CTNF 18/888,258 CTNF 76035 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 with traverse of group I, claims 14-17 in the reply filed on 03/09/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground that the search for the methods for providing an electrical conductor of claims 11-14 would overlap with a search for the composite claims 18-27 because the composites of claims 18-27 and there would be an undue burden for the Office to conduct a search that encompasses all pending claims and that all dependent claims ultimately depend from independent claim 14. This is not found persuasive because claims 14 and 18 are classified in different claim categories and have different patentability issues, in which the allowability of claim 14 is determined based on the process steps and not on the material being use, and that the resin in claim 14 could be semi-crystalline or semi-amorphous resin instead of the thermoset or thermoplastic resin as claimed in claims 18-27. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim s 14-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Silcock et al. (2012/0325398) in view of Schaaf et al. (2009/0258220) . Regarding claim 14, Silcock et al. discloses a method for fabricating an aircraft composite structure by laying up multiple plies of fiber reinforcement – prepreg and layers of resin on a tool, comprising the steps of: Providing a flat tooling 22 supported on a tool base 24, Providing a manipulator 27 comprising a robot, gantry system or other handling system is automatically controlled by a controller 30 and includes an end effector 26 for laying up multiple layers 50 and plies 52 on tooling 22, [0009]. However, Silcock et al. fails to teach or suggest a first electrically-conductive layer contacts either the substrate or the prepreg layer and the prepreg layer contacts either the substrate or the first electrically-conductive layer. Schaaf et al. discloses a method for the fabrication of automated placement of integrated metal resin lightning strike protection material 32 ribbon by a tape laying machine 36 on a composite structure of an aircraft [0022], wherein the composite structure comprises a conductive layer 24 in between a surfacing layer 22 with fiber reinforcement material layer 30, and isolation or tack layer 26 of an epoxy-based resin material, a fiberglass-epoxy prepreg material, a thin adhesive material, or other organic polymer resins, and is layered on the carrier paper layer 28. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to providing Silcook with a step of providing a conductive layer in between a prepreg fiber reinforcement layer and a resin layer as taught by Schaaf et al. in order to conduct lightning current away from the point of attachment and/or shields electronics/electrical systems against interfering signals for protection of the composite part from lightning strikes. Regarding claim 15, wherein the composite structure further includes multiple layers of fiber reinforcement material and resin materials (Schaaf, 32, 54, [0031]; Silcock, 48a, 48b). Regarding claim 16, wherein the first electrically-conductive layer has a ribbon shape - 32. Regarding claim 17, wherein the fiber placement head 27 to lay down different layers in different directions 50, 52, 52a to a major surface of the composite. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Thu-Khanh T. Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)272-1136. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-4:30. 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, Galen Hauth can be reached at 571-270-5516. 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. /Thu Khanh T. Nguyen/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1743 Application/Control Number: 18/888,258 Page 2 Art Unit: 1743 Application/Control Number: 18/888,258 Page 3 Art Unit: 1743 Application/Control Number: 18/888,258 Page 4 Art Unit: 1743 Application/Control Number: 18/888,258 Page 5 Art Unit: 1743
Prosecution Insights