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`UNITED STATE‘. EPARTMENT or commence
`Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONEROF PATENTSANDTRADEMARKS
`Washington, D.C. 20231‘
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`1773
`DATEMAILED:
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`02/27/U1
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`Please find below andlor attached an Office communication concerning thle appllcatien or
`proceeding.
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`Commlsstener of Patents and Trademarks -
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`PTO-Bo0(Hev._zIB5)
`'U.$.GPO:200047:Ht00I446d2
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`(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)
`Wavelock
`Exhibit 1004
`Page1
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`MURANO
`it ‘
`Group Art Unit
`‘_
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`1773
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`Vivien Chen
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`iXi Responsive to communicationisi filed on 72-1-00
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`Application No.
`09/223,545
`Examiner
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`Applicant,»
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`Office Action Summary '
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`D This action is FINAL.
`Ci Since this appiicatlonis in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution‘ as to the merits is closed
`in accordance with the practice under Ex pane Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11; 453 0.G; 213.
`A shortened statutory period for response to this action is set to expire
`- 3
`monthlsl, or thirty days, whichever
`is longer", from the mailing date of this communication. Failure to respond within the period for responsewill cause the
`. application to become abandoned. . (35 U.S.C. § 133). Extensions of time may be obtained under the provisions of
`37 CFR i.136(a).
` Disposition of Claims
`ixi Ciaimisi 2-96
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`V
`f
`islare pending in the application.
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`Of the above, claimlsi 44, 46-53. 56. 58-60, and 71-96
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`Ki Cleirnisi 2-37
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`islere allowed.
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`I20 Ciaimis) 38-43, 45, 54, 55, 57, and 61-70.
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`is/are rejected.
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`iji Claimls)
`is/ere objected to.
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`Cl Claims
`are subject to restriction or election requirement.
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`_
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`Application Papers
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`C See the attached Notice 01 Draitsperson's Patent Drawing Review‘, PTO-948.
`C The drawingis) filed on
`is/are objected to by the Examiner.
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`is
`Eiapproved
`C The proposed drawing correction, filed on‘ '
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`C The spaciilcation is objected to by the Examiner.
`E The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner.
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`Ciiisapproved.
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`Ci Acknowledgement is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35' U.S.C. § 119(3)-idi.
`:1 All C] Some‘
`[None
`of the CERTIFIED copies of the priority documents have been
`3 received.
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`. Ci received in Application No. (Series Code/Serial Number)
`3 received in this national stage application from the International Bureau (P§:T_Fiu|e ‘l7.2lai).
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`‘Certified copies not received:
`iXi Acknowledgement is made of a claim for domestic priority under 36 U.S.C. § 119(6).
`Attacnmentls)
`.
`Ci Notice of References Cited, PTO-892
`D information Disclosure Statementis), PTO-1449, Paper Nols).
`Ci interview Summary, PTO-413
`g
`[3 Notice of Draitsperson's Patent Drawing Review, PTO-948
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`D Notice of iniormai Patent Application, PTO-152
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` L
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`--- SEE OFFICE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES --
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`. Office Action summery
`-Ii
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`Waveloiart oiEP)apligi{\iP0
`13
`. gez
`(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)
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`U. S. Patent and Tradcrmuk Oillco
`_ PTO-326iRev.9-95)
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`Page 2
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`Serial Number: 09'/223,545
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`Art Unit: 1773
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`DETAILED Acnoiv
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`1.
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`Claim 1 has been cancelled.
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`Election/Restriction
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`2.
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`Claim 2 is generic andlallowable. Accordingly, the restriction requirement as to the
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`- encompassed species. is hereby withdrawn and claims 4-10, 12-15, 20-22, 23-25, "directed to the
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`nonelected species are no longer withdrawn from consideration since all of the claims to this
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`species depend from or otherwise include each ofthe limitations ofan allowed generic claim.
`However, claims 44, 46-53, 56, 58-60, directed to nonelected species remain withdravsm from
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`consideration since these claims do not depend upon or otherwise include all the limitations ofan
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`allowed generic claim as required by 37 CFR 1.141.
