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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restriction
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I, claims 1-9 and 20 in the reply filed on June 22, 2026 is acknowledged.
Applicant’s arguments submitted on June 22, 2026 are found persuasive. See page 2. Accordingly, the restriction requirement between the inventions of Group I claims 1-9 and 20, Group II claims 10-13 and 17-19, and Group III claims 14-16, as set forth in the Office action mailed on April 22, 2026 is withdrawn.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 8-17, and 20 are allowed.
The closest prior art to claim 1 is Boulos et al. (WO2020128729; US 20210332269 A1 is relied upon as equivalent document in this Office action).
Boulos discloses a release layer composition containing a siloxane polymer of formula containing at least two silanol functional groups (abstract, 0005 disclosing R2 of -OR2 being hydrogen (i.e. silanol)) and weight average molecular weight of at least 1,000 Daltons (1,000 grams per mole) (0005), a crosslinker represented by formula Si(OR5)4 , wherein R5 is an alkyl (abstract and 0035), and a photoacid generator (0005).
As to claim 1, the difference between the claimed invention and the prior art of Boulos is that Boulos is silent as to disclosing a combination of a first crosslinker and a second crosslinker as claimed in the release composition. Boulos mentions “a second crosslinker”, however, this crosslinker is in a different release composition at a different location from the first release composition. Specifically, Boulos discloses an article comprising a second release layer 30/backing layer 20/first release layer 10 (Figure 2 and 0074). Further, Boulos discloses that the second release layer includes a second crosslinker (0075). Therefore, Boulos does not teach or suggest a combination of a first crosslinker and a second crosslinker as required by claim 1 in a release composition.
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 18 and 19 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.
As to claim 18, this claim at line 3 recites “the first adhesive skin layer”. There is a lack of antecedent basis with respect to this limitation in the claim. The examiner respectfully submits that applicant should replace “the first adhesive skin layer” with “the adhesive skin layer”.
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.
Claims 5-7 are 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 5 recites a first and second crosslinker of chemical formula which fails to further limit or fails to further limit the first and second crosslinker compound represented by chemical formula recited in parent claim 1.
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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Yang et al. (US 9006357 B2) discloses a curable polysiloxane composition.
Charles Webber (US 2822290) discloses a release coatings.
Gaske et al. (US 4127460) discloses a radiation-curing aqueous coating providing a nonadherent surface.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANISH P DESAI whose telephone number is (571)272-6467. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00 am ET to 4:30 PM ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Alicia Chevalier can be reached at 571-272-1490. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANISH P DESAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1788 July 8, 2026
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