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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Group I, Species I (claims 1-2 & Fig. 1) in the reply filed on 10/21/2025 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
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 1-2 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 1 recites the limitation "the crease" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the contact side" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the folding action" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the contact faces" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1, lines 2-3; the claimed “a hinge axis patterning substantially similar to the crease lines” is vague and indefinite as it is not clear what “a hinge axis” is referring to; are they multiple hinge axis “similar to the crease lines” or just one hinge axis!
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Paterson (U.S. Patent No. 5,947,885) in view of Gewiss (U.S. Patent No. 4,012,932).
Regarding claim 1: Paterson discloses a method of folding a tessellation with an articulating die, comprising:
articulating die substantially similar to the crease lines in a folded tessellation, see for example (Figs. 26, 30-34, & 48-49; via upper and lower applied forces);
providing sheet material in proximity to the contact side of the die (Figs. 26, 30-34, & 48-49; via the shown sheet material positioned between upper and lower pressing means); and
applying force to one or more articulating mechanisms on the die, which relay applied force to the folding action of the die, thereby applying corresponding folding action to the sheet material, see for example (Figs. 26, 30-34, & 48-49; via the shown applied upper/lower forces 38/38c).
Paterson may not show a hinging die with hinge axis. However, Gewiss, discloses similar method with the use of hinging die with hinge axis, see for example (Fig. 2; via the shown hinging and rotation of upper/lower applied forces elements positioned on conveyors 18/19).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of applicant’s claimed invention, to have modified Paterson’s dies, by another movable and hinging once, as suggested by Gewiss, in order to positively and effectively drive and position the pressing force over the web or sheets (column 1, lines 35-40).
Regarding claim 2: two articulating dies are applied,
with said sheet material held between the contact faces of the two dies, see for example (Figs. 26 & 48; via the shown upper and lower applied force mechanisms); and
the dies and material actuated to fold in a press (via the shown folded materials 23/24).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMEH TAWFIK whose telephone number is (571)272-4470. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
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/SAMEH TAWFIK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731