Remember an ex-parte re-examination is a one sided argument with no rebuttal yet ALL REJECTIONS

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

In re Ex Parte Reexamination of: Patent of Witherspoon

For "Fire and Water Resistant Expansion Joint System"

Patent No. 8,739,495

Patent Issue Date: June 3, 2014

Reexam Appln. No. 90/013,395

) ) Art Unit: 3993 ) ) Examiner: Gellner, Jeffrey L. ) ) ) Confirmation No.: 9773 ) ) ) ) Atty. Docket No.: 1269-0001-lCON-RE

Middletown, Connecticut, July 7, 2016

Via Electronic Filing Mail Stop Ex Parte Reexam ATTN: Central Reexamination Unit Commissioner for Patents U.S. Patent and Trademark Office P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

Sir:

NOTICE OF APPEAL

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 134(b) and 37 C.F.R. 41.31, Patent Owner hereby appeals to the

Patent Trial and Appeal Board ("Board") from the decision of the Examiner in the Final Office

Action dated April 7, 2016 and Advisory Action dated May 20, 2016, rejecting Claims 1-9, 11-

26, 28-35, 37, 38, 40-45 and 47-58. The due date for filing the Notice of Appeal is July 7, 2016

and thus this filing is timely.

The Appeal Fee of $400 (small entity) is submitted herewith pursuant to 37 C.F.R.

41.20(b)(l). Please charge any deficiencies in fees to Deposit Account No. 503342.

It is respectfully noted that Patent Owner is preparing a reply to the May 20, 2016

Advisory Action, which extended the period for reply to August 7, 2016 (four months from the

date of the final rejection). Patent Owner's reply will be filed shortly and is believed to address

1

Reexamination Appln. 90/013,395 Notice of Appeal

Atty. Docket No.: 1269-0001-lCON-RE

the outstanding issues raised in the Advisory Action, as well as address the recent in-person

interview held at the Office on June 14, 2016. Therefore, Patent Owner believes that a favorable

Reexamination Certificate finding all pending claims allowable should be granted. However, in

an abundance of caution and to preserve its rights, Patent Owner hereby appeals to the Board so

that this matter remains pending until the Reexamination Certificate is issued.

MKG, LLC formerly Michaud-Kinney Group LLP

306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 206 Middletown, CT 06457-1532 Tel: (860) 632-7200 Fax: (860) 632-8269

2

Respectfully submitted,

/Michael K. Kinney/ Michael K. Kinney Registration No. 42,740 Attorney for Patent Owner

Reexamination Appln. 90/013,395

Notice of Appeal


CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned certifies that service of this filing (Notice of Appeal in 90/013,395) was

made to the Third Party Requester as detailed below:

Type: First Class Mail

Documents Served: Notice of Appeal (90/013,395)

Person Served:

David Connaughton, Jr., Esq. Registered Patent Attorney

Lambert & Associates

92 State Street, Suite 200

Boston, MA 02109

Date: July 7, 2016

MKG, LLC 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 206

Middletown, CT 06457-1532

Telephone: 860-632-7200

Fax: 860-632-8269

Respectfully submitted,

By /Michael K. Kinney/

Michael K. Kinney Registration No. 42,740

3

Electronic Patent Application Fee Transmittal

Application Number: 90013395

Filing Date: 1 O-Nov-2014

Title of Invention: FIRE AND WATER RESISTANT EXPANSION JOINT SYSTEM

First Named Inventor/Applicant Name: 8,739,495 Bl

Filer: Michael K. Kinney/Margaret Miron

Attorney Docket Number: 14-165-SR

Filed as Small Entity

Filing Fees for ex parte reexam

Description Fee Code Quantity Amount Sub-Total in

USO($)

Basic Filing:

Pages:

Claims:

Miscellaneous-Filing:

Petition:

Patent-Appeals-and-Interference:

Notice of Appeal 2401 1 400 400

Post-Allowance-and-Post-Issuance:

Description Fee Code Quantity Amount Sub-Total in

USO($)

Extension-of-Time:

Miscellaneous:

Total in USO($) 400

Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt

EFSID: 26277798

Application Number: 90013395

International Application Number:

Confirmation Number: 9773

Title of Invention: FIRE AND WATER RESISTANT EXPANSION JOINT SYSTEM

First Named Inventor/Applicant Name: 8,739,495 Bl

Customer Number: 128258

Filer: Michael K. Kinney/Margaret Miron

Filer Authorized By: Michael K. Kinney

Attorney Docket Number: 14-165-SR

Receipt Date: 07-JUL-2016

Filing Date: 1 O-NOV-2014

Time Stamp: 10:45:17

Application Type: Reexam (Patent Owner)

Payment information:

Submitted with Payment yes

Payment Type Credit Card

Payment was successfully received in RAM $400

RAM confirmation Number 9653

Deposit Account

Authorized User

The Director of the USPTO is hereby authorized to charge indicated fees and credit any overpayment as follows:

File Listing:

Document Document Description File Name

File Size(Bytes}/ Multi Pages Number Message Digest Part /.zip (if appl.)

34525

1269-0001-1 CON-1 Notice of Appeal Filed RE_Notice_of_Appeal_as_filed. no 3

pdf af90140eabdfc2b3 c3 caabcOS 095 b863 5 cb a07e

Warnings:

Information:

30409

2 Fee Worksheet (SB06) fee-info.pdf no 2 6024f2c1 8ad0954b4c2df7e9da 1 508e7ab5

Oe328

Warnings:

Information:

Total Files Size (in bytes) 64934

This Acknowledgement Receipt evidences receipt on the noted date by the USPTO of the indicated documents, characterized by the applicant, and including page counts, where applicable. It serves as evidence of receipt similar to a Post Card, as described in MPEP 503.

New Agglications Under 35 U.S.C. 111 If a new application is being filed and the application includes the necessary components for a filing date (see 37 CFR 1.53(b)-(d) and MPEP 506), a Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) will be issued in due course and the date shown on this Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the filing date of the application.

