DETAILED ACTION
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 § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wong (US 2021/0267284). Wong discloses a knitted sock (16, 17, 900) that is not a non-stocking lingerie clothing article defining inner and outer sides positioned in lower calf and ankle area including an opaque fabric-region/lace (914) adjacent to a sheer fabric-region/background (914a, 914 b), subparagraph 22 wherein the opaque fabric-region (914) and the sheer fabric-region (914a, 914b) are a continuous fabric structure that is seamless being seam-free and stitch-free, subparagraph 16. Further, connection/transition regions that are tail free between the opaque fabric-region (914) and the sheer fabric-region (914a, 914b) being seamless lack any seams and lack any stitches and lack any glue and lack any adhesive material. Furthermore, the opaque fabric-regions (914) and sheer fabric-regions (914a, 914b) are alternating horizontally and not vertically as shown in figure 9. Also, any one of the opaque fabric-regions and sheer fabric-regions are alternating both vertically and horizontally as shown in figures 8 and 9.
However, Wong does not disclose opaque fabric region that blocks passage of at least 90 percent of incoming light; immediately bordering and the sheer fabric region that blocks passage of 25 to 75 percent of incoming light and connection regions between and connection regions between the opaque fabric-region and the sheer fabric-region being smooth and flush and lack any uncut remainder yarns.
It would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention that the seamless connection/transition region between the opaque fabric-region and the sheer fabric-region of Wong is substantially smooth and flush and lack any uncut remainder yarns when knitted as known in the textile art. Further, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention that through routing experimentation but not limited to the opaque fabric region that blocks passage of at least 90 percent of incoming light; immediately bordering and adjacent to the sheer fabric region that blocks passage of 25 to 75 percent of incoming light, etc. to provide different levels of pressure or as required for a particular application thereof.
With regard to claims 2-3 and 13-14, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention through routing experimentation that the sheet fabric region (914a, 914b) and the opaque fabric region (914) of Wong are substantially made of but not limited to a first yarn having a first stretching capability of at least 300 percent relative to idle unstretched length, wherein the opaque fabric-region is formed of a blend of: (i) said first
yarn having the first stretching capability of at least 300 percent relative to idle unstretched
length, and (ii) a second yarn having a second stretching capability of less than 150 percent
relative to idle unstretched length, yarns knitted at a gauge of 6 to 16, etc. in order to form the
garment of desired pressure at different regions or as required for a particular application thereof.
With regard to claims 4-6, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention through routine experimentation that the opaque fabric region of Wong can include but not limited to reflective yarns having glass beads in range of 25
to 75 percent, etc. while the sheer fabric region is substantially free of any reflective yarns so that
the device is easily visible when worn in low visibility while being breathable or as required for
an end use thereof.
With regard to claims 7-10, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention through routine experimentation that the opaque fabric region of Wong can include but not limited a silicone yarn including polysiloxane, polyethylene etc. while the sheer fabric region is substantially free of any silicone and lacks any poly-siloxane, polyethylene, etc. so that the device is properly fitted about the body in a slip resistant manner or as required for an end use thereof.
Furthermore, with regard to claims 11 and 18- 19, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention that the knitted opaque and sheer fabric regions of Wong substantially includes reduced yarns/yarn-ends that are cut by a
cutting unit while in a tensioned state through a tensioning unit. etc. once the sock is removed
from a knitting machine as known in the textile art.
With regard to claim 12, subparagraph 15 of Wong discloses the garment being made of athletic garment, etc.. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention that the sock of Wong extending about the lower calves can be structured but not limited to a conventional sock that extends about the foot and a leg portion having an upper most end that is below the knee, etc. depending on activity or end use of the garment.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Each of the prior art references cited on PTO-892 discloses a body garment substantially having sheer fabric region connected to an opaque fabric region.
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August 5, 2026 /TAJASH D PATEL/ Primary Examiner,
Art Unit 3732
