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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-11, and 13-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sasaki et al. (2003/0045375). Claim 1, Sasaki discloses a golf ball comprising a spherical core, and an outermost cover positioned outside the spherical core and having a plurality of dimples formed thereon, wherein a hardness difference S (=Hs-Ho) of 15-40 Shore D or 30-63 Shore C between a surface hardness Hs of the spherical core and a center hardness Ho (Shore C hardness) of the spherical core [0035], a material hardness C (Shore D hardness) of 35-55 for the outermost cover [0045]. Sasaki discloses the total dimple volume is from 300 to 700 mm3 [0071]. Solving for V x (S+C)/1000≥55 (700 x (30+55)/1000 = 59.5). Claim 3, S x C ≥1000 (30x55=1650) is satisfied. Claim 4, the cover contains an ionomer resin [0049]. Claim 5, 85≥Vx(S+C)/1000≥55 (700 x (30+55)/1000 = 59.5). Claim 6, the hardness difference S is 15-40 Shore D or 30-63 Shore C [0035]. Claim 7, the surface hardness Hs of the spherical core ranges from 40-70 Shore D or 63-102 Shore C [0037]. Claim 8, Hayashi discloses the center hardness Ho of the spherical core ranges from 30 to 70 Shore D or 50 to 102 Shore C hardness [0142]. Claim 9, the material hardness C of the outermost cover ranges from 35 to 55 in Shore D hardness [0045]. Claim 10, the total dimple volume is from 300 to 700 mm3 [0071]. Claim 11, the outermost cover layer has a thickness from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm [0043]. Claim 13, 2500 ≥ SxC ≥ 1000 (30x55=1650) is satisfied. Claim 14, the material hardness C of the outermost cover ranges from 35 to 55 in Shore D hardness [0045]. Claim 15, the total dimple volume is from 300 to 700 mm3 [0071]. Claim 16, the core is one layer made from polybutadiene [0028]. Claim 17, the single core diameter is from 25 to 40 mm [0034].
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(s) 2 and 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sasaki et al. (2003/0045375) in view of Iwami et al. (2005/0049084). Claim 2, Sasaki describes a lower volume but does not disclose the values for the lower volume [0071]. Iwami teaches a lower volume V (applicant’s Vi) of 400.4 mm3 and an upper volume W (applicant’s Vo) of 184.9 mm3 (table 4 examples VI). Vi-1.50xVo ≥ 0 [400.4-1.5x184.9 = 123.05]. Claim 12, Iwami teaches a lower volume V (applicant’s Vi) of 400.4 mm3 and an upper volume W (applicant’s Vo) of 184.9 mm3 (table 4 examples VI). 260 ≥ Vi-1.50xVo ≥ 0 [400.4-1.5x184.9 = 123.05]. One of ordinary skill in the art would modify the dimple volume for the desired flight performance.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/RAEANN GORDEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3711
July 29, 2026
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