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 .
This action is in response to the filing on 11/7/2025. Since the previous filing, claims 1 and 9-13 have been amended, claims 14-17 have been added and no claims cancelled. Thus, claims 1-17 are pending in the application.
In regards to the previous 103 Rejections, Applicant has amended to overcome the previous rejections and they are therefore withdrawn with new rejections entered below.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement filed 11/19/25 and 11/21/25 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.97(c) because it lacks the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p). It has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the first and second strips must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required: the terms first and second strips are not describes in the specification.
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) 1-4 and 8-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ramanan (US 2020/0237607) in view of Northrup (US 2023/0096560).
In regards to claim 1, Ramanan discloses a laminated air bag, comprising: an outer fabric layer, wherein an air bag assembly is fixed to an inner surface of the outer fabric layer (inner sleeve and outer sleeve form inflatable chambers, paragraph 183 and 184); a plurality of closed spaces satisfying air inflation are formed between the outer layer and the assembly (paragraph 184); and an inflatable connecting assembly is arranged at an outer end of the outer fabric layer (link 1006, paragraph 106).
While Ramanan does not explicitly disclose the air bag assembly is formed of a thigh sheet, a knee-joint sheet, a shank sheet, and a sole sheet from top to bottom, it does teach a sectional device (modular compression garment 22004, paragraph 206) divided between sections of the leg. Ramanan further teaches that it is known to divide the device into four discrete sections of zones which correspond to the thigh, knee, calf and foot (paragraph 243, Fig 56A and 56B). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan such that the air bag assembly is formed of a thigh sheet, a knee-joint sheet, a shank sheet, and a sole sheet from top to bottom as this would allow discrete sections to provide specific compression as suited to the location in order to provide the patient with the treatment best suited to their needs.
Ramanan does not disclose wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to the airbag assembly, with each sheet connected to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer via a respective first strip located at a proximal portion of each sheet, for each pair of adjacent sheets defined as a first sheet and second sheet, the first sheet is superimposed on the second sheet and a distal portion of the first sheet is fixed onto the second sheet via a second strip of the first sheet n such as away all first and second strips are discrete and no first or second strip overlaps any other first or second strip in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet together demarcate an overlapping region between the first and second sheets, said overlapping region being the portion of the second sheet spanning between the first and second strips; while each enclosed space is defined by a pair of adjacent sheets and the outer fabric layer, and is bounded by: (i) a section of the inner surface of the outer fabric layer between the first strips of the first and second sheets, (ii) a main body region of the first sheet extending between the first sheet’s first and second strips, and (iii) said overlapping region of the second sheet.
However, Northrup teaches wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to the airbag assembly, with each sheet connected to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer via a respective first strip located at a proximal portion of each sheet, for each pair of adjacent sheets defined as a first sheet and second sheet, the first sheet is superimposed on the second sheet and a distal portion of the first sheet is fixed onto the second sheet via a second strip of the first sheet n such as away all first and second strips are discrete and no first or second strip overlaps any other first or second strip in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet together demarcate an overlapping region between the first and second sheets, said overlapping region being the portion of the second sheet spanning between the first and second strips; while each enclosed space is defined by a pair of adjacent sheets and the outer fabric layer, and is bounded by: (i) a section of the inner surface of the outer fabric layer between the first strips of the first and second sheets, (ii) a main body region of the first sheet extending between the first sheet’s first and second strips, and (iii) said overlapping region of the second sheet (paragraph 63, see Annotated Fig 5).
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Annotated Fig 5
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to the airbag assembly, with each sheet connected to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer via a respective first strip located at a proximal portion of each sheet, for each pair of adjacent sheets defined as a first sheet and second sheet, the first sheet is superimposed on the second sheet and a distal portion of the first sheet is fixed onto the second sheet via a second strip of the first sheet n such as away all first and second strips are discrete and no first or second strip overlaps any other first or second strip in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet together demarcate an overlapping region between the first and second sheets, said overlapping region being the portion of the second sheet spanning between the first and second strips; while each enclosed space is defined by a pair of adjacent sheets and the outer fabric layer, and is bounded by: (i) a section of the inner surface of the outer fabric layer between the first strips of the first and second sheets, (ii) a main body region of the first sheet extending between the first sheet’s first and second strips, and (iii) said overlapping region of the second sheet as taught by Northrup as this would ensure that there are no gaps in the applied pressure (Northrup: paragraph 63 and Fig 5).
In regards to claim 2, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and Ramanan further teaches wherein the inflatable connecting assembly comprises a connecting plug, an air-tube adapter (valve adapter 1008), and four air tubes connected in sequence (paragraph 106).
In regards to claim 3, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 2 and the combination further teaches wherein inflatable holes in communication with the plurality of closed spaces are formed in the outer fabric layer, and the four air tubes are connected to the plurality of inflatable holes, respectively (Ramanan: Fig 22).
