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 .
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 1-20 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.
In claims 1, 13 and 19, it is not clear what is meant by “naturally occurring acid”. The specification at page 3, lines 18-27, defines “naturally occurring acid” as a term which “may mean” an acid derived from a plant and/or a microorganism, or an acid comprising material derived from a plant and/or a microorganism”. The definition provided is not specific as to what a naturally occurring acid is, or what is excluded or included by this term. Additionally, synthesized acids can also have peaks at least than 1650 cm, such as sulfonic acids and amino acids in zwitterion form. Therefore, the discussion regarding the IR absorption peak in the specification does not clearly define the meaning of the term “naturally occurring acid”.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Yang et al, CN 10987188. Yang discloses an adhesive comprising a latex component, a base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, an acid such as carboxylic acid, and an amine containing component. See entire document, especially page 2 of the supplied machine translation. Yang does not disclose employing two different bases and does not disclose tannic acid or phenol as the acid component.
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/ELIZABETH M IMANI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1789
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