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 .
Claims 15-18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 11/26/25.
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-14 in the reply filed on 11/26/25 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-14 are objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “inserting a nucleation element through a first pre-strand composition at least partially into a second pre-strand composition” (cl 1:3-4) is grammatically incorrect. The phrase appears to be missing the word –and—. The phrase should be changed to -- inserting a nucleation element through a first pre-strand composition and at least partially into a second pre-strand composition--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 1-14 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.
The phrase “a nucleation element” (cl 1:7) is indefinite because it is unclear whether it is related to the nucleation element recited in cl 1:3. If they are the same, it should be clearly and positively recited as such. The phrase should be changed to –the inserted nucleation element--.
Corrections are required.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record including the closest prior art USPN 4020139 neither teaches nor renders obvious every claimed limitation including inserting a nucleation element through a first pre-strand composition at least partially into a second pre-strand composition, the first pre-strand composition comprising a first polymer and the second pre-strand composition comprising a second polymer; withdrawing the inserted nucleation element from the second pre-strand composition through the first pre-strand composition; and then, continuing to withrdraw the nucleation element out of the first pre-strand composition so that a polymer strand comprising a core of the first polymer encapsulated by a sheath of the second polymer is pulled by the nucleation element out from the pre-strand compositions. .
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. USPN 4020139 teaches forming a core-sheath strand.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDMUND H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1204. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-4PM.
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, Xiao (Sam) Zhao can be reached at 571-270-5343. 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.
EHL
/EDMUND H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
Prosecution Insights