In regards to claim 4, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein the air bag assembly is made of a TPU material (Ramanan: paragraph 183).
Ramanan does not disclose wherein the thigh sheet, the knee-joint sheet, the shank sheet, and the sole sheet are fixed together by means of the hot-pressing mode.
However, Northrup teaches wherein the sheets are fixed together by means of the hot-pressing mode (paragraph 61 and 64).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan wherein the thigh sheet, the knee-joint sheet, the shank sheet, and the sole sheet are fixed together by means of the hot-pressing mode as taught by Northrup as it has been held that even though product-by-process claims are limited by and defined by the process, determination of patentability is based on the product itself. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the product in the product -by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product of the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process (MPEP 2113 I) and the welding described by Ben-nun results in the same end product.
In regards to claim 8, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and Ramanan further teaches wherein an air pump is detachably mounted at a head end of the connecting plug (CPG 1002).
In regards to claim 9, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and the modified Ramanan further teaches wherein a separation distance between the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet is less than a separation distance between the second strip of the first sheet and a second strip of a subsequent first sheet of an adjacent pair of sheets downstream measured along a longitudinal direction of the air bag (Northrup: see Annotated Fig 5).
In regards to claim 10, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and the modified Ramanan teaches wherein the first strip and the second strip are parallel to each other (Northrup: see Annotated Fig 5).
In regards to claim 11, Ramanan discloses a therapy system comprising: a power supply unit (power supply 4210, paragraph 118), an air inflation unit (CPG device 1002); and a laminated air bag that includes an outer fabric layer, wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to an air bag assembly (inner sleeve and outer sleeve form inflatable chambers, paragraph 183 and 184); a plurality of enclosed spaces satisfying air inflation (paragraph 184), and an inflatable connecting assembly is arranged at an outer end of the outer fabric layer (link 1006, paragraph 106).
While Ramanan does not explicitly disclose the air bag assembly is formed of a thigh sheet, a knee-joint sheet, a shank sheet, and a sole sheet from top to bottom, it does teach a sectional device (modular compression garment 22004, paragraph 206) divided between sections of the leg. Ramanan further teaches that it is known to divide the device into four discrete sections of zones which correspond to the thigh, knee, calf and foot (paragraph 243, Fig 56A and 56B). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan such that the air bag assembly is formed of a thigh sheet, a knee-joint sheet, a shank sheet, and a sole sheet from top to bottom as this would allow discrete sections to provide specific compression as suited to the location in order to provide the patient with the treatment best suited to their needs.
Ramanan does not disclose wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to the airbag assembly, with each sheet connected to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer via a respective first strip located at a proximal portion of each sheet, for each pair of adjacent sheets defined as a first sheet and second sheet, the first sheet is superimposed on the second sheet and a distal portion of the first sheet is fixed onto the second sheet via a second strip of the first sheet n such as away all first and second strips are discrete and no first or second strip overlaps any other first or second strip in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet together demarcate an overlapping region between the first and second sheets, said overlapping region being the portion of the second sheet spanning between the first and second strips; while each enclosed space is defined by a pair of adjacent sheets and the outer fabric layer, and is bounded by: (i) a section of the inner surface of the outer fabric layer between the first strips of the first and second sheets, (ii) a main body region of the first sheet extending between the first sheet’s first and second strips, and (iii) said overlapping region of the second sheet.
However, Northrup teaches wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to the airbag assembly, with each sheet connected to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer via a respective first strip located at a proximal portion of each sheet, for each pair of adjacent sheets defined as a first sheet and second sheet, the first sheet is superimposed on the second sheet and a distal portion of the first sheet is fixed onto the second sheet via a second strip of the first sheet n such as away all first and second strips are discrete and no first or second strip overlaps any other first or second strip in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet together demarcate an overlapping region between the first and second sheets, said overlapping region being the portion of the second sheet spanning between the first and second strips; while each enclosed space is defined by a pair of adjacent sheets and the outer fabric layer, and is bounded by: (i) a section of the inner surface of the outer fabric layer between the first strips of the first and second sheets, (ii) a main body region of the first sheet extending between the first sheet’s first and second strips, and (iii) said overlapping region of the second sheet (paragraph 63, see Annotated Fig 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan wherein an inner surface of the outer fabric layer is attached to the airbag assembly, with each sheet connected to the inner surface of the outer fabric layer via a respective first strip located at a proximal portion of each sheet, for each pair of adjacent sheets defined as a first sheet and second sheet, the first sheet is superimposed on the second sheet and a distal portion of the first sheet is fixed onto the second sheet via a second strip of the first sheet n such as away all first and second strips are discrete and no first or second strip overlaps any other first or second strip in a longitudinal direction of the air bag, wherein the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet together demarcate an overlapping region between the first and second sheets, said overlapping region being the portion of the second sheet spanning between the first and second strips; while each enclosed space is defined by a pair of adjacent sheets and the outer fabric layer, and is bounded by: (i) a section of the inner surface of the outer fabric layer between the first strips of the first and second sheets, (ii) a main body region of the first sheet extending between the first sheet’s first and second strips, and (iii) said overlapping region of the second sheet as taught by Northrup as this would ensure that there are no gaps in the applied pressure (Northrup: paragraph 63 and Fig 5).
