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 § 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ochi US 5630376.
Regarding claim 1, Ochi discloses a leak-proof pee pad (abstract), comprising: an impermeable layer (6- impermeable backsheet, Col 2 lines 36-67); an absorbent layer (4- absorbent panel Col 2 lines 36-67), wherein the absorbent layer is provided on a surface of the impermeable layer (see fig 4 and Col 2 lines 36-67); and a side enclosing assembly (or overflow strips 5, fig 4 and Col 2 lines 36-67), wherein the side enclosing assembly is connected to the impermeable layer and/or the absorbent layer (see fig 4).
Regarding claim 2, Ochi discloses wherein the side enclosing assembly comprises: two first side enclosing members (see annotated figure below), wherein the two first side enclosing members are symmetrically arranged above the impermeable layer (see cross section figure 4), and the two first side enclosing members are partially fixedly connected to the impermeable layer and the absorbent layer (see element H2 and H4, and col 2 lines 36-67 which shows and adhesive attachment point); and two second side enclosing members (see annotated figure below), wherein the two second side enclosing members are symmetrically arranged above the impermeable layer (see cross section figure 4), two ends of each of the two second side enclosing members are fixedly connected to the two first side enclosing members, respectively, and the two second side enclosing members are partially fixedly connected to the impermeable layer and the absorbent layer (see element H2 and H4, and col 2 lines 36-67 which shows and adhesive attachment point and figure below).
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Regarding claim 3, Ochi discloses each of the two first side enclosing members has a length greater than a length of a respective side of the impermeable layer; and each of the two second side enclosing members has a length greater than the length of the respective side of the impermeable layer (they are longer because they extend beyond the length of the impermeable layer to wrap around the impermeable layer).
Regarding claim 4, Ochi discloses a side of each of the two first side enclosing members adjacent to a center of the impermeable layer and a side of each of the two second side enclosing members adjacent to the center of the impermeable layer are fixedly connected to elastic members, respectively (Col 3 line 66- Col 4 line 3 discloses the use of elastic in the side enclosing members).
Regarding claim 5, Ochi discloses wherein each of the two first side enclosing members has a length equal to a length of a respective side of the impermeable layer; and each of the two second side enclosing members has a length equal to the length of the respective side of the impermeable layer (fig 1 shows an equal length).
Regarding claim 6, Ochi discloses wherein the two second side enclosing members are integrally formed with the impermeable layer (see fig 1 and 2 where element 5 is attached and therefor integral with the impermeable layer element 6, Col 2 lines 36-67).
Regarding claim 7, Ochi discloses wherein the side enclosing assembly comprises: two first side enclosing members (see annotated figure below), wherein the two first side enclosing members are symmetrically arranged above the impermeable layer (see cross section figure 4), and the two first side enclosing members are partially fixedly connected to the absorbent layer (see element H4, and col 2 lines 36-67 which shows and adhesive attachment point); and two second side enclosing members, wherein the two second side enclosing members are symmetrically arranged above the impermeable layer (see cross section figure 4), two ends of each of the two second side enclosing members are fixedly connected to the two first side enclosing members, respectively, and the two second side enclosing members are partially fixedly connected to the absorbent layer (see element H4, and col 2 lines 36-67 which shows and adhesive attachment point).
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Regarding claim 8, Ochi discloses each of the two first side enclosing members has a length greater than a length of a respective side of the impermeable layer; and each of the two second side enclosing members has a length greater than the length of the respective side of the impermeable layer (they are longer because they extend beyond the length of the impermeable layer to wrap around the impermeable layer).
Regarding claim 9, Ochi discloses a side of each of the two first side enclosing members adjacent to a center of the impermeable layer and a side of each of the two second side enclosing members adjacent to the center of the impermeable layer are fixedly connected to elastic members, respectively (Col 3 line 66- Col 4 line 3 discloses the use of elastic in the side enclosing members).
Regarding claim 10, Ochi discloses wherein each of the two first side enclosing members has a length equal to a length of a respective side of the impermeable layer; and each of the two second side enclosing members has a length equal to the length of the respective side of the impermeable layer (fig 1 shows an equal length).
Regarding claim 11, Ochi discloses wherein the two second side enclosing members are integrally formed with the impermeable layer (see fig 1 and 2 where element 5 is attached and therefor integral with the impermeable layer element 6, Col 2 lines 36-67).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GABRIELLA E BURNETTE whose telephone number is (571)272-9574. The examiner can normally be reached M-S: 0830-1900 EST.
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/GABRIELLA E BURNETTE/Examiner, Art Unit 3781 /REBECCA E EISENBERG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3781
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