National Stage of an International Agglication under 35 U.S.C. 371 If a timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35 U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements a Form PCT /DO/E0/903 indicating acceptance of the application as a national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt, in due course.

New International Agglication Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office If a new international application is being filed and the international application includes the necessary components for an international filing date (see PCT Article 11 and MPEP 181 O), a Notification of the International Application Number and of the International Filing Date (Form PCT/R0/1 OS) will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning national security, and the date shown on this Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the international filing date of the application.

UNITED STA TES p A TENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE

90/013,395 11/10/2014

128258 7 590 06/22/2016

MKG,LLC 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 206 Middletown, CT 06457

FIRST NAMED INVENTOR

8,739,495 Bl

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS

P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria., Virginia 22313-1450 www .uspto.gov

ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO.

14-165-SR 9773

EXAMINER

GELLNER, JEFFREY L

ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER

3993

MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE

06/22/2016 PAPER

Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.

The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.

PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)

DO NOT USE IN PALM PRINTER

(THIRD PARTY REQUESTER'S CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS)

Lambet & Associates 92 State St., Suite 200 Boston, MA 02109

Commissioner for Patents United States Patent and Trademark Office

P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

W"W."I.IJ:.'=ptO.QOV

EX PARTEREEXAMINATION COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTAL FORM

REEXAMINATION CONTROL NO. 90/013.395.

PATENT NO. 8.739.495 81 E.

ART UN IT 3993.

Enclosed is a copy of the latest communication from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the above identified ex parte reexamination proceeding (37 CFR 1.550(f)).

Where this copy is supplied after the reply by requester, 37 CFR 1.535, or the time for filing a reply has passed, no submission on behalf of the ex parte reexamination requester will be acknowledged or considered (37 CFR 1.550(g)).

PTOL-465 (Rev.07-04)

Control No. Patent Under Reexamination

Ex Parte Reexamination Interview Summary 901013,395 s,739,495 B1 E >-------------+--------------<

Examiner Art Unit

JEFFREY L. GELLNER 3993

All participants (USPTO personnel, patent owner, patent owner's representative):

(1) JEFFREY L. GELLNER

(2) Lester Hensley

(3) Christine W. Beninati: Michael K. Kinney

(4) Gay Ann Spahn: Russell D. Stormer

Date of Interview: 14 June 2016

Type: a)O Telephonic b)O Video Conference c)[8J Personal (copy given to: 1 )0 patent owner 2)0 patent owner's representative)

Exhibit shown or demonstration conducted: d)[8J Yes e)O No. If Yes, brief description: Samples were shown of: polyurethane foam: polyurethane foam with infused asphalt:

polyurethane foams with acrylic and bellows (Colorseal); 1 meter length foam with markings for DIN test: a heat blanket: product installed with deck surface

Agreement with respect to the claims f)O was reached. g)[8J was not reached. h)O N/A. Any other agreement(s) are set forth below under "Description of the general nature of what was agreed to ... "

Claim(s) discussed: claim 1 of 90/013.565 and claim 1 of 90/013.511.

Identification of prior art discussed: 11/ger: Ward: von Bonin.

Description of the general nature of what was agreed to if an agreement was reached, or any other comments: See Continuation Sheet.

(A fuller description, if necessary, and a copy of the amendments which the examiner agreed would render the claims patentable, if available, must be attached. Also, where no copy of the amendments that would render the claims patentable is available, a summary thereof must be attached.)

A FORMAL WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE LAST OFFICE ACTION MUST INCLUDE PATENT OWNER'S STATEMENT OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INTERVIEW. (See MPEP 2281 ). IF A RESPONSE TO THE LAST OFFICE ACTION HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED, THEN PATENT OWNER IS GIVEN ONE MONTH FROM THIS INTERVIEW DATE TO PROVIDE THE MANDATORY STATEMENT OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INTERVIEW (37 CFR 1.560(b)). THE REQUIREMENT FOR PATENT OWNER'S STATEMENT CAN NOT BE WAIVED. EXTENSIONS OF TIME ARE GOVERNED BY 37 CFR 1.550(c).

/JEFFREY L GELLNER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3993

cc: Requester (if third party requester) U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

PTOL-474 (Rev. 04-01)

conferees: /rds/ and /GAS/

Ex Parte Reexamination Interview Summary

Attachments: Interview Agenda and Proposed Claim Amendment

Paper No. 20160615

Continuation Sheet (PTOL-474) Reexam Control No. 90/013,395

Continuation of Description of the general nature of what was agreed to if an agreement was reached, or any other comments:

A single interview was held for the four reexaminations listed on the attached agenda, and a copy of this summary is entered in each file. Unless noted, the issues discussed are common ot all the listed reexaminations.

Mr. Hensley started the interview with an overview of the technology and its evolution from foam to foam with blanket to foam infused with a fire retardant with samples being shown. The DIN 4102 testing was briefly explained with a 1 meter foam strip having the A2, B1, B2, and if necessary B3 markings. The lllger Declaration was discussed in context to the DIN test. The UL2079 test was then explained in that samples are taken during manufacture and tested in a cycling rig and then heat tested. Mr. Hensley explained that when a blanket is used it is usually placed at the "bottom" of the joint with a water barrier strip placed on top then the foam with top plate. The blanket's location proves difficult for placement at the bottom of the joint after its construction. The claimed invention provided a new paradigm for builders or architects with its ease of installation.