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`In view of the "above noted withdrawal of the restriction requirement as to the linked
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`species, applieant(s) are advised that if any claim(s) depending from or including all the limitations
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`of the allowable generic linking claim(s) be presented in a continuation" or divisional application,
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`such claims may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting
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`rejections over the claims of the instant application. Once a restriction requirement is withdrawn,
`the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 44 F.2d 1211, 1215,
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`'
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`170 USPQ 129, 131-32 "(com 1971). See also MPEP § 304.01.
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`_ Wavelock
`Exhibit 1004
`Pageé
`(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:22)
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`Serial Number: 09/223,545
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`Art Unit: 1773
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`Page 3
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`Claim Rejections - 33 USC§'103.
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`3.
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`Claims 33-43, 45, 54-55, 57, 61-70 are rejected under 35'U.S.C. 103(a) as being
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`unpatentable over EISFELLER (US 4,407,871);
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`EISFELLER '871 discloses a forrnable laminate comprising a continuous elastomeric
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`cover layer which contains a discontinuous. metallized layer therein and a thermoplastic layer
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`adjacent to the discontinuous metal layer (lines 14-30, col. 5; lines 49-68, col. 6) as recited in
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`claim 38, 54-55, 68, wherein said metallized layer comprises indium, zinc, tin, and alloys (lines 22-
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`38, col. 6) as recited in claims 40-43, the cover layer may be urethane (lines 32-42, col. 7) as
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`recited in claim 45,'the thermoplastic layer may be a polyoluetin (lines 49-68, col. 6) as recited in
`claim 57. The laminate may be adhered to a polyolefin or urethane substrate (lines '60-68, col. 6)
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`as recited in claims 69-70. However, the reference does not explicitly disclose a thermoplastic.
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`cover layer.
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`It would have been obvious to a person ofordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
`was made to utilize a thermoplastic cover layer material over the discontinuous metallized layer as
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`disclosed in EISFELLER '87l in order to increase the formability and ease ofmanufacture ofthe '
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`composite material. One ofordinary skill in the art would have incorporated conventional
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`additives such as dyes, pigments, and carbon black in one or more layers of the composite as
`indicated in claims 61-66 depending on the particular visual effect and appearance desired for a
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`specific application. It is well known in the art to shape thermoplastic _articles'by embossing
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`Wavelock
`Exhibit 1004 ~ Page 4
`(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:23)
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`_Seria.l Number: 09/223,545
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`Art Unit: 1773
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`Page 4
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`and/or folding as indicated in claims 67-68. It would have been obvious to use conventional
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`elastomeric resins such as polyvinyl fluoride as indicated in claim 57 over the discontinuousmetal
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`layer in order to form a durable protective layer, since it has been held to be within the general
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`skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its. suitability for the intended
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`use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshill, 125 USPQ 416.
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`Response to Arguments
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`4.
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`Applicant's arguments filed 12/ l/2000 have been considered but are moot in view of the
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`new ground(s) of relection.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`V 5.
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`Claims 2—37 are allowable over the prior art of record.
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`6.
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`The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
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`The prior art of record falls to disclose or suggest a metallized composite comprising a
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`. ‘first thermoplastic layer, an intermediate discontinuous metal layer in an adhesive, and a second
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`thennoplastic layer. Specifically, KURFMAN ET AL '61 9 and"822 fail to disclose a laminate
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`containing a discontinuous metal layer.
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`Page 5
`(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:24)
`Wavelock
`Exhibit 1004
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`

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`Serial Number:-09/223,545
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`Art Unit: 1773
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`7.
`should be directed to Vivian Chen whose telephone number is_':(703) 305-3551., The examiner can
`normally be reached on Monday—Friday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM;
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`if "attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiners supervisor,
`Mr. Paul Thibodeau, can be reached on (703) 308-2367.
`‘
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`For Art Unit 1773, the fax phone numbers are as follows:
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`V
`gjflcial faxes:
`(703) 305-3601
`(703)305-7718
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`unofficialfaxes:
`(703)_305-5436 .
`(703) 305-3602
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`V
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`Any inquiryof-a generalnature or relating to the status of this application should be
`directed to the Technology Center 1700 receptionist whose telephone number is (703) 308-0661.
`
`VCI
`February 22, 2001
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`Vivian Chen
`"Primary Examiner
`' Group 1700
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`Wavelock
`Exhibit1004
`Page6
`(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:25)