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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
In claim 1, the base film inherently has four surfaces such that it is unclear whether the first and second antistatic layers, along with the first and second adhesive layers, are attached to the side surfaces of the base film, to the top and bottom surfaces of the base film, or a combination thereof.
In addition, it is unclear as to what is meant by the recitation of “the first antistatic layer defining a first surface” since there is no description as to what the first surface belongs to. Similarly, it is unclear as to what is meant by the recitation of “the second antistatic layer defining a second surface” since there is no description as to what the second surface belongs to.
Furthermore, it is unclear whether the first antistatic layer is directly attached to the one surface of the base film, or is attached to the one surface of the base film by the first adhesive layer. Similarly, it is unclear whether the second antistatic layer is directly attached to the other surface of the base film, or is attached to the other surface of the base film by the second adhesive layer. Although lines 8-9 of claim 1, describe the first adhesive layer as being attached to the first surface of the protective film and the release film which is disposed on the protective film, the first antistatic layer may only take up a first portion of the first adhesive layer, and the release film may only take up a second portion of the first adhesive layer. Similarly, although lines 10-11 of claim 1, describe the second adhesive layer as being attached to the second surface of the protective film and the carrier film which is disposed below the protective film, the second antistatic layer may only take up a first portion of the second adhesive layer, and the carrier film may only take up a second portion of the second adhesive layer.
Clarification and amendment, accompanied by relevant citation(s) from the specification are required.
Claims 2-15 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 1, but fail to provide any solutions to the indefinite issue described above.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Sow-Fun Hon whose telephone number is (571)272-1492. The examiner is on a flexible schedule but can usually be reached during a regular workweek between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Aaron Austin, can be reached at (571)272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571)273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Center (https://patentcenter.uspto.gov). Should you have any questions on the Patent Center system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Sophie Hon/
Sow-Fun Hon
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782
Prosecution Insights