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 without traverse of Group I claims 1-16 in the reply filed on 5 January 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 17-27 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected group, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 5 January 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.
Claims 1, 7, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Pain et al (US 2021/0090901 A1).
As to claim 1, Pain discloses a method of making a heatsink, the method comprising:
positioning a cathode (Fig. 2 print head), comprising a build plate (#220) and a metallic foil supported on the build plate (embodiment of Fig. 19 #1601a/b [0094] “plate may be connected to cathode”), into an electrolyte solution such that the metallic foil of the cathode directly contacts the electrolyte solution (#210 Fig. 2);
positioning a deposition anode array, comprising a plurality of deposition anodes, into the electrolyte solution such that a gap is established between the metallic foil and the plurality of deposition anodes (Fig. 2 deposition anode array);
connecting the metallic foil to a power source (See Fig. 2 connection to #221);
connecting one or more deposition anodes of the plurality of deposition anodes to the power source (See Fig. 2 connection to #221);
transmitting electrical energy from the power source through the one or more deposition anodes of the plurality of deposition anodes, through the electrolyte solution, and to the metallic foil, such that material is deposited onto the metallic foil and forms at least a portion of a heat exchange feature of the heatsink ([0094] “Typically it is desired to add conductive structures to one or more surfaces of the plate. These structures may be for example electrically conductive, thermally conductive, or both. They may serve, for example, as interconnections to other circuits or devices, they may serve as heat sinks to remove heat from circuits on plate 1601…The amount of current flowing from each anode is controlled in order to deposit material for the connection structures in a precise pattern.”; and
removing the metallic foil, and the material deposited onto the metallic foil, from the build plate, wherein the heatsink comprises the metallic foil and the material deposited onto the metallic foil ([0070] removal of the part).
As to claim 7, Pain further discloses trimming a peripheral portion from the metallic foil after the metallic foil, and the material deposited onto the metallic foil, are removed from the build plate (Fig. 18 Step 1904).
As to claim 14, Pain further discloses wherein the electrical energy is transmitted from the power source through the one or more deposition anodes of the plurality of deposition anodes, through the electrolyte solution, and to the metallic foil, such that the material deposited onto the metallic foil also forms a flange spaced apart from the heat exchange feature and surrounding the heat exchange feature. (#2111b embodiment Fig. 21 [0123]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-6, 8-13, 15 and 16 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LOUIS J RUFO whose telephone number is (571)270-7716. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Luan Van can be reached at 571-272-8521. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LOUIS J RUFO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1795
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