In regards to claim 12, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 11 and the modified Ramanan further teaches wherein a separation distance between the first strip of the second sheet and the second strip of the first sheet is less than a separation distance between the second strip of the first sheet and a second strip of a subsequent first sheet of an adjacent pair of sheets downstream measured along a longitudinal direction of the air bag (Northrup: see Annotated Fig 5).
In regards to claim 13, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 11 and the modified Ramanan teaches wherein the first strip and the second strip are parallel to each other (Northrup: see Annotated Fig 5).
In regards to claim 14, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and the modified Ramanan further teaches wherein in the first strip is disposed on a top portion of the each sheet and the second strip is disposed at a bottom portion of the first sheet (Northrup: see Annotated Fig 5).
In regards to claim 15, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1.
While the modified Ramanan does not explicitly teach wherein the first strip and the second strip both extend in a substantially transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the laminated air bag, Fig 5 of Northrup shows the first and second strips having extension in a substantially transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the laminated air bag (Fig 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan wherein the first strip and the second strip both extend in a substantially transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the laminated air bag as taught by Northrup as this would create a smooth surface to serve user comfort.
In regards to claim 16, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 11 and the modified Ramanan further teaches wherein in the first strip is disposed on a top portion of the each sheet and the second strip is disposed at a bottom portion of the first sheet (Northrup: see Annotated Fig 5).
In regards to claim 17, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 11.
While the modified Ramanan does not explicitly teach wherein the first strip and the second strip both extend in a substantially transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the laminated air bag, Fig 5 of Northrup shows the first and second strips having extension in a substantially transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the laminated air bag (Fig 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan wherein the first strip and the second strip both extend in a substantially transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the laminated air bag as taught by Northrup as this would create a smooth surface to serve user comfort.
Claim(s) 5 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ramanan (US 2020/0237607) in view of Northrup (US 2023/0096560) and in further view of Holschuh (US 2021/0301432).
In regards to claim 5, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein an inner fabric layer is arranged at an inner end of the air bag assembly, the inner fabric layer is sewn at an inner end of the outer fabric layer for wrapping the air bag assembly (Ramanan: attachment of various components sewn, paragraph 184).
Ramanan does not teach wherein the fabric layer is made of memory cloth.
However, Holschuh teaches that it is known the compression devices for a fabric layer to be made of memory cloth (paragraph 56).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan to have a fabric layer made of memory cloth as taught by Holschuh as this is a known material used in compression devices.
In regards to claim 7, Ramanan in view of Ben-nun, Ben-noon and Holschuh teaches the device of claim 5 and the combination further teaches wherein a shape and a size of the air bag assembly and a shape and a size of the inner fabric layer are adapted to a shape and a size of the outer fabric layer (Ramanan: paragraph 183).
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ramanan (US 2020/0237607) in view of Northrup (US 2023/0096560) and in further view of Levine (US 2017/0266052).
In regards to claim 6, Ramanan in view of Northrup teaches the device of claim 1 and Ramanan further teaches wherein the outer fabric layer is made of a 210D composite material (garment material may be nylon, paragraph 183).
Ramanan does not teach a decorative layer is sewn at the outer fabric layer at an outer end of the air tube.
However, Levine teaches a decorative layer is sewn at the outer fabric layer at a location marking internal components (paragraph 21).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ramanan to have a decorative layer is sewn at the outer fabric layer at a location marking internal components. Such as the air tube, as taught by Levine to mark locations of internal components (Levine: paragraph 21). Further, it is considered an aesthetic design change (MPEP 2144.04 I) to add decoration. The location of the decorative features (i.e.: an outer end of the air tube) is also considered obvious as this is reasonably a design choice to provide color or decoration to the device.
Response to Arguments
In regards to the arguments concerning the independent claim, these arguments are not persuasive. The arguments are in regards to the amendments made to the claims and are addressed in the new rejections entered above.
Arguments in regards to the new claims are addressed in the new claims entered above.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Arielle Wolff whose telephone number is (571)272-8727. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-4:00.
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/ARIELLE WOLFF/ Examiner, Art Unit 3785
/KENDRA D CARTER/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3785