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 without traverse of Group I, Claims 1-15 in the reply filed on 24 April 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 16-18 are withdrawn from further consideration.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 14 and 15 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.
In regards to Claim 14, the phrase “substantially tin and organo-tin free” is unclear. Either something is free of tin and organo-tin, or it is not. It is unclear how something could be substantially free of a component. One of ordinary skill in the art would be unsure of how much tin or organo-tin could be present while still being substantially free. Further, does this mean the intention is for no tin or organo-tin to be present, or does this mean a little bit must be present, since the claim requires at least some to be present, or it would not state “substantially”?
Similarly in regards to Claim 15, the phrase “includes substantially no tin or organo-tin derivatives” is unclear. Either something includes tin and organo-tin, or it does not. It is unclear how something could include substantially no component. One of ordinary skill in the art would be unsure of how much tin or organo-tin could be present while still being substantially not included. Further, does this mean the intention is for no tin or organo-tin to be included, or does this mean a little bit must be included, since the claim requires at least some to be included, or it would not state “substantially”?
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected, to the degree definite, under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Feder et al (20170044338).
In regards to Claim 1, Feder teaches a resin capable of application as a ribbon or line along at least part of a crease line of a garment to assist in extending the period of time of retention of the crease line in the garment, said resin comprising:
a catalyst to assist in curing of the resin, said catalyst including at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, peroxide, Organic amine, titanium, zirconium, tertiary amine, organosilane, iron, copper and a non-metal (Paragraph 146);
the resin having a first, substantially fluid, form for a sufficient period of time to allow the resin to be applied along the crease line and attach to fibers of fabric adjacent to the crease line and, once applied, the resin cures taking a second form in which the resin has hardened and bonded to the crease line (Paragraph 104 teaches substantially fluid, when cured teaches hardened).
In regards to Claim 2, Feder teaches the resin includes a curing system including an acetate (Paragraph 11).
In regards to Claim 3, Feder teaches the acetate is a crosslinking acetate (Paragraph 11).
In regards to Claim 4, Feder teaches the resin includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of amorphous silicate hydrate, methylsilanetriyl-triacetate, diacetoxydi-tert-butoxysilane, hexanoic acid, dodecamethyl cyclohexasiloxane, acetic acid bismuth tris(2-ethylhexanoate) and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (Paragraph 157).
In regards to Claim 5, Feder teaches the resin includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of triacetoxyethylsilane, octamethyl- cyclotetrasiloxane, Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and substances including dodecamethylcyclohexasilosane, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, also sometimes referred to as vRVB substances (Paragraph 157).
In regards to Claim 6, Feder teaches curing of the resin occurs as a result of exposure of the resin to ambient environment (Paragraph 5).
In regards to Claim 7, Feder teaches the resin cures as a result of selective mixing of curing system components contained within the resin insomuch as the selection of components would inherently affect the curing. The curing is based on the components.
In regards to Claim 8, Feder teaches the curing of the resin occurs as a result of the exposure of the resin to heat at a temperature greater than that of ambient environment and/or Ultra Violet light (Paragraph 5).
In regards to Claim 9, Feder teaches the resin includes silicone (Title, Paragraph 9).
In regards to Claim 10, Feder teaches the silicone is a vulcanized silicone rubber (Paragraph 9).
In regards to Claim 11, Feder teaches the resin, once cured, resists damage at ongoing exposure to ambient environment conditions up to 180 degrees Celsius insomuch as a conditions up to 180 degrees Celsius also includes room temperature, and the no specific timeframe is given.
In regards to Claim 12, Feder teaches the resin is substantially colorless (Paragraph 40).
In regards to Claim 13, Feder teaches the resin has characteristics of a substantially non-slump to flowable resin (Paragraph 104 teaches fluid, which can flow).
In regards to Claim 14, Feder teaches the resin is substantially tin and organo-tin free (Paragraph 70).
In regards to Claim 15, Feder teaches the resin includes substantially no tin or organo-tin derivatives (Paragraph 70).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Shaun R Hurley whose telephone number is (571)272-4986. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Clinton T Ostrup can be reached at (571) 272-5559. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAUN R HURLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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