GLASS MATERIAL PRODUCING METHOD AND GLASS MATERIAL

Application No. 18/683,312

• Filed: Feb 13, 2024
• Priority: Aug 23, 2021 — JP 2021-135672
  • Aug 17, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2022031002
• Examiner: BOLDEN, ELIZABETH A
• Art Unit: 1731
• Tech Center: 1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
• Assignee: Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.
• OA Round: 2 (Final)

Office Action

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 .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 102, and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 102, and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis 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.

Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.

Status of the Claims
Any rejections and or objections, made in the previous Office Action, and not repeated below, are hereby withdrawn.
Claims 1 and 3-8 are currently pending.
Claims 1 and 3-5 have been withdrawn.
Claim 2 has been cancelled.
Claims 6-8 are currently rejected.
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or fourth paragraph.
Claims 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Uehara et al., US 2009/0197754 A1.

Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(d) or fourth paragraph
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.

The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.

Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 7, which depends from claim 6, recites that the glass material contains in terms of mole percentages, 10% or more of La2O3. This fails to further limit claim 6 which requires not less than 20 mol% of La2O3. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.

Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.

(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.

Claims 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Uehara et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication, US 2009/0197754 A1.
Uehara et al. disclose a glass comprising in mass%: 5-22% of B2O3, 15-50% of La2O3, 0.01-15% of TiO2, 5-40% of Nb2O5, 0.1-25% of Ta2O5, 0-10% of SiO2, 0-10% of GeO2, 0-10% of Al2O3, 0-16% of Gd2O3, 0-15% of ZrO2, 0-22% of WO3, 0-1% of Sb2O3 0-20% of Y2O3, 0-15% of Yb2O3, 0-20% of ZnO, 0-15% of CaO, 0-15% of SrO, 0-15% of BaO, 0-<3% of Li2O, 0-8% of Na2O, and 0-11% of K2O. See Abstract and the entire specification, specifically, paragraphs [0015] and [0016]. Uehara et al. disclose the glass is an optical glass. See paragraph [0012]. The compositional ranges of Uehara et al. are sufficiently specific to anticipate the glass as recited in claims 6-8. See MPEP 2131.03.
As to claim 6, Uehara et al. disclose Examples 1-5, 8, 11, 13-36, 41-61, and 63-78 (see Tables 1-10 and the below table which shows the examples in terms of mole percentages), which reads on the glass comprising in terms of mol%: at least 20% of La2O3, 5-40% of Nb2O5, 0-14% of TiO2, 0-40% of taa2o5, at least 50 mol% of La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3, 0-25% of SiO2, and at most 50% B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2, as recited in instant claim 6. Since the composition of the reference is the same as those claimed herein it follows that the glasses of Uehara et al. would inherently possess the absolute value of Db* as recited in claim 6. See MPEP 2112.
It is well settled that when a claimed composition appears to be substantially the same as a composition disclosed in the prior art, the burden is properly upon the applicant to prove by way of tangible evidence that the prior art composition does not necessarily possess characteristics attributed to the CLAIMED composition. In re Spada, 911 F.2d 705, 15 USPQ2d 1655 (Fed. Circ. 1990); In re Fitzgerald, 619 F.2d 67, 205 USPQ 594 (CCPA 1980); In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 2109, 169 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1971).
Products of identical composition may not have mutually exclusive properties. In re Spada 15 USPQ2d 1655,1658 (Fed. Circ. 1990).
As to claim 7, Uehara et al. disclose Examples 1-5, 8, 11, 13-36, 41-61, and 63-78 (see Tables 1-10 and the below table which shows the examples in terms of mole percentages), which read on the glass comprising at least 10 mol% of La2O3, as recited in instant claim 7.
As to claim 8, Uehara et al. disclose the glass is an optical glass (see paragraph [0012]), which reads on the glass being an optical glass material.

Mol%
Ex. 1
Ex. 2
Ex. 3
Ex. 4
Ex. 5
Ex. 6
Ex. 7
Ex. 8
Ex. 9
Ex. 10
La2O3
22.42
21.61
21.93
21.49
20.57
18.96
19.84
21.17
17.84
15.02
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
2.56
5.15
TiO2
5.12
4.93
5.01
4.91
4.69
4.33
4.53
4.83
4.72
4.73
ZrO2
10.23
9.85
10.00
9.80
9.38
8.65
9.04
9.65
9.43
9.46
Nb2O5
17.94
20.94
17.54
17.19
16.74
18.38
15.87
16.94
16.55
16.60
Ta2O5
4.48
4.32
6.61
4.29
4.11
3.79
3.97
4.23
4.14
4.15
WO3
0.00
0.00
0.00
4.17
0.00
0.00
3.85
0.00
0.00
0.00
B2O3
20.52
19.78
20.07
19.68
26.81
29.59
25.85
19.36
26.96
27.04
SiO2
5.14
4.93
5.00
4.90
4.72
4.34
4.54
4.86
4.75
4.76
GeO2
14.08
13.57
13.77
13.50
12.92
11.90
12.46
13.30
12.99
13.03
Sb2O3
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
5.60
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
60.19
61.65
61.08
61.85
55.50
54.11
57.09
56.82
55.24
55.11
B2O3 Sum*
39.74
38.28
38.85
38.08
44.44
45.83
42.85
37.52
44.70
44.83