Claim 1 of '565 with the proposed amendment (see attached) was discussed as to whether it more clearly claimed the invention. Patent Owner argued that support is found at col. 2, lines 9-21, and col. 6, lines 38-53, when viewed within the totality of the specification. Examiners stated that the claims go to the system passing UL2079 while the specification discloses the foam passing UL2079. Also, examiners stated that: (1) nowhere is the temperature requirement or the rating (i.e., 1, 2, or 3 hours) of UL2079 mentioned in the specification which is the main emphasis of the claims; and, (2) the specifications of the patents are silent as to the degree to which the foam passes the testing (i.e., Does it achieve a 1, 2, or 3 hour rating? Does it pass the optional hose test?). Patent Owner responed that one skilled in the art would recogize and understand what was meant by these citations in light of the complete specification (for example, the title going to both fire and water resistance). Further, claims in several of the patents explicitly state passing UL2079. The examiners questioned if the amended language would not be obvious since Ward discloses use of a fire retardant in a compressible foam and UL2079, being a standard, would give a reason (motivation) to reach this standard. Patent Owner responded that prior art such as lllger or von Bonin would teach away from one of ordinary skill using aluminum trihydrate (ATH) in a compressible foam because of increased flamability or solidification of the foam. Examiners stated that the constituents are the same as those in the invention and nothing in the record shows that these constituents or their attributes (e.g., dispersion of foam) are different in the claimed invention.

In reponse to Patent Owner's argument that adding large amounts of ATH to a foam would render it incompressible or reduce its resiliency, the examiners asked why the addition of ATH to the polyurethene foam set forth in the claims of the subject patents does similarly impair these mechanical properties. The Baerveldt '695 and Baerveldt '708 patents applied in the rejections use the same polyurethane foam as used in the subject patents, and the effects of adding ATH to them should be the same as for the foams of the claimed invention.

It was agreed that the phrase "non-layer form" could simply be deleted from the claims to overcome the objections made in the advisory action of 90/013,511.

Finally, commercial success was discussed. Examiners stated that nexus would probably be met with the chart(s) showing which products are shown in which portions of the chart(s). Supporting nexus, patent owner may provide properly dated data sheets on the products. For the evidence, examiners stated that relative comparisions should be made for sales data, for example comparision of percent yearly increase between fire retardant and non-fire retardant products. Comparison with blanket products would be useful if available, such as a comparison of the use of blanket materials in stadiums prior to and after the introduction and adoption of the products of the claimed invention. Patent Owner stated that more context of the data will be provided. Briefly discussed supplying evidence of copying by others which examiners stated could be helpful. Examiners stated that secondary considerations are balanced against the "strength" of the prior art and rejections.

2

I

/ ~ ..

1269-0001-lRJ~ Control No. 90/013~565

RE of 8~365~~95

1. (T,vice Arnended) A method of insta!Eng an expansion joim, cmnprising:

providing a firsl substrate;

providing a second substrate arranged to bt, coplanar wfrh the first substrate m,d being

spaced therefrom by a gap;

cornpre~,sing a

06/09/2016 THU 14i12 FAX 860 632 8269 MKG, LLC

TO: Examiner Gellner, USPTO

ART UNIT: 3993

FAX NO.: 571-273-6887

FROM: Christine W. Beninati (Reg. No. 37,967) and Michael K. Kinney (Reg. No. 42,740)

TOTAL PAGES: 2 (including this cover)

RE:

Date:

Our Ref;

Interview Agenda for In Person Interview at US PTO at 1 pm on Tuesday, June 14, 2016

June 9~ 2016

1269-0001-1 RE (and 1269-0001-lCON-RE, 1269-0003-lCON-RE, 1269-0003-lCIP-RE)

Dear Examiner Gellner:

IJOOl/002

Thank you for agreeing to m person interviews with us and our client Lester Hensley on Tuesday, June 9, 2016 at 1pm. We understand that Examiner Stormer and Supervisory Examiner Spahn will also be present} and that we are to arrive at the Madison Building (East) and klephone you upon arrival.

Our agenda is to discuss the U.S. potent reexamination applications set fo11h in the following Table including the outstanding Actionshejections as noted therein, as well as to discuss the cited art employed in the rejections.

MKG Ref. No. Serial No. Status Due Examiner 1269-0001-1 RE 90/013,565 Final Offit:c Action datcJ Response to Gellner

4/8/16 FOA due 7/8/16 1269-0001-1 CON-RE 90/013,395 Final Offim: dated 4/7/ 16 Response to AA Gellner

Advisory Action dmed 5/20/16 due S/7/16 1269-0003- l CON-RE 90/013,428 Final Office Action dated Response to Gellner

5/6/16 FOA due 7/6/16 1269-0003-1 ClP-RE 90/013,511 Final Office Action dated Re~pon$e to AA Stormer

2/26/16 due 7/26/16 ~i;!:-is9_1)'.__.~ction dated 5/l 0/16

We would further like to discuss secondary considerations of non~obviousness including commercial succes:s and unexpected resu Its. In this regard, we would like to discuss the 1.132 Commercial Success Declarations submi11ed by Patent Owner in reexamination application no. 90/013)395 ~.nd 90/013,511, which are accessible in PAIR.

Page 1 of 2 For Discussion Purposes Only

PAGI: 112' RCVO AT 61912016 2:14:37 PM [eastern oayllght Time]' SVR:WPTOFAX-001116' ONIS:2736887' CSI0:860 632 8269' OURATION (mm-ss):OM1

06/09/2016 THU 14i13 FAX 860 632 8269 MKG, LLC

We look forward to speaking with you, Examiner Stormer and Supervisory Examiner Spahn.

Thank you all for meeting with us.

Please fOnfirm receipt of this facsimile message.

Respectfully submitted, Christine W, Beninati~ Esq. Reg. No. 37,967

MKGLLC Intellectual Property Law

Michael K. Kinney, Esq. Reg. No, 42,740

306 I11dustrie.l Park Road, Suite 206 Middletown, Connecticut 06457-1532 Phone: 860-632-7200; F1:ix: 8606328269

IJ002/002

1h1,. tnformmion contained in this message may include c011ftdenrta/ lf!fonnation. It ts onlyfor the use of the i11divid11al or entity nwnr!d. lfyou are not the inr1mded recipitnt, or thrJ ~111ploye .. or agf!nt r,sponsibfo to d11/iv12r It to tlw 1111,,nded r1J.cip!ent, yo1, an~ notified that your dissemi11ation, distribution or copyi11~ of this communlcatJon is strictly prohibited. ~fyo11 have ,eceived thi.r comrmm.ication in ermr, please notify 11s inmwd,ately. Tlwnkym.1..

