Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[Gamesc]

Filed by attorneys yesterday through USPTO for this CIP patent application. Read the changes and new claims. Enjoy.

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2015/0202841.html

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

In re A?lication of:
lnventor(s): Adam A. Verreault, et al.


App. No.:?14/537,384
Con. No.:
4271
Filed:?November 10, 2014
Art Unit:
1784
Title:?AMORPHOUS METAL
Examiner:
Krupicka, Adam C.
OVERMOLDING



AMENDMENT AND RESPONSE TO RESTRICTION REQUIREMENT


MAIL STOP AMENDMENT
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 Sir:
In response to the Restriction Requirement dated December 23, 2016, please consider the following remarks and amend the above-identified application as follows:
Amendments to the Claims begin on page 2 of this paper.
Remarks begin on page 5 of this paper.

Attorney Docket No. P21719US1




Amendments to the Claims:

1. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) A method comprising
overmolding a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy on a preform of another material-tl=iaR the bull< solidifying amorphous alloy to form a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy overmolded preform.

2. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, wherein saia the another material is a metal or ceramic erystalline or amorphous and eomprises aluminum, stainless steel, sapper or beryllium.

3. (Withdrawn - Currently amended) The method of claim 1, wherein:
overmolding the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy comprises injecting the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy into a mold; and
the method further comprises eomprising placing the preform directly into [[a]] the mold prior to the injection of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy into the mold.

4. (Cancelled)


5. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim [[4]] 1, wherein the bulk- solidifying amorphous alloy surrounds and bonds to at least a portion of the preform.

6. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim [[4]] 1, wherein a wall of the overmolded shell is thinner than the preform.


7. (Cancelled)


8. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the preform into a mold by way of a robot and when the mold is closed, the preform becomes clamped and immovable inside the mold.

9. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim 8, wherein the plaeing the preform in the mold keeps the preform remains in place during subsequent injection of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy into the mold.

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Attorney Docket No. P21719US1






10. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim 9, wherein upon completion of the injection, the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy overmolded preform is removed from the mold by the robot.

11. (Withdrawn - Currently Amended) The method of claim 10, wherein the bulk- solidifying amorphous alloy overmolded preform is in final near net shape form not post­ processed by machining equipment.

12. (Withdrawn) The method of claim 10, wherein the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy overmolded preform is post-processed by machining equipment.

13. (Cancelled)


14. (Cancelled)


15. (Currently Amended) An article comprising a preform: and
a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy shell overmolded on the preform and secured to the preform by at least one of a mechanical bond or a chemical bond:
wherein the preform is formed from a material other than the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy
an overmolded shell eomprising the bull< solidifying amorphous alloy on a preform of another material than the bull< solidifying amorphous alloy.

16. (Currently Amended) The article of claim 15, wherein the preform is formed from said another material is g crystalline or amorphous metal and eomprises aluminum, stainless steel, sapper or beryllium.

17. (Cancelled)


18. (Currently Amended) The article of claim 15, wherein the preform defines an undercut and the shell mechanically engages with the undercut the bull< solidifying amorphous alloy surrounds and bonds to the preform.

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Attorney Docket No. P21719US1






19. (Currently Amended) The article of claim 15, wherein a wall of the overmolded shell is thinner than the preform.

20. (Cancelled)


21. (New) A housing for an electronic device comprising:
a crystalline interior member defining an internal cavity configured to receive an internal component of the electronic device; and
a shell of a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy affixed to the interior member and defining an exterior surface of the housing.

22. (New) The article of claim 21, wherein the interior member is formed of a metal.


23. (New) The article of claim 22, wherein the interior member is formed of aluminum.

24. (New) The article of claim 21, wherein:
the housing comprises a wall defined by the shell and the interior member; and
a thickness of a portion of the wall defined by the shell is less than a thickness of a portion of the wall defined by the interior member.

25. (New) The article of claim 24, wherein the portion of the wall has a thickness greater than about 0.5 mm and less than about 5 mm.

26. (New) The article of claim 21, wherein the shell has an amorphous content of more than 90% by volume.

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Attorney Docket No. P21719US1




REMARKS

This paper is submitted in response to the Office action mailed on December 23, 2016.
This paper cancels claims 4, 7, 13-14, 17, and 20 and adds new claims 21-26. Accordingly,
after entry of this Amendment and Response, claims 1-3, 5-6, 8-12, 15-16, 18-19, and 21-26 will be pending.
Claims 1-3, 5-6, 8-11, 15-16, and 18-19 are amended herewith. The amendments to the claims and the new claims are supported by the application as filed, including at least paragraphs 6, 37-43, 49-62, 72-74, 110, and 114-115 of the specification as filed and FlGs. 4 and 5. No new matter is added.
The amendments presented herein are made without prejudice to, disclaimer of, or dedication of any subject matter, and a right is specifically reserved to file continuation and/or divisional applications claiming any subject matter disclosed in the application.







15/01.

In the Restriction Requirement, the Office Action alleges two distinct inventions:
I.?Claims 1-14, drawn to a molding process, classified in B22D 19/00; and
11.?Claims 15-20, drawn to a preform with an amorphous shell, classified in B32B



The Office Action requires restriction to one of the aforementioned inventions under 35
U.S.C. § 1.21. In response to the Restriction Requirement, Assignee elects Group II, claims 15- 16, 18-19, and 21-26 without traverse. Accordingly, claims 1-3, 5-6, and 8-12 are hereby withdrawn.

In the Restriction Requirement, the Examiner alleges two distinct species:
I. Species A, where the material of the preform is crystalline; and
11.?Species B, where the material of the preform is amorphous.


The Office Action requires restriction to one of the aforementioned species under 35
U.S.C. § 1.21. In response to the Restriction Requirement, Assignee elects Species A, without traverse. It is submitted that claims 15-16, 18-19, and 21-26 encompass the elected Species.

This Amendment is submitted contemporaneously with a petition for a one-month extension of time in accordance with 37 CFR § 1.136(a) and a request to charge Deposit

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Attorney Docket No. P21719US1




Account No. 504621 for the requisite fees. The Assignee believes no further fees or petitions are required. However, if any such petitions or fees are necessary, please consider this a request therefor and authorization to charge Deposit Account No. 504621 accordingly.

If the Examiner should require any additional information or amendment, please contact the undersigned.


Dated: March 23, 2017.


Respectfully submitted,



?/Tamala R. Jonas/? Tamala R. Jonas, Registration No. 47,688
Agent for Assignee
USPTO Customer No. 130551

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP 410 Seventeenth Street
Suite 2200
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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