DETAILED ACTION
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 14-23, 29, 31, 34-36, in the reply filed on April 23, 2025, is acknowledged. Claims 25, 27, and 33, are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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.
Claims 14-20, 29, 31, 34-36, are 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.
Claim 14, recites a tin composition comprising a tin compound, and then recites that the tin compound cation is of the following formula (RASn)x(RBSn)yO14(OH)6+2, and then recites that the tin compound contains organic group R and is not clear because the tin compound cation recites the formula with organic groups RA and RB and is not clear if the organic group bonded to Sn is not RA and RB, and if so, the formula recited should be corrected to recite the R group as the organic group that is bonded to Sn. Furthermore, the claim recites that the organic group may contain other RA and RB, and is not clear what the organic group is and/or what the actual formula of the claimed tin compound is. Also, nothing in the claims recite what the organic group constitutes, is it only hydrocarbyl and if so, what hydrocarbyl is it. Organic groups constitute a variety of functional groups other than carbon and hydrogen, and the instant claims do not make clear what the distinction is between RA, RB and R groups. None of the claims define what RA, RB and R, are, and/or if they are alkyl or aryl or alkenyl or alkynyl or cyclic or alicyclic or heterocyclic etc., or the number of carbon atoms that would be required to constitute the claimed RA, RB and R organic groups, and render the claims indefinite. Claim 14 recites the tin composition comprising the tin compound as P3AB and defines the structural formula as (RASn)x(RBSn)yO14(OH)6+2 cation, however claims 15 -17 recite tin compounds P3A, P3B, P3AB-1 and is not clear because claim 14 recites that tin compound and its formula (cation), and nothing in the claims recites that the tin composition includes tin compounds P3AB, P3A, P3B, P3AB-1 as part of the claimed tin composition. Also, nothing in the claims recite what P3A or P3B or P3AB-1 constitutes or its content in the tin composition or its structural formulas, and render the claims indefinite.
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) 21-23, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U. S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0102612 (hereinafter referred to as Meyers).
Meyers, in [0008], discloses a coating composition of tin comprising a tin atom, an organic group and an oxo/hydroxo ligand. Meyers, in [0030], and [0032] and [0059], discloses that the tin composition is prepared by blending multiple RnSnX4-n compounds, wherein n can be 1, and R can be different hydrocarbyl groups, in a solvent, and Meyers, in [0112], lines 1-4, discloses that blending includes only the precursor RnSnX4-n compounds and organic solvent i.e., in the claimed mass percent (claims 21-23).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Daborah Chacko-Davis whose telephone number is (571) 272-1380. The examiner can normally be reached on 9:30AM-6:00PM EST Mon-Fri. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mark F. Huff can be reached on (571) 272-1385. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-272-8300. 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.
/DABORAH CHACKO-DAVIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1737 May 17, 2025.