Page 2 of 2 Fer Discussion Purposes 01,ly

PAGI: 212' RCVD AT 61912016 2:14:37 PM [eastern Daylight Time]' SVR:WPTOFAX001/16' DNIS:2736887' CSID:860 632 8269' DURATION (mm-ss):01-11



90/013,395 11/10/2014

128258 7590 05/20/2016



8,739,495 Bl




14-165-SR 9773

EXAMINER

GELLNER, JEFFREY L


3993


05/20/2016 PAPER



PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)



Lambert & Associates 92 State St., Suite 200 Boston, MA 02109






PATENT NO. 8.739.495 81 E.

ART UN IT 3993.

Enclosed is a copy of the latest communication from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the above identified ex parte reexamination proceeding (37 CFR 1.550(f)).


PTOL-465 (Rev.07-04)

Ex Parte Reexamination Advisory Action

Before the Filing of an Appeal Brief

Control No.

90/013,395

Examiner

JEFFREY L. GELLNER

Patent Under Reexamination

8,739,495 B1 E

Art Unit

3993

AIA (First Inventor to File) Status No

--The MAILING DATE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--

THE PROPOSED RESPONSE FILED 09 Mav2016 FAILS TO OVERCOME ALL OF THE REJECTIONS IN THE FINAL REJECTION MAILED 07 April 2016.

1. D Unless a timely appeal is filed, or other appropriate action by the patent owner is taken to overcome all of the outstanding rejection(s), this prosecution of the present ex parte reexamination proceeding WILL BE TERMINATED and a Notice of Intent to Issue Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate will be mailed in due course. Any finally rejected claims, or claims objected to, will be CANCELLED. THE PERIOD FOR RESPONSE IS EXTENDED TO RUN 1_ MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THE FINAL REJECTION. Extensions of time are governed by 37 CFR 1.550(c).

NOTICE OF APPEAL

2. D An Appeal Brief is due two months from the date of the Notice of Appeal filed on __ to avoid dismissal of the appeal. See 37 CFR 41.37(a). Extensions of time are governed by 37 CFR 1.550(c). See 37 CFR 41.37(e).

AMENDMENTS

3. IZI The proposed amendment(s) filed after a final action, but prior to the date of filing a brief, will not be entered because:

(a) IZI They raise new issues that would require further consideration and/or search (see NOTE below); (b) IZI They raise the issue of new matter (see NOTE below); (c) IZI They are not deemed to place the proceeding in better form for appeal by materially reducing or simplifying the

issues for appeal; and/or (d) D They present additional claims without canceling a corresponding number of finally rejected claims.

NOTE: See Continuation Sheet (See 37 CFR 1.116 and 41.33(a)).

4. D Patent owner's proposed response filed __ has overcome the following rejection(s): __ 5. D The proposed new or amended claim(s) __ would be allowable if submitted in a separate, timely filed amendment

canceling the non-allowable claim(s).

6. IZI For purposes of appeal, the proposed amendment(s) a)IZI will not be entered, or b)D will be entered and an explanation of how the new or amended claim(s) would be rejected is provided below or appended. The status of the claim(s) is (or will be) as follows: Claim(s) patentable and/or confirmed: __ Claim(s) objected to: __ Claim(s) rejected: 1-9. 11-26,28-35,37,38.40-45 and 47-58 Claim(s) not subject to reexamination: __

AFFIDAVIT OR OTHER EVIDENCE

7. IZI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on 9 Mav 2016. 8. D The affidavit or other evidence filed after a final action, but before or on the date of filing a Notice of Appeal will not

be entered because patent owner failed to provide a showing of good and sufficient reasons why the affidavit or other evidence is necessary and was not earlier presented. See 37 CFR 1 .116( e ).

9. D The affidavit or other evidence filed after the date of filing a Notice of Appeal, but prior to the date of filing a brief, will not be entered because the affidavit or other evidence fails to overcome all rejections under appeal and/or appellant failed to provide a showing of good and sufficient reasons why the affidavit or other evidence is necessary and was not earlier presented. See 37 CFR 41.33(d)(1 ).

10. IZI The affidavit or other evidence is entered. An explanation of the status of the claims after entry is below or attached.

REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION/OTHER

11. D The request for reconsideration has been considered but does NOT place the application in condition for allowance because: __

12. IZ! Note the attached Information Disclosure Statement(s), PTO/SB/08, Paper No(s) see Below. 13. IZI Other: See Below.



conferees: /rds/ and /GAS/

PTOL-467 (Rev. 08-13) Ex Parte Reexamination Advisory Action Before the Filing of an Appeal Brief Part of Paper No. 20160513

Continuation Sheet (PT0-467) Reexam Control No. 90/013,395

Continuation of 3.(d) NOTE: Upon reivew of MPEP 2163.05(11) and its cited caselaw, the amended language of claims 15 and 53-58 possibly lacks support in the specification, therefore, raising a new issue of new matter. The specification discloses support for fire retardants other than, or combined with, alumimum trihydate at col. 4, lines 57-67. However, this disclosure is not considered to disclose "blazemarks" as to which materials or combinations might be of "special interest" other than aluminum trihydrate. Fujikawa, 39 USPQ2d at 1905. Thus, support is lacking. In addition, the language of "and other compounds capable of suppressing combustion and smoke formation" invokes possible indefiniteness since there is no explicit disclosure as to discerning which materials are encompassed within this language. Also, Patent Owner has not presented good and sufficent reasons as required under 37 CFR 1.116 as to why these claim amendements could not have been presented earlier.

