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 .
Examiner acknowledges pending claims 6-10.
Examiner acknowledges cancelled claims 1-5.
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 9 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.
Claim 9 is rendered indefinite because it is unclear where the fibers are oriented before impregnating with resin. It is unclear if the fibers are oriented in a mold or a carrier or a surface. For purposes of examination, Examiner is interpreting the claim to refer to the fibers being oriented in a mold prior to impregnating with resin.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 6-8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shinoura et al., U.S. Pre Grant Publication 2021/0002436.
Regarding claims 6 and 10, Shinoura discloses a sheet molding compound [SMC] [0051]. The abstract of Shinoura discloses that the composite molded article includes resin and fibers. See also [0206-0210]. It is disclosed in paragraph 0031 a SMC having high fiber orientation degree at end portions wherein in the composite molded article has excellent strength. Paragraph 0035 discloses region A as a distance between one point at each of edges of a surface. Paragraph 0193 discloses that the end portions are regions extending 1.0 mm or less [within 20 mm] from both ends is region A [see also Figure 2A]. Paragraph 0323 and Figure 18 disclose fiber tows 203 are oriented at an angle 30 º or less in a direction parallel to the surface of the molded substance wherein Figure 18 shows the fiber tows 203 at the edge of the SMC.
Shinoura is silent to the amount of fibers oriented at 30 º or less contained within 20 mm from an edge of the sheet in the amount of 29 to 90%. Paragraph 0031 discloses high fiber orientation degree at end portions provides excellent strength to the composite molded article. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would optimize the amount of the fibers oriented at 30 º or less contained within 20 mm from an edge of the sheet in the amount of 29 to 90% for the benefit of obtaining a sheet molding compound having enhanced strength.
Regarding claim 7, Figure 18 shows fiber tows 203. Paragraph 0323 discloses that fiber tows 203 are oriented at an angle 30 º or less in a direction parallel to the surface of the molded substance.
Shinoura is silent to wherein a proportion of reinforcing fibers oriented 30 º or less in a section exceeding 20 mm from the edge is 25 to 40%. Figure 18 shows the fiber tows 203 exceeding 22 mm. Paragraph 0030 discloses that the occurrence of warpage is inhibited in a specific portion of the of the composite molded article. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date would optimize a proportion of reinforcing fibers oriented 30 º or less in a section exceeding 20 mm from the edge is 25 to 40% in order to have enhanced reduction of warpage in the area exceeding the edge of the SMC.
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Regarding claim 8, paragraph 0052 discloses carbon fibers [0210].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CAMIE S THOMPSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1530. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 am - 5:30 pm.
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/CAMIE S THOMPSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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