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 Group I, Claims 1-6, in the reply filed on 05/18/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 7-8 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.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 05/18/2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 4-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends.
Claims 4 and 5 fail to further limit the subject matter of Claim 1 on which they depend. Claim 4 recites “wherein the resin member comprises a cured product of a thermosetting resin” and Claim 5, which depends on Claim 4, recites “wherein the thermosetting resin comprises an epoxy resin”. However, Claim 1, on which Claim 4 depends, already recites “the resin member comprises a cured product of an epoxy resin”, which is a thermosetting resin.
Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
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.
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Komoto et al. (US 2003/0044588 A1).
Regarding Claims 1-5, Komoto discloses a copper-clad laminate (i.e. structure) comprising a copper foil (i.e. metal film) applied to an insulating material comprising a resin composition (i.e. resin member) (para 0139, Abstract). The resin composition comprises a thermosetting resin (Abstract) such as epoxy and an epoxy curing agent such as an amino triazine novolak resin, which is derived from a compound having a triazine structure such as melamine (para 0092).
Regarding Claim 6, Komoto discloses all the limitations of the present invention according to Claim 1 above. Komoto further discloses the copper-clad laminate is used in multi-layered printed circuit wiring boards (i.e. electronic component device) (para 0004).
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kawahara et al. (US 2020/0385543 A1).
Regarding Claims 1-5, Kawahara discloses a laminate comprising in insulating layer of resin material between two metal foils (paras 0167-0171). The resin material comprises a binder resin comprising an epoxy resin and a curing agent (paras 0089, 0091) where the curing agent is a phenol novolak resin having a melamine skeleton or a triazine skeleton (para 0129).
Regarding Claim 6, Kawahara discloses all the limitations of the present invention according to Claim 1 above. Kawahara further discloses the laminate is used in an electronic device (para 0187).
Claims 1-2 and 4-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Namekata et al. (US 2021/0002475 A1).
Regarding Claims 1-2 and 4-6, Namekata discloses a printed wiring board (i.e. electronic component device) comprising an inner layer substrate and a cured resin composition layer on the inner layer substrate (paras 0174-0177). The inner layer substrate may be a metal substrate (para 0178). The resin composition layer comprises an epoxy resin (para 0021) and a curing agent such as a phenol novolak resin having a triazine skeleton (paras 0085, 0087).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BETHANY M MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-2109. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:00.
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, Callie Shosho can be reached at 571-272-1123. 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.
/BETHANY M MILLER/Examiner, Art Unit 1787
/CALLIE E SHOSHO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1787
Prosecution Insights