Continuation of 10 and 13: The status of the claims is as given in (6) above. The Remarks are entered. The Remarks present arguments which are considered mostly cumulative to those which have been advanced earlier. Examiner finds these arguments unpersuasive for the reasons given earlier in, inter alia, the final office action of 7 April 2016.

In particular, Baerveldt '695 does not teach away from the invention of dual functioning of water resistance and fire retardation because it is silent on this matter. It does disclose water resistance; lllger discloses fire resistance in a foam. The combined references teach the claimed invention. lllger discloses a foam with seveal infused compounds. lllger is analogous art and does not teach away from the invention since it discloses use of the same fire retardant, aluminum trihydrate, infused in the same foam, polyurethane. It was known and understood to those of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention, so not hindsight, to add a fire retardant to compressible, expansion joint foams because of the disclosure of Ward. In fact, Allen et al. discloses adding alumina hydrates to a flexible, open-celled foam for fire resistance in 1978 (GB 1,519,795; 3rd foreign patent on IDS of 29 March 2016). Although lllger discloses use of an uncompressed foam tested under static conditions of DIN 4102, the combination of Baerveldt '695 and lllger discloses the claimed invention. lllger's declaration during prosecution of US 4,288,559 is not dispositive because experiment 1 of Table II shows "better" fire retardation than the other experiments (albeit still flamable) and the percentage of the aluminum trihydrate added to the foam in experiment 1 is lower (ratio of retardant to foam of 75:100 (page 3) which is 43%) while lllger's patent discloses aluminum trihydrate at up to 95%. The higher ratio is more comparable to the percentages used in the claimed invention. von Bonin strengthens the reason to combine since it discloses aluminum trihydrate/polyurethane foam with fire resistance of 1000 C for up to 90 minutes. Thus, the rejections of the final office action show a prima facie case of obviousness for the rejected independent and dependent claims.

Hensley Declaration received 9 May 2016 is found unpersuasive. Paragraph 5 presents evidence that lllger's foam disintegrates in the presence of flame as evidenced by lllger's Declaration, is uncompressible, and is not concerned with a fire and water resistant expansion join system. The declaration assets that the claimed invention is not predictable and is unexpected. lllger's foam may disintergrate at lower percentages of aluminum trihydrate in the presence of a flame, but lllger discloses use of aluminum trihydrate up to 95% which is more similar to the percentage used in the claimed invention. With the prior arts' disclosure of Ward that a compressible foam can be infused with a fire retardant, lllger's percentages of aluminum trihydrate in polyurethane foam, and von Boni n's disclosed fire retardation of 1000 C for up to 90 minutes, the claimed invention is predictable and expected.

Hensley Declaration of Commercial Success received 9 May 2016 is found unpersuasive. Paragraph 3 presents evidence that several expansion joint systems are derived from, and co-extensive with, the claimed subject matter (Exhibits G & H) and are a significant revenue generator for EMSEAL(Exhibits B & C). Exhibits G and H lack evidence of a nexus between the claimed invention and commercial success because neither the claim comparison table (Exhibit G) nor tech data sheet for DFR2 (Exhibit H) state that this infused foam has the density claimed in the independent claims (200-700 kg/meter cubed). Additionally, there is no disclosure as claimed that the foam is polyurethane or the fire retardant is aluminum trihydrate in the tech data sheet. Thus, the evidence presented is not commensurate with the scope of the claims. MPEP 716.03(a). Exhibits B & C are not persuasive in showing commerical success because neither 28% (Exhibit B) nor 25% (Exhibit C) show commerical success in the absence of sales figures for other groups of EMS EAL products. The values of 28% and 25%, themselves, show that the bulk of sales is derived from non-claimed products. Additionally, no evidence (data) is presented that compares advertising dollars between "claimed" and "unclaimed" products. Finally, the evidence of praise by others (Exhibit F) is unpersuasive because the judges focused on, inter alia, "sealing performance" which is not claimed. Thus, the praise lacks nexus with the claimed invention.

Continuation of 12: 03/29/2016; 04/05/2016; 4/15/2016

2

90013395 - GAU: 3993 Receipt date: 04/15/2016 Doc code: IDS Doc description: Information Disclosure Statement ODS) Fiied

PTOISB108a (03-15) Approved ior use through 07131/2016. 0MB 0651-0031

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Under Hie Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. no persons are requiret1 to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid ONlB control nurntJer.

Application Number 90013395

Filing Date 2014-11-1 o INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT BY APPLICANT

--Fi~~t~-N~~~d--1-~-~~~;t-~-;.---- f wth~r~-;;~~-h------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Art Unit 3993 ( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)

Examiner Name I Jeffrey L. Gellner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -~~!-~:~-~x--~-~-~~~-!---~-~-'.::~~-~------J __ :_~-~~-~~~-~-:-~_:_~~~~~_: _____________________________________________________________________ _

U.S.PATENTS

Examine Cite Kind Name of Patentee or Applicant Pages,Columns,Lines where

Initial* No Patent Number

Code1 Issue Date

of cited Document Relevant Passages or Relevant Figures Appear

1 6035587 2000-03-14 Dressler

2 7101614 B2 2006-09-05 Anton et al.

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U.S.PATENT APPLICATION PUBUCA T!ONS

Examinerl C't N Publication Kind Publication Name of Patentee or Applicant Pages,Columns,Lines where

I T I* I e o Number Code1 Date of cited Document Relevant Passages or Relevant

rn 1a Figures Appear

1 20060178064 A1 2006-08-10 Baithes et al.

