured composite component, including applying one or more CMC plies to at least a portion of at least one surface of a tool, the tool closable to define an interior cavity, the one or more CMC plies disposed within the interior cavity when the tool is closed, and co-curing the ceramic foam precursor and the one or more CMC plies within the interior cavity, the ceramic foam precursor expanding within the interior cavity during the co-curing (as recited in claim 10). None of the prior art references currently of record, alone of in combination, disclose, suggest or teach an apparatus for making a ceramic sandwich-structured composite component, including a tool having one or more surfaces defining an interior cavity, wherein the interior cavity is sealable, and at least one thermal energy system configured to expand a ceramic foam precursor within the interior cavity (as recited in claim 18).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Uskert et al, de Diego and Keith are directed to the manufacture of CMC components. Todorovic et al is directed to a tool including a channel system for heating and cooling the tool (see Figure 28 and paragraph [0109]; note instant claim 20).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEO B. TENTONI whose telephone number is (571)272-1209. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-4:00 ET M-F.
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LEO B. TENTONI
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1742
/LEO B TENTONI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1742