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 11
Ex. 12
Ex. 13
Ex. 14
Ex.15
Ex. 16
Ex. 17
Ex. 18
Ex.19
Ex. 20
La2O3
21.20
19.68
20.15
24.00
23.62
20.89
21.08
21.79
22.42
21.35
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
4.83
4.50
4.60
5.47
5.38
4.77
4.80
4.98
5.11
4.87
ZrO2
9.67
8.97
9.19
3.94
3.87
9.53
9.61
9.94
10.22
9.73
Nb2O5
16.97
19.07
16.12
19.20
20.49
16.72
16.86
17.43
17.94
17.08
Ta2O5
4.24
3.94
4.03
4.80
4.72
2.90
2.07
4.35
4.48
0.79
WO3
0.00
0.00
3.91
0.00
0.00
4.05
4.09
0.00
0.00
4.14
B2O3
24.87
26.92
24.68
21.95
21.61
23.18
23.37
28.38
32.11
23.67
SiO2
4.84
4.50
4.62
5.49
5.40
4.79
4.82
5.00
5.13
4.88
GeO2
13.32
12.37
12.65
15.08
14.83
13.12
13.24
8.06
2.52
13.41
Sb2O3
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.07
0.07
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
56.91
56.16
57.99
57.40
58.08
58.86
58.51
58.49
60.18
57.97
B2O3 Sum*
43.03
43.78
41.94
42.52
41.84
41.08
41.43
41.44
39.75
41.96

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 21
Ex. 22
Ex. 23
Ex. 24
Ex. 25
Ex. 26
Ex. 27
Ex. 28
Ex. 29
Ex. 30
La2O3
22.94
22.26
22.18
22.25
21.72
21.64
21.70
21.60
21.66
21.61
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
5.22
5.09
5.05
5.08
4.96
4.93
4.96
4.94
4.93
4.93
ZrO2
3.77
3.65
10.12
10.15
9.91
9.87
9.90
9.85
9.87
9.85
Nb2O5
18.35
19.31
17.75
17.80
17.38
17.32
17.36
17.28
17.11
16.85
Ta2O5
4.59
4.45
4.43
4.45
3.02
1.69
4.34
4.32
5.21
5.64
WO3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.68
3.36
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
B2O3
25.43
26.10
29.75
30.71
28.28
28.18
25.44
22.55
30.04
29.98
SiO2
5.24
5.10
4.34
5.09
4.96
4.95
8.21
11.39
4.95
4.94
GeO2
14.40
13.97
6.30
4.41
8.04
8.01
8.03
7.99
6.16
6.14
Sb2O3
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
54.86
54.75
59.54
59.72
58.65
58.79
58.25
57.99
58.79
58.88
B2O3 Sum*
45.07
45.18
40.39
40.21
41.28
41.14
41.69
41.94
41.15
41.06

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 31
Ex. 32
Ex. 33
Ex. 34
Ex. 35
Ex. 36
Ex. 37
Ex. 38
Ex. 39
Ex. 40
La2O3
21.56
21.51
22.39
22.44
20.29
20.41
18.90
17.34
19.34
18.01
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
4.91
4.91
5.10
5.12
5.04
5.08
5.16
5.26
5.11
5.08
ZrO2
9.83
9.81
10.21
10.23
10.09
10.14
10.32
10.51
10.22
10.17
Nb2O5
16.59
16.34
18.14
18.41
17.70
17.24
16.97
16.69
16.80
16.72
Ta2O5
6.07
6.49
3.57
3.12
5.78
5.81
7.30
8.83
5.85
5.83
WO3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.74
3.46
B2O3
29.91
29.84
29.02
29.08
29.68
29.85
29.66
29.45
29.36
29.22
SiO2
4.93
4.93
5.14
5.14
5.07
5.09
5.18
5.28
5.13
5.11
GeO2
6.13
6.11
6.36
6.38
6.28
6.32
6.44
6.55
6.37
6.34
Sb2O3
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
58.96
59.06
59.41
59.33
58.90
58.68
58.65
58.64
59.06
59.27
B2O3 Sum*
40.98
40.88
40.52
40.60
41.03
41.25
41.28
41.29
40.87
40.66

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 41
Ex. 42
Ex. 43
Ex. 44
Ex. 45
Ex. 46
Ex. 47
Ex. 48
Ex. 49
Ex. 50
La2O3
21.91
22.24
22.25
22.39
22.82
21.42
21.33
21.09
20.87
20.64
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
4.99
4.77
6.87
4.66
4.36
2.87
5.40
5.52
5.67
5.81
ZrO2
9.98
9.52
9.42
9.30
8.70
10.61
10.78
11.04
11.32
11.63
Nb2O5
15.25
16.71
16.52
18.25
18.89
18.63
16.68
16.37
16.07
15.76
Ta2O5
4.38
4.17
4.13
4.08
3.82
4.65
4.73
4.84
4.97
5.10
WO3
3.97
2.27
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
B2O3
28.21
29.54
30.17
30.79
31.57
29.81
28.88
28.64
28.31
27.93
SiO2
5.02
4.77
4.72
4.68
4.37
5.33
5.42
5.55
5.69
5.83
GeO2
6.23
5.94
5.86
5.79
5.43
6.61
6.72
6.88
7.06
7.25
Sb2O3
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
60.48
59.69
59.18
58.67
58.58
58.18
58.93
58.86
58.88
58.94
B2O3 Sum*
39.45
40.25
40.76
41.27
41.36
41.75
41.01
41.08
41.05
41.00