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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

Examinerl Cite Name of Patentee or

Pages,Columns,Lines Foreign Document Country Kind Publication

Applicant of cited wt1ere Relevant TS

Initial* No Number:1 Code2i Code4 Date Passages or Relevant Document

Figures Appear

1 D

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NON-PATENT LITERATURE DOCUMENTS

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ALL REFERENCES CONSIDERED EXCEPT WHERE LINED THROUGH. /J.L.G/

I

I

Application Number

Filin~1 Date

90013395

2014-11-10

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT BY APPLICANT

First Named Inventor Witherspoon


Examinerl Cite Initials* i No

!

Examiner Name Jeffrey L. Gellner

Attorney Docket Number 1269-0001-1 CON-RE

Include name of the author (in CAPITAL LETTERS), title of the a1iicle (when appropriate), title of the item (book, magazine, journal, serial, symposium, catalog, etc), date, pages(s), volume-issue number(s), publisher, city andior country where published.

I 1 1 Snapshot of Office Action for 90i013,565 (1269-0001-1 RE); April 8, 2016, 48 pages.

_I_I 2 Emseai Joint Systems, Ltd., BEJS System Tec~1 Data, March 2009, 2 pages.

3 Emseai's new Universai-90 expansion joints, Buildingtalk, Pro-Talk Ltd., March 27, 2009, 2 pages.

4 Emseai Joint Systems. Ltd., Emseal Emshield DFR2 System DFR3 System Tech Data, May 2010, 4 pages.

D

D

D

5 1

Emseai Seismic Colorseal, August 21, 2007, 4 pages. D

1-!6 ! E:11seai J~int Systems, \'.d ... Emseal New Uni:ersal 90's Watertigl1t, Factory Fabricated Uptum/Downtum Transition I D i i Pieces fo1 Ensuring Con,inu;ty of Seal, Augus, 4, 2009, 4 pages. i

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EXAMINER SIGNATURE

Examiner Signature I / JEFFREY L GELLNER/ I Date Considered 05/16/2016 *EXAMINER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609. Draw line through a citation if not in conformance and not considered. Include copy of this form witt1 next communication to applicant.

1 See Kind Codes of USPTO Patent Documents at 'NNw.USPTO.GOV or MPEP 90'1.04. 2 Enter office that issued the document, by the two-letter code {WIPO Standard ST.3). 3 For Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of the reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document 4 Kind of document by U1e appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST 16 if possible. 5 Applicant is to place a ct1eck mark here if English language translation is attached.

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Receipt date: 03/29/2016 Doc code: IDS

90013395 - GAU: 3993

Doc description: Information Disclosure Statement ODS) Fiied





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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -~~!-~:~-~x--~-~-~~~-!---~-~-'.::~~-~------J __ :_~-~~-~~~-~-:-~_:_~~~~~_: _____________________________________________________________________ _

U.S.PATENTS

Examine Cite Kind Name of Patentee or Applicant Pages,Columns,Lines where

Initial* No Patent Number

Code1 Issue Date

of cited Document Relevant Passages or Relevant Figures Appear

1 2995056 1960-10-04 Knox

2 3262894 1966-07-26 Green

-----------------------'----------------- ------------------------------------------------- --------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 3883475 1975-05-13 Racky et aL

.4 4134875 1979-01-16 Tapia

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U.S.PATENT APPUCA T!ON PUBUCA T!ONS

Examiner! ct N .,.

--------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Publication Kind Publication Name of Patentee or Applicant Pages,Columns,Lines where

1 T I* 1 1 e o Number Code1 Date of cited Document Relevant Passages or Relevant

rn .1a i Figures Appear

I

I

1

If you wish to add additional U.S. Published Application citation information please click the Add button.


Examiner! Cite I Foreign Document l Country I Kind --------------------------------

I Pages,Columns,Lines ----------

Name of Patentee or Publication

Applicant of cited I where Relevant TS

Initial* ! No ! Number3 ! Code2 i ! Code4 Date ! Passages or Relevant I I I I

Document ! Figures Appear I

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I

I

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT BY APPLICANT ( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)

Application Number

Filin~1 Date

90013395

2014-11-10


Art Unit 3993



11 1977929 I GB I 1964-12-16 Cirras Ak!ieboiag I C ______________________ J ___________ J __________________________________________________ _!_ __________________________________ J _______________ ------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------!---------------------------------------------------- -----------

2 1359734 GB 1974-07-10 Bayer Aktiengesell-Schaftl D

3 1519795 GB

4 1495721 GB

1978-08-02

1977-12-21

Dunlop Limited

General Foam Producis Limited

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D

D

Examiner! Cite Include name of the auUwr (in CAPITAL LETTERS), title of the article (when appropriate), title of the item Initials* No (book, magazine, journal, serial, symposium, catalog, etc), date, pages(s), volume-issue number(s), TS

publisher, city and/or country where published.

Snapshot of Non-Final Office Action for 13/731,327 (1269-0002-1 CIP); March 18, 2016, 27 pages. D

2 Snapsllot of Final Office Action for 14/211694 (1269-0005-1 ); March 21, 2016, 16 pages. D

3 1 Snapsllot of Final Office Action for 14/455,398 (1269-0003-1 CON-1 ); Marcil 29, 2016, 12 pages. D

I-! 4

! Snapshot of Ex Pa rte Reexamination Certificate No. US 6,532,708C1 for 90/013,472 (1269-0014RE); l'vlarcll 23, 2016, I D i i 3 pages. i

I I I If you wish to add additional non-patent literature document citation information please click the Add button

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2014-11-10


Art Unit 3993



EXAMINER SIGNATURE

Examiner Signature I /JEFFREY L GELLNER/ I Date Considered I *EXAMINER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609.

05/16/2016

Draw line through a citation if not in conformance and not considered. Include copy ofH1is form with next communication to applicant.

1 See Kind Codes of USPTO Patent Documents at www.USPTO.GOV or MPEP 901.04. 2 Enter office that issued the document, by tt1e two-letter code {WIPO Standard ST.3). 3 For Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of the reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document 4 Kind of document by the appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST.16 if possible. s Applicant is to place a check mark t1ere if Englist1 language translation is attached.

