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
Claim 20 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.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 25 February 2026.
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.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6, and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Cundiff et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0017200). Regarding Claim 1, Cundiff et al., hereafter “Cundiff,” show that it is known to have a composite forming apparatus (Abstract), comprising a forming feature (element 236), and a clamping assembly (elements 230+231+220).
Regarding Claim 2, Cundiff shows the apparatus of claim 1 above, including one wherein the clamping assembly comprises a clamping member (element 230).
Regarding Claim 3, Cundiff shows the apparatus of claim 1 above, including one wherein the clamping assembly comprises a bladder (element 220).
Regarding Claim 6, Cundiff shows the apparatus of claim 1 above, including one wherein the forming tool defines a recessed portion, and wherein the clamping assembly is movable engaged with the recessed portion (Figures 2-3, element 202).
Regarding Claim 10, Cundiff shows the apparatus of claim 1 above, including one wherein the forming feature comprises a bladder (element 236).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-19 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art of record does not clearly show or suggest the claimed composite forming system, especially including the specifically required combination of movement mechanism, end effector, clamping assembly, and forming feature.
Claims 4-5, and 7-9 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MONICA HUSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1198. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8a-4p.
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, Christina Johnson can be reached at 571-272-1176. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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MONICA ANNE HUSON
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1742
/MONICA A HUSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1742
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