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 Invention and claims 1-9 and 14 in the reply filed on 9/15/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 10-13 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 9/15/2026.
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because of the use of legal phraseology. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
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 7 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.
Regarding claim 7, the phrase "for example" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
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.
Claim(s) 1-9 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 10(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wirrick (U.S. 2022/0371294, as cited by Applicant).
As for Claim 1, Wirrick discloses a composite panel (100) comprising:
a first panel skin (16);
a second panel skin (18);
a core (14) arranged between the first panel skin and the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein the core is bonded to the first panel skin and the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
the composite panel further comprising a two-part insert comprising:
a first insert piece (52); and
a second insert piece (58);
wherein the core defines a cavity extending between the first panel skin and the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein the first insert piece is arranged within the cavity and at least partially enclosed by the core, the first panel skin and the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein a first face (bottom surface of 52) of the first insert piece is bonded to the first panel skin, and a second face (upper surface of 52) of the first insert piece is bonded to the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein the first insert piece defines a bore (54) extending from the first face in a direction towards the second face;
wherein the first panel skin defines a through-aperture (see Fig. 10 disclosing a through aperture in 16) corresponding to the position of the bore;
wherein the second insert piece (58) is arranged in the bore and attached to the first insert piece (see Fig. 10); and
wherein the second insert piece defines a threaded hole for receiving a fastener (see Fig. 11 disclosing a threaded fastener 126 through 58).
Re: Claim 2. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein a bonding material bonds the first panel skin to the core (see para [0005-007]);
wherein the bonding material bonds the first panel skin to the first face of the first insert piece (see para [0005-007]);
wherein the bonding material bonds the second panel skin to the core (see para [0005-007]);
wherein the bonding material bonds the second panel skin to the second face of the first insert piece (see para [0005-007]); and
wherein the first panel skin and the second panel skin are made of the bonding material (see para [0005-007, 0038, and 0049]).
Re: Claim 3. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein the second insert piece defines a
plurality of threaded holes (apertures of 58).
Re: Claim 4. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein the first panel skin and the second panel skin comprise a fibre reinforced polymer (see para [0038 and 0049]).
Re: Claim 5. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein the first insert piece (52) is a monolithic piece and has a solid structure (see Fig. 5); optionally wherein the first insert piece is made of plastic or metal e.g. aluminum (Claim recitation is not positively recited and therefore not given any patentable weight).
Re: Claim 6. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein the first insert piece (52) substantially fills the cavity (see Fig. 6).
Re: Claim 7. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein the second insert piece is attached to the first insert piece by a mechanical interlock (see para [0055 and 0057]); and
optionally wherein the mechanical interlock includes at least one of: a screw fit, e.g. a self-locking thread, between the bore and the second insert piece and a snap-fit between the bore and the second insert piece (Claim recitation is not positively recited and therefore not given any patentable weight).
Re: Claim 8. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 wherein the attachment between first insert piece and the second insert piece forms a floating attachment, arranged to allow movement of the second insert piece relative to the first insert piece (see Fig. 12).
Re: Claim 9. (Original) The composite panel of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional
layers of panel skin material (16’) attached to an exterior face of the first panel skin at least locally to the first insert piece (see Fig. 5).
As for Claim 14, Wirrick discloses a composite panel comprising:
a first panel skin (16);
a second panel skin (18);
a core (14) arranged between the first panel skin and the second panel skin;
wherein the core is bonded to the first panel skin and to the second panel skin (see Fig. 6);
the composite panel further comprising a threaded insert (50);
wherein the core defines a cavity (cavity in core 14) extending between the first panel skin and the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein the threaded insert is arranged within the cavity and at least partially enclosed by the core, the first panel skin and the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein a first face of the threaded insert is bonded to the first panel skin, and a second face of the first insert piece is bonded to the second panel skin (see Figs. 5-6);
wherein the threaded insert defines a threaded hole extending from the first face in a direction towards the second face for receiving a fastener (see Figs. 5-6); and
wherein the first panel skin defines a through-aperture corresponding to the position of the threaded hole (see Figs. 5-6).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Harris (U.S. 2018/0207708) and
Lopez (U.S. 9,862,166)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M UPCHURCH whose telephone number is (571)270-7957. The examiner can normally be reached 6AM-3PM EST M-F.
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, Jason San can be reached at (571)272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAVID M UPCHURCH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677
