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 8 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.
The phrase “the precursor” (cl 8:3,4, and 5) lack antecedent basis in the claim.
Corrections are required.
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) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9, and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by EP2219842.
1. (Currently Amended) A method for forming a fibre article, the method comprising:
providing a former (EP2219842: tool 100) having a contoured forming surface, the forming surface comprising a plurality of concavities (EP2219842: figs 4A-4B and 5A-5D; cavities) each surrounded by a prominence (EP2219842: lip 17 and landing outside of the lip) and a part of the prominence of one concavity is shared with a part of the prominence of another cavity (EP2219842: figs 4A-4B and 5A-5D; some lips 17 and landings outside of the lips are shared with an adjacent lip and landing);
locating a fibre preform between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm (EP2219842: [0004]);
drawing a vacuum between the first and second diaphragms so as to hold the preform captive between the diaphragms (EP2219842: [0004]);
displacing the second diaphragm towards the former so as to bring the second diaphragm into contact with the prominences of the former to seal against the prominences to form respective first regions defined by the respective concavity and a portion of the second diaphragm and a second region defined by the forming surface outside of the concavities and the second diaphragm (EP2219842: [0020-0022 and 0028]; fig 4A-4B and 5A-5D);
drawing a vacuum in each first region in turn so as to bring part of the second diaphragm into conformity with the concavities (EP2219842: [0020-0022 and 0028]; fig 5A-5B);
subsequent to drawing the vacuum in the first region, drawing a vacuum in the second region so as to bring part of the second diaphragm into conformity with the forming surface outside of the concavities (EP2219842: [0020-0022 and 0028]; fig 5B-5C); and
setting the preform in its configuration (EP2219842: [0020-0022 and 0028]; fig 5D).
2. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the former comprises a base and the prominences are further from the base than the concavity (EP2219842: figs 4B and 5A).
3. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to claim 1[[ or 2]]-wherein the prominences have a profile which varies in distance from the concavities (EP2219842: figs 4B and 5A; the profile of lip 17 varies in distance from the cavity).
4. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to any preceding claim 1,wherein bringing the second diaphragm into contact with the prominences of the former causes the second diaphragm to bridge over the concavities to form the first regions (EP2219842: figs 5B-5D).
5. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to any preceding claim 1,wherein the former comprises at least one channel running through the former from each respective concavity, and drawing a vacuum in each respective first region comprises drawing the vacuum through the at least one channel (EP2219842: [0020-0022, and 0028]; figs 5B).
6. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to claim 5, the method comprising locating the former on a forming platform, the forming platform comprising at least one orifice, so that the at least one channel is in fluid communication with the at least one orifice; wherein drawing a vacuum in each respective first region comprises drawing the vacuum through the at least one orifice (EP2219842: [0026]; figs 4C, 4D, and 4E).
7. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to any preceding claim 1,wherein at the locating step the first diaphragm is offset from the forming surface (EP2219842: fig 5A; diaphragm 3B is offset from the forming surface).
9. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to any preceding claim 1,wherein the fibre preform comprises multiple sheets of fibre material laminated into a stack (EP2219842: [000]; composite stack of fiber).
11. (Currently Amended) [[A ]]Themethod according to any preceding claim 1,wherein the diaphragms are elastic (EP2219842: [0004]; flexible diaphragm 3A/3B).
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) 8, 10, 12, 13, and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over EP 2219842 as applied to claim 1 above. The above teachings of EP2219842 are incorporated hereinafter.
Regarding claim 8, EP2219842 teaches the preform having a heat-activatable binder (EP2219842: [0039]; resin constitutes the binder); and heat is applied to the preform between the diaphragms (EP2219842: [0002]). However, EP2219842 does not teach ceasing the heat prior to the displacing step. Since it is well-known in the vacuum thermoforming art to stop heat before forming in order to allow for impregnation, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to stop the heating of the preform before the displacing step of EP2219842 in order to allow for sufficient resin impregnation of the fibers.
Regarding claim 10, EP2219842 does not teach the fiber material being a sheet of woven fiber material. Since it is well-known in the fiber impregnation art to impregnate sheets of woven fiber material, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use a sheet of woven fiber material in the process of EP2219842 in order to form diverse products.
Regarding claim 12, EP2219842 does not teach the preform being a structural part of a vehicle. Since fibrous structural vehicle parts are well-known in the resin impregnated fiber part for their weight and strength, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to efficiently mold fibrous structural vehicle parts by the process of EP2219842.
Regarding claim 13, EP2219842 does not teach the preform being an automobile tub. Since fibrous structural vehicle parts like automobile tubs are well-known in the resin impregnated fiber part for their weight and strength, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to efficiently mold automobile tubs by the process of EP2219842.
Regarding claim 12, EP2219842 does not teach the preform being a structural part of an aircraft. Since fibrous structural vehicle parts like for an aircraft are well-known in the resin impregnated fiber part for their weight and strength, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to efficiently mold fibrous structural aircraft parts by the process of EP2219842.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The following references teach vacuum forming processes for forming a resin impregnated fibrous material using diaphragms: US2019/0016063; USPN9259859; GB2452298; EP0410599; and WO02/02299.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDMUND H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1204. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-4PM.
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, Xiao (Sam) Zhao can be reached at 571-270-5343. 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.
EHL
/EDMUND H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
Prosecution Insights