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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of a separator comprising a substrate and a polymer layer claimed in claim 14, comprising a liquid-retaining polymer comprising: an ester polymer claimed in claims 9-10, comprising a building block represented by formula (CI)
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158
154
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where R31-R33 = H and R34 =unsubstituted C1 alkyl group, specifically poly(vinyl acetate)
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281
246
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n and further comprising:a bonding polymer as claimed in claim 3, comprising a polyacrylate
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221
262
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and an ether polymer as claimed in claims 7-8, comprising a building block represented by formula (BII)
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96
109
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R24-R26 = H and R27 = an unsubstituted C2 ether group, specifically poly(ethyl vinyl ether)
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200
273
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in the reply filed on 9-29-2025 and 12-1-2025 are acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that it would not be a burden to search all the different possibilities for the polymer layer. This is not found persuasive because the polymer layer comprises:a) a liquid retaining polymer that comprises: i) a fluoropolymer as claimed in claim 4-6 or ii) an ester polymer as claimed in 9-10 or iii) an aldehyde-ketone polymer as claimed in claims 11-12; and iv) further comprises an ether polymer as claimed in claim 7-8;ANDb) further comprises a bonding polymer as claimed in claim 3. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 4-6, 11-12 and 15 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 9-29-2025 and 12-1-2025.
Claim Objections
Claims 3, 14 and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 3 is objected to because the claim should cite “wherein the polymer layer further comprises a bonding polymer”. Claim 14 is objected to because the claim should cite “wherein the separator body further comprises a substrate, and” Claim 16 is objected to because the claim should cite mm2 instead of mm2.Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-3, 7-10, 13-14 and 16-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 1 is rejected because the method steps cited in the product by process claim needs to be stated as method steps. It is unclear if the method step includes the polymer system is left standing at 70 degrees C for 8 h; then left standing for more than or equal to 24 hours at 25 degrees C and then the polymer system is filtered by means of a 200-mesh filter screen to leave a first substance. Claims 1-2 are rejected because it is unclear what the bonding force of the separator is referring to. Claim 3 is rejected because the phrase “optionally” renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation claimed after the phrase “optionally” is a choice between i) the bonding polymer materials versus ii) the ratio of the mass percentage of the liquid retaining polymer to the mass percent of age of the bonding polymer. In Ex parte Cordova, 10 USPQ2d 1949. Claim 7 is rejected because a broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, the claim recites the broad recitation of 1< K2< ∞ and the claim also recites “optionally” 1< K2 < 100; and “further optionally 1< K2 < 10, which are the narrower statements of the range/limitation. The claim(s) are considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims. Claim 9 is rejected because a broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, the claim recites the broad recitation of 1< K1< ∞ and the claim also recites “optionally” 1< K1 < 100; and “further optionally 1< K1 < 10, which are the narrower statements of the range/limitation. The claim(s) are considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Zhang et al. (CN 110993859, machine translation) teaches an improved structure of a polymer coating membrane comprising a base film and the coating layer comprising modifying a gel polymer by grafting with a carboxyl group which improves the polymer coating membrane adhesive property and stability. Zhang et al. teaches that the gel polymer is composed of one or at least two kinds of copolymers or mixtures of polyvinylidene fluorine, polyurethane, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylamide, polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone or poly-acrylic acid tetraethylene glycol ester. Zhang et al. teaches that the coating slurry comprises the surface crafted polymer gel, a bonding agent comprising polyethylene oxide, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylic and acrylic ester [teaching claim 3] and de-ionized water. Zhang et al. teaches that the base film is a polyolefin membrane [teaching a separator body]. Zhang et al. teaches that the drying temperature is 40-80° C. Zhang et al. teaches in [Table 1, 0071], that in project 1, the peel strength 26 N/m and in project 2, the peel strength was 87 N/m [teaches claim 2].
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/LAURA S. WEINER/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1723
/Laura Weiner/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723