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 51
Ex. 52
Ex. 53
Ex. 54
Ex. 55
Ex. 56
Ex. 57
Ex. 58
Ex. 59
Ex. 60
La2O3
21.47
21.84
20.88
20.59
21.08
21.40
21.40
21.01
20.75
21.18
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
5.61
5.73
4.52
3.44
5.91
6.02
6.02
5.50
5.43
5.54
ZrO2
11.23
11.42
11.37
11.74
11.82
12.03
12.03
10.99
10.86
11.08
Nb2O5
16.66
16.95
16.88
17.41
16.06
16.34
16.34
16.30
16.10
16.44
Ta2O5
4.92
5.01
4.99
5.15
5.18
5.27
5.27
4.82
4.76
4.86
WO3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
B2O3
30.95
33.24
28.49
28.40
30.31
32.82
32.82
25.92
17.87
31.39
SiO2
5.64
5.75
5.71
5.89
5.94
6.05
6.05
8.55
17.40
2.53
GeO2
3.47
0.00
7.09
7.32
3.64
0.00
0.00
6.86
6.77
6.91
Sb2O3
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
59.89
60.95
58.65
58.32
60.04
61.07
61.07
58.61
57.89
59.10
B2O3 Sum*
40.05
38.99
41.28
41.62
39.89
38.87
38.87
41.32
42.04
40.83

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 61
Ex. 62
Ex. 63
Ex. 64
Ex. 65
Ex. 66
Ex. 67
Ex. 68
Ex. 69
Ex. 70
La2O3
20.34
19.95
20.71
20.33
21.00
21.97
21.23
21.47
21.21
21.58
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
5.32
5.22
5.42
5.32
5.49
5.75
5.55
5.61
8.98
5.66
ZrO2
10.64
10.44
10.83
10.64
10.98
6.87
11.10
11.23
6.64
6.75
Nb2O5
14.22
13.94
16.07
15.78
16.29
17.05
16.48
16.67
16.46
18.49
Ta2O5
8.64
6.37
2.73
0.69
0.82
0.86
2.08
3.36
0.83
0.84
WO3
0.00
4.02
3.86
7.58
7.61
7.97
5.32
2.99
7.69
7.82
B2O3
28.78
28.23
28.12
27.61
32.21
33.69
32.58
32.95
32.54
33.11
SiO2
5.35
5.25
5.45
5.35
5.53
5.79
5.60
5.66
5.59
5.69
GeO2
6.64
6.51
6.76
6.64
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Sb2O3
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
59.16
59.94
59.61
60.34
62.19
60.45
61.77
61.33
61.81
61.14
B2O3 Sum*
40.77
39.99
40.33
39.60
37.75
39.48
38.17
38.60
38.13
38.80

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Mol%
Ex. 71
Ex. 72
Ex. 73
Ex. 74
Ex. 75
Ex. 76
Ex. 77
Ex. 78
La2O3
20.30
20.52
20.75
21.45
21.69
21.86
21.60
22.11
Gd2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
TiO2
8.61
8.70
8.80
9.08
9.19
9.26
10.33
12.01
ZrO2
10.63
10.74
10.86
6.71
6.79
6.84
3.72
0.00
Nb2O5
15.76
15.93
16.10
16.65
16.84
16.97
16.77
17.16
Ta2O5
0.79
2.01
3.24
2.10
3.40
4.28
0.85
0.87
WO3
7.36
5.15
2.89
5.38
3.02
1.41
7.84
8.02
B2O3
31.15
31.49
31.84
32.91
33.29
33.55
33.14
33.94
SiO2
5.35
5.40
5.46
5.66
5.72
5.76
5.69
5.83
GeO2
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Sb2O3
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.07
Al2O3
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
La2O3 Sum*
63.44
63.04
62.64
61.37
60.93
60.62
61.10
60.16
B2O3 Sum*
36.50
36.90
37.30
38.57
39.01
39.32
38.83
39.77

La2O3 Sum* = La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3+Yb2O3+Ga2O3+TiO2+ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+WO3
B2O3 Sum* = B2O3+SiO2+P2O5+GeO2

Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 6-8 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.

Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Elizabeth A. Bolden whose telephone number is [phone]. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00 am to 6:30 pm M-F.
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, Amber R. Orlando can be reached at 571-270-3149. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Elizabeth A. Bolden/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1731

EAB
5 May 2026

Prosecution Timeline

• Feb 13, 2024: Application Filed
• Dec 22, 2025: Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112
• Mar 18, 2026: Response Filed
• May 08, 2026: Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)