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90013395 - GAU: 3993 Receipt date: 04/05/2016 Doc code: IDS Doc description: Information Disclosure Statement ODS) Fiied





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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -~~!-~:~-~x--~-~-~~~-!---~-~-'.::~~-~------J __ :_~-~~-~~~-~-:-~_:_~~~~~_: _____________________________________________________________________ _

U.S.PATENTS

Examinerl Cite Initial* No

Patent Number Kind Code1 Issue Date

Pages,Columns,Lines where Name of Patentee or Applicant of cited Document Relevant Passages or Relevant

Figures Appear

If you wish to add additional U.S. Patent citation information please click the Add button.

U.S.PATENT APPLICATION PUBLICATIONS

Examinerl . Publication Initial* Cite No Number

Kind Publication Code1 Date

Pages,Columns,Lines where Name of Patentee or Applicant of cited Document Relevant Passages or Relevant

Figures Appear

If you wish to add additional U.S. Published Application citation information please click the Add button.


Pages,Columns,Lines Examinerl Cite Foreign Document Initial* No Number3

Country Code2i

Kind Publication Code4 Date

Name of Patentee or Applicant of cited Document

where Relevant T5 Passages or Relevant Figures Appear

D

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Ex_ ami~i_er!: Cite I (lib1clukde name _of t~e auu11or (ir: c

1 AP ITAL _LETTEtRs

1 ). titl

1e )oidthte article (w( h) en a

1 ppropriate). titleboi ,th)e item 1

1

TS . , 1 i oo , magazine, Jouma, sena, symposium, ca a og, e c. a e. pages s , vo ume-1ssue num erts .

lrntials : No : bl. h t d/ t h bl' h d i ! ! pu 1s er, c1 y an or coun ry w ere pu 1s e . i ______________________ ) ____________ ) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ J, __________ _

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Application Number

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90013395

2014-11-10


Art Unit 3993



2 Emseal Corporation, Seismic Colorseal by Emseal, "Last Modified": August 21, 2007, 4 pages.

3 Emseal Joint Systems, Ltd., Backerseal (Greyflex), September 2001, 2 pages.

4 Emseai Joint Systems, Ltd., Install Data - Horizontal Colorseal - With Expoxy Adhesive, June 2006, 2 pages.

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EXAMINER SIGNATURE

1~ D

D

D

Examiner Signature I /JEFFREY L GELLNER/ _j Date Considered I 05/16/2016 __________________________________________________ j _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ . _______________________________________________________________ _ *EXAMINER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609. Draw line through a citation if not in conformance and not considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant.

1 See Kind Codes of USPTO Patent Documents at www.USPTO.GOV or MPEP 901.04. 2 Enter office that issued the document, by U1e two-letter code {WIPO Standard ST.a). 3 For Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of the reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document 4 Kind of document by the appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST.16 if possible. 5 Applicant is to place a check mark here if English language translation is attached.

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90/013,395 11/10/2014

128258 7590 05/10/2016



8,739,495 Bl




14-165-SR 9773

EXAMINER

GELLNER, JEFFREY L


3993


05/10/2016 PAPER



PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)



Lambert & Associates 92 State St., Suite 200 Boston, MA 02109






PATENT NO. 8.739.495 81 E.

ART UNIT 3993.

Enclosed is a copy of the latest communication from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the above identified ex parte reexamination proceeding (37 CFR 1 .550(f)).


PTOL-465 (Rev.07-04)

Control No. Patent Under Reexamination

Ex Parte Reexamination Interview Summary 901013,395 s,739,495 B1 E >-------------+-----------------<

Examiner Art Unit

JEFFREY L. GELLNER 3993

All participants (USPTO personnel, patent owner, patent owner's representative):

(3) Michael K. Kinnev (1) JEFFREY L. GELLNER

(2) Christine W. Beninati (4) Gav Ann Spahn: Russell D. Stormer

Date of Interview: 04 Mav2016

Type: a)i:8] Telephonic b)D Video Conference c)D Personal (copy given to: 1 )D patent owner 2)0 patent owner's representative)

Exhibit shown or demonstration conducted: d)D Yes e)i:8] No. If Yes, brief description: __

Agreement with respect to the claims f)D was reached. g)i:8] was not reached. h)D N/A. Any other agreement(s) are set forth below under "Description of the general nature of what was agreed to ... "

Claim(s) discussed: 1. 15 and 53-58.

Identification of prior art discussed: Baerveldt '695: 1/lger.

Description of the general nature of what was agreed to if an agreement was reached, or any other comments: See Continuation Sheet.

(A fuller description, if necessary, and a copy of the amendments which the examiner agreed would render the claims patentable, if available, must be attached. Also, where no copy of the amendments that would render the claims patentable is available, a summary thereof must be attached.)

A FORMAL WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE LAST OFFICE ACTION MUST INCLUDE PATENT OWNER'S STATEMENT OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INTERVIEW. (See MPEP 2281). IF A RESPONSE TO THE LAST OFFICE ACTION HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED, THEN PATENT OWNER IS GIVEN ONE MONTH FROM THIS INTERVIEW DATE TO PROVIDE THE MANDATORY STATEMENT OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INTERVIEW (37 CFR 1.560(b)). THE REQUIREMENT FOR PATENT OWNER'S STATEMENT CAN NOT BE WAIVED. EXTENSIONS OF TIME ARE GOVERNED BY 37 CFR 1.550(c).



