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 .
Note
Please note that Applicant was called multiple times on multiple occasions regarding an Examiner’s Amendment to cancel claim 51. No response was received.
Claim Objections
Claims 32, 37, 42 and 45 are objected to because of the following informalities: the claims recite “steal frame” instead of “steel frame.” Appropriate correction is required.
Response to Declaration
The Declaration under 37 CFR 1.132 filed June 16, 2026, is insufficient to overcome the rejection of claim 51 based upon Anderson as set forth in the last Office action because: Applicant argues that Anderson’s laminates are not suitable for windshields. However, many of Anderson’s figures (see fig. 1-8) show a visible light transmission of 80% or more. While transmission may decrease with temperature increase, there is no indication that Anderson’s glazing would be insufficient for windshield use at ambient temperatures. Additionally, these figures are transmission values for NIR-absorbing solutions (see paragraphs 0118-0120) that may be incorporated into interlayers and windshields. Anderson specifically states that these solutions may be included in PVB interlayers (paragraph 0118).
Anderson’s silence regarding disclosure of minimum light transmission levels is irrelevant regarding Anderson’s ability to be used as automotive glass.
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 51 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2015/0306848 Anderson et al.
Regarding claim 51, Anderson teaches a laminated vehicle windshield (paragraph 0006), comprising:
an outer windshield panel 10 (figure 26B) comprising heat-strengthened glass (paragraph 0006);
an inner windshield panel 10 (figure 26B); and
a polymeric material layer 30 positioned between the outer windshield panel and the inner windshield panel (paragraph 0009),
wherein the heat-strengthened glass of the outer windshield panel has a surface compression of 3500 PSI to 7500 PSI (paragraph 0056), and
wherein the outer windshield panel having the surface compression of 3500 PSI to 7500 PSI has a thickness of 3 mm (paragraph 0153), and
wherein the inner windshield panel comprises annealed glass (paragraph 0054, edge annealing).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 6, 7, 9-17, 24-26, 30-50, 53-65 are allowed. Please note that multiple claims have been objected to above, but would be allowable if corrected, and therefore have been included here.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art of record, US 2015/0306848 Anderson et al, does not teach or suggest the surface compression levels claimed in combination with a single polymeric interlayer consisting of the listed materials. Anderson teaches a multi-layered interlayer including infrared-absorbing materials. The claim now excludes this from reading on the claim.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 16, 2026, regarding claim 51 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Anderson does not teach the claimed annealed glass. However, the claim requires that the second sheet “comprises annealed glass.” Therefore, even edge annealing provides the glass sheet with partial annealing that reads on the claim. Furthermore, while it appears that claim 51 intends to claim one sheet of heat-strengthened glass and one sheet of annealed glass, the claim does not exclude the possibility of both sheets being heat-strengthened glass and one of those two sheets being edge-annealed.
Regarding Applicant’s declaration, please see above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Megha M Gaitonde whose telephone number is (571)270-3598. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Frank Vineis can be reached on 571-270-1547. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MEGHA M GAITONDE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1781
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