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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-5) in the reply filed on March 24, 2026 is acknowledged.
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.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by EP3,885,120 to Johanson et al.
Regarding claim 1, Johanson et al disclose a method for manufacturing of a subsea power cable, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least a cable core (see Fig. 2) comprising an electrical conductor (3) and an electrically insulating system (4), arranged radially outside of the electrical conductor (3); b) adding a liquid material (see Par. 29 and 38) comprising a polymer, radially outside of the at least one cable core, thereby forming a buffer layer (7); and c) applying a water barrier layer (5) radially outside of the buffer layer (7),wherein a viscosity of the liquid material of the buffer layer is at least 1000 mPa.s (inherence because the Johanson et al using the same liquid material as disclosed by Applicant).
Regarding claims 2-3, Johanson et al disclose d) hardening the buffer and the volume of the buffer layer after hardening in step d) is at least 75% of the volume of the buffer layer after step c) (see Par. 42).
Regarding claim 4, Johanson et al disclose providing a metal plate (5); surrounding the buffer layer with the metal plate; welding the metal plate to form the water barrier layer (see Par. 41).
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.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Johanson et al in view of U.S Patent Applicantion 2023/0335310 to Johanson.
Johanson et al does on explicitly disclose the step of corrugating the water barrier (5, see Col. 7, lines 3-6). Johanson teaches the step of corrugating the water barrier (5, see Fig. 3) for improving bending stiffness (see Par. 97) It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Johanson et al by corrugating the water barrier layer as taught by Johanson for improving bending stiffness with only minimal increase in weight and cost.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Prior art cited for their general teachings of manufacturing a submarine power cable.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DONGHAI D NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-4566. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30.
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, Thomas J. Hong can be reached at 571-272-0993. 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.
/DN/ /DONGHAI D NGUYEN/May 30, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729
Prosecution Insights