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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on April 15, 2026 has been entered.
Applicant amendment and accompanying remarks filed March 10, 2026 are acknowledged.
Examiner acknowledges amended claim 1.
Examiner acknowledges newly added claim 18.
The rejection of claims 1-2, 5 and 13-17 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) & (a)(2) as being anticipated by Bailey et al., U.S. Pre Grant Publication 2015/0315779 is overcome by Applicant’s amendment.
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 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) & (A)(2) as being anticipated by Bailey et al., U.S. Pre Grant Publication 2015/0315779.
Regarding claim 18, Regarding claim 1, Bailey discloses a composite having an inner core Figure 1 shows an inner core 3 having a damping material 4a on the lateral sides of the core 3. Examiner is corresponding the damping material as the reinforcement tape. Applicant's claim is not specific to the material(s) of the reinforcement tape. Figure 1 shows the composite having a top side, a bottom side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. Figure 1 shows the damping material 4a covers less than 50% of a length of each of the lateral sides of the core. Additionally, Figure 1 shows two (2) exterior sheets [1 and 2] encapsulating the inner core and the at least one reinforcing tape layer [0047]. Paragraph 0028 discloses that the inner core 3 comprises a plastic foam such as polyurethane.
Claims 1-17 are allowed. Applicant claims a composite board as recited in claim 1. recited in claims 8-12. The closest prior art, Bailey et al., U.S. Pre Grant Publication 2015/0315779, teaches a composite non-vision insulation panel unit comprising an exterior sheet and an interior sheet which define a cavity housing one or more insulation panels wherein the composite non-vision insulation unit is sealed with sealant and encloses the cavity [abstract, 0020 and 0031]. Figure 1 shows an inner core 3 [insulation panel] having a damping material 4a on the lateral sides of the core 3. Bailey fails to teach or suggest wherein at least one reinforcing tape layer extending at least partially along the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the inner core, wherein said extending reinforces at most 67% of a length of each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the inner core.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed March 10, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that new claim 18 was added and rewrites the allowable subject matter of dependent claim 4. Newly added claim 18 does include all the limitation in the recitation of dependent claim 4. Applicant’s newly added claim 18 does not include the limitations from claim 1 from which claim 4 depends. Applicant’s newly added claim 4 is broader than dependent claim 4. Bailey is relied upon for newly added claim 18.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CAMIE S THOMPSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1530. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 am - 5:30 pm.
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/CAMIE S THOMPSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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