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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 8/19/24 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97(b). Accordingly, the IDS is being considered by the Examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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.
Claims 1-10, 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Holm et al. (US 2019/0231604) (“Holm”). Holm discloses: A sealing film for surrounding a device, the sealing film comprising: a backing comprising: a first major surface, and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, a perimeter surrounding a central area, a first backing portion, and a second backing portion; an adhesive on the first major surface of the backing on at least the perimeter of the first backing portion and an area of weakness adjacent to and along a substantial portion of the perimeter of both the first backing portion and the second backing portion.
Claim 2: the adhesive on the first backing portion contacts the second backing portion to form an adhesive bond; and wherein an amount of force required to break the adhesive bond is greater than an amount of force required to break the backing at the area of weakness in the backing.
Claim 3: a tear strip separating the first backing portion from the second backing portion, wherein the tear strip is separably connected to the first backing portion and the second backing portion.
Claim 4: the first backing portion and second backing portion are symmetrical.
Claims 5,6: the adhesive is a permanent, pressure sensitive adhesive; the adhesive is a contact adhesive.
Claim 7: the central area is substantially free of adhesive.
Claim 8: the area of weakness extends adjacent to an along all of the perimeter of the backing
Claim 9: the area of weakness comprises a slit in the backing.
Claim 10: the area of weakness comprises a plurality of adjacent openings through the backing.
Claim 12: the plurality of adjacent openings are symmetrically disposed on the first backing portion and the second backing portion.
Claim 13: the plurality of adjacent openings extend over substantially an entire surface area of the backing.
Claim 14: a release liner on the adhesive on the first major surface.
Claim 15: further comprising printed indicia on the first major surface of at least one of the first backing portion or the second backing portion. (can be manually printed on any surface)
All claims, see [0022-0032] for reference rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEANNA K HALL whose telephone number is (571)272-2819. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am- 4:30pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kevin Sirmons can be reached at 571-272-4965. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DEANNA K HALL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783
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