DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of claims 20-28 in the reply filed on 2-19-2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that results from a search for any group will necessarily produce results applicable for examination of the other groups. This is not found persuasive because, as discussed in the Restriction Requirement of 1-13-2026, the groups lack a unifying special technical feature. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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 20-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kang et al., US 2021/0402653 A1.
Regarding claim 20, Kang teaches a nanoimprinting stamp (100 of Fig. 5b, [0038]) comprising at least one textured area (“MA” of Fig. 3b) and at least one barrier adjacent to the textured area (“SA” of Fig. 3b). Although Kang does not explicitly state that the stamp is “substantially flexible,” Kang teaches that the stamp may be made form polydimethylsiloxane ([0025]), which is a flexible material. The barrier “SA” portion of the stamp of Kang is continuous and extends over at least one side of the textured area (Fig. 3a, [0022]). The barrier has a substantially uniform height which is higher than the highest peak of the textured area (Fig. 3b, [0023]).
Note that although Kang does not characterize the stamp as being for “roll-to-plate” imprinting as specified in the preamble of claim 20, the recitation of “for roll-to-plate imprinting” in the present claim 20 is a statement of intended use that cannot distinguish the claimed invention because there is no apparent reason why the stamp of Kang couldn’t be used for roll-to-plate imprinting.
Regarding claims 21 and 23, the barrier “SA” portion of Kang is continuous and substantially encloses the textured “MA” area (Fig. 3a, [0022]).
Regarding claim 22, the height and width of the barrier portions of Kang are substantially uniform (Fig. 3b).
Regarding claim 24, the barrier portion of Kang features a substantially flat end surface (Fig. 3b).
Regarding claims 25-28, any of the open portions between the barrier elements in the “SA” region and the associated projections of the product of Kang can be regarded as corresponding to the claimed “reservoir elements,” resulting in “reservoir elements” that are located at the circumference of the stamp, are equal in height to the barrier elements, and are on a side of the barrier opposite the textured “MA” area.
Conclusion
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/IAN A RUMMEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1785
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