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 Status
The claims filed on 04/14/2025 is entered and acknowledged by the Examiner. Claims 1-24 are currently pending in the instant application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) filed on 05/13/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and has been considered by the examiner. An initialed copy accompanies this Office Action.
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claims 1-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1-24 of prior U.S. Patent No. 12,305,076 B2. This is a statutory double patenting rejection.
Present Application
US 12,305,076 B2
1. An electrodepositable coating composition comprising: (a) a single-stage acrylic polymer comprising 70% to 100% by weight of constitutional units comprising the residue of a hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer and/or a hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylamide monomer, based on the total weight of the acrylic polymer; and (b) an ionic salt group-containing film-forming polymer different from the acrylic polymer and comprising an epoxy resin; wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of a polymeric dispersant.
1. An electrodepositable coating composition comprising: (a) a single-stage acrylic polymer comprising 70% to 100% by weight of constitutional units comprising the residue of a hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer and/or a hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylamide monomer, based on the total weight of the acrylic polymer; and (b) an ionic salt group-containing film-forming polymer different from the acrylic polymer and comprising an epoxy resin; wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of a polymeric dispersant.
2. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer comprises a linear polymer, a branched polymer, and/or a crosslinked polymeric network.
2. The electrodepositable coating composition of claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer comprises a linear polymer, a branched polymer, and/or a crosslinked polymeric network.
3. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer comprises a C₁-C₁₀ hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate.
3. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer comprises a C₁-C₁₀ hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate.
4. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer comprises hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypentyl (meth)acrylate or a combination thereof.
4. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer comprises hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypentyl (meth)acrylate or a combination thereof.
5. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer and/or the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylamide monomer comprises a primary hydroxyl group.
5. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomer and/or the hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylamide monomer comprises a primary hydroxyl group.
6. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer further comprises constitutional units comprising the residue of a non-hydroxyl-containing unsaturated monomer.
6. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer further comprises constitutional units comprising the residue of a non-hydroxyl-containing unsaturated monomer.
7. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer has a theoretical hydroxyl-equivalent weight of 100 g/OH to 500 g/OH.
7. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer has a theoretical hydroxyl-equivalent weight of 100 g/OH to 500 g/OH.
8. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer has a z-average molecular weight of 500,000 g/mol to 60,000,000 g/mol, as determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography using polystyrene calibration standards.
8. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer has a z-average molecular weight of 500,000 g/mol to 60,000,000 g/mol, as determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography using polystyrene calibration standards.
9. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of silicon.
9. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of silicon.
10. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of nitrogen-containing monomers.
10. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of nitrogen-containing monomers.
11. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of diene monomers.
11. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of diene monomers.
12. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of the constitutional units comprising the residue of monomers comprising three or more ethylenically unsaturated groups per molecule.
12. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of the constitutional units comprising the residue of monomers comprising three or more ethylenically unsaturated groups per molecule.
13. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of isobutylene monomers.
13. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the acrylic polymer is substantially free of constitutional units comprising the residue of isobutylene monomers.
14. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the ionic salt group- containing film-forming polymer comprises a cationic salt group-containing film-forming polymer.
14. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the ionic salt group- containing film-forming polymer comprises a cationic salt group-containing film-forming polymer.
15. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the ionic salt group- containing film-forming polymer comprises an anionic salt group-containing film-forming polymer.
15. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the ionic salt group- containing film-forming polymer comprises an anionic salt group-containing film-forming polymer.
16. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, further comprising a polyalkylene oxide polymer.
16. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, further comprising a polyalkylene oxide polymer.
17. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, further comprising (c) a curing agent.
17. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, further comprising (c) a curing agent.
18. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 17, wherein (a) the acrylic polymer is present in an amount of 0.05% to 10% by weight; (b) the ionic salt group-containing film-forming polymer is present in an amount of 40% to 90% by weight; and (c) the curing agent is present in an amount of 10% to 59.95% by weight, the % by weight based on the total weight of resin solids of the electrodepositable coating composition.
18. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 17, wherein (a) the acrylic polymer is present in an amount of 0.05% to 10% by weight; (b) the ionic salt group-containing film-forming polymer is present in an amount of 40% to 90% by weight; and (c) the curing agent is present in an amount of 10% to 59.95% by weight, the % by weight based on the total weight of resin solids of the electrodepositable coating composition.
19. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the electrodepositable coating composition is substantially free of silicon dioxide microspheres and silicon dioxide nanospheres.
19. The electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1, wherein the electrodepositable coating composition is substantially free of silicon dioxide microspheres and silicon dioxide nanospheres.
20. A method of coating a substrate comprising electrophoretically applying a coating deposited from the electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1 to at least a portion of the substrate.
20. A method of coating a substrate comprising electrophoretically applying a coating deposited from the electrodepositable coating composition of claim 1 to at least a portion of the substrate.
21. A substrate comprising a coating deposited from the electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1 on at least a portion of the substrate.
21. A substrate comprising a coating deposited from the electrodepositable coating composition of Claim 1 on at least a portion of the substrate.
22. The substrate of Claim 21, wherein the coating has a 20° gloss value reduction of at least 20% when the acrylic polymer is present in the electrodepositable coating composition in an amount of 0.5% by weight based on the total resin solids, wherein the gloss value is measured according to ASTM D523, and the gloss value reduction is compared to a substrate coated with a comparative electrodepositable coating composition that does not include the acrylic polymer but otherwise has the same composition as the electrodepositable coating composition.
22. The substrate of Claim 21, wherein the coating has a 20° gloss value reduction of at least 20% when the acrylic polymer is present in the electrodepositable coating composition in an amount of 0.5% by weight based on the total resin solids, wherein the gloss value is measured according to ASTM D523, and the gloss value reduction is compared to a substrate coated with a comparative electrodepositable coating composition that does not include the acrylic polymer but otherwise has the same composition as the electrodepositable coating composition.
23. The substrate of Claim 21, wherein the coating has a 60° gloss value reduction of at least 20% when the acrylic polymer is present in the electrodepositable coating composition in an amount of 0.5% by weight based on the total resin solids, the gloss values measured according to ASTM D523, and the gloss value reduction compared to a substrate coated with a comparative electrodepositable coating composition that does not include the acrylic polymer but otherwise has the same composition as the electrodepositable coating composition.
23. The substrate of Claim 21, wherein the coating has a 60° gloss value reduction of at least 20% when the acrylic polymer is present in the electrodepositable coating composition in an amount of 0.5% by weight based on the total resin solids, the gloss values measured according to ASTM D523, and the gloss value reduction compared to a substrate coated with a comparative electrodepositable coating composition that does not include the acrylic polymer but otherwise has the same composition as the electrodepositable coating composition.
24. The substrate of Claim 21, wherein the percentage average edge coverage of the coated substrate is improved by at least 20%, as measured according to the Burr Edge Coverage Test Method, compared to a substrate coated with a comparative electrodepositable coating composition that does not include the acrylic polymer but otherwise has the same composition as the electrodepositable coating composition.
24. The substrate of Claim 21, wherein the percentage average edge coverage of the coated substrate is improved by at least 20%, as measured according to the Burr Edge Coverage Test Method, compared to a substrate coated with a comparative electrodepositable coating composition that does not include the acrylic polymer but otherwise has the same composition as the electrodepositable coating composition.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHANH TUAN NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8082. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Angela Brown-Pettigrew can be reached at (571) 272-2817. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KHANH T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761