PTOL-474 (Rev. 04-01)

conferees: /rds/ and /GAS/ Attachment: Interview Agenda

Ex Parte Reexamination Interview Summary PaperNo.20160504

Continuation Sheet (PTOL-474) Reexam Control No. 90/013,395

Continuation of Description of the general nature of what was agreed to if an agreement was reached, or any other comments: Discussed the 112 1st paragraph rejections and possible amended language which would more mimic the disclosure at col. 4, lines 57-67, so as to claim the Markush group supported in the specification, namely, "wherein the fire retardant infused into the foam is one of the fire retardants selected from the group consisting of water-based aluminum trihydrate, metal oxides and other hydroxides, aluminum oxides, antimony oxides and hydroxides, iron compounds, molybdenum trioxide, nitrogen-based compounds, and combinations of the foregoing materials." Examiner directed Patent Owner to MPEP 2163.05(11) for guidance on amendments claiming a specific species since aluminum trihydrate is possibly considered as part of the Markush group quoted above and specific combinations may not have support. Discussed the 103 rejections using Baerveldt '695 and lllger and PO's argument that lllger's Declaration in his patent's application (see attachment) provides evidence that one of ordinary skill would not turn to lllger for the teaching of adding aluminum trihydrate to a polyurethane foam since lllger found this combination yielded a foam with normal combustibility (Table 11) and thus, lllger's claimed invention shows unexpected results. Examiner countered that the percentage (or ratio) of aluminum trihydrate in lllger's tests is low, and his tests showed that adding this fire retardant did change the foam from easily to normal combustibility so that adding even more retardant would increase fire retardation. Patent Owner proposed refining language of "capable of withstanding exposure ... " to overcome the rejections, but examiners declined feeling this would most likely lack support in the specification. Finally, discussed the submission of evidence of secondary considerations of commerical success and unexpected results with the examiner citing caselaw for suggestions to follow, importance of defiining a market, and providing nexus to the claimed invention, in particular adding fire retardant to the foam.

2

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TO:

US Patent No. 8,739,495 Reexamination Appln. 90/013,395

.Examiner Jeffrey L Gellner, USPTO

ART UNTT: 3993

FAX NO.: 571-273-6887

FROM: Christine W, Beninati (Reg. No. 37,967) and Michael K. Kinney (Reg. No. 42,740)

TOTAL PAGES: 11

RE: Interview Agendn for Telephone Interview Reexam. Appln. No. 90/013,395; Attorney Ref, No. 1269-0001 ~lCON-RE

Date: April 28, 2016

Dear Examiner Gellner:

IJOOl/011

Further to our telephone call to you of today, we would like to have a telephone interview to discuss the outstanding Final Office Action issued in the above-referenced reexamination proceeding. We kindly request that you, Supervisory Examiner Spahn and Examiner Stormer call our office (telephone no. 860-632-7200 ext, 349) at1 e.g., 11 am or 1 :30pm on either Tuesday, Mny 3rd or Wednesday, May 41h. Please let us know and confirm what works best for your schedule.

Our agenda is to discuss the outstanding rejection under 35 U.S.C. Section 112, first paragraph, of Claims 15 nnd 53-58 and your suggestion at pages 2-3 of the Action for overcoming this rejection.

We would also like to discuss the outstanding rejections under 35 U.S.C. Section 103, as well as the attached Declnm.tion by Dr. Illger and concurrently fiJed Response from the Illgcr case.

We look forward to speaking with you. Please confirm receipt of this facsimile message, as well ns the date/time for our discussion.

Respectfully submitted, Christine W. Beninati, Esq. Reg. No. 37,967 MKGLLC Intellectual Prope1iy Law

Michael K. Kinney, Esq. Reg. No. 42,740

306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 206 Middletown, Connecticut 06457-1532 Phone: 860-632-7200; Fax: 860-632-8269

The info1ma1ion c:onlaim!'d in this mlissage may inch1de c011/ide111lcrl ii?fim1,a1/otr. II ls 011~}!.fhr the. use of/he. /11dfvldua/ 01 c!nli~y n(.1111ed lfyou ore not lhe i111cnde.d racipiellt, ot th, emph\Vt:r! or ugen/ 11t.1prm.Yiblr! /rJ d~liver ii lo the inlt!n&d n!t.ipienl, yrJu (,re nol/(/1:d Iha/ yo111 dissemination, dis11ib11tian 0/' l:opying 1/(lhis co1111111111il'11flo11 /8 .PAGI: 1111 "RCVD AT 51312016 4:30:54 PM [eastern Dayllght Time)" SVR:WPTOFAX-001120" DNIS:2736887" CSID:860 632 8269" DURATION (mm-ss):0313

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'\ ., ' , 'PHE UNIT,ED STATES PAhNT OFFlCE REC.EIVE[l

J,,11.g e:r et al l~OV 6 JSOOJ

'. S ij RI AL N 0, 1 ''

' ,, ,, ;:Filed: Novernl:ilr l ~ 1979

F.l,AM:t ll.'t:SISTANT FQ'AM AND A. PROCE,SS PR:QD'UCT ION ,

r, H"an;1>:~:~alfor- l l lg:n, 5064 Rt1:1r,at:h, Jrn, Tentef'e,ld 27 1 Germany, declare as, follows,:

' l ) 1; ti ii t 1 ha. v e st:~ d"'il'~, d .,hl:1 lYi i st r y at t h,e Un 1 \I er s 'it i a _s, of s~'at"b'i:ilckE!n i'l.nd Kl!.isers,lautarn and 'Obtained a d'egree of cloc:tor r'er. nat. ,;;from t,he Un1\lers1t,y of S!le.rbrll~~en 1n

the .Ye~r t:97"6 J . . , 2) that J ,am one of t,he: 1t,:v~ritbrs of ,ti~a 11!l6V~ t,,nt1t1ad

US-P ll't.i;ir'it Al).p l Hl at 1 Ol'l'J ,

3) th at I am -f am11 i ar with tne subj E!Ct matter of the above 11i;1:en'tjHed ;i,ppl1o:!ft:1on1,

4) 'that the 'f"ttl l'OWing e:q:ie,r-'iments h"ave tJeen carri,ecl out under

my !l u.p er 1i is 1 on ;

,'P 2 "

' '

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,. .',

""'' '2 -

l~JUtt:,j)!J.@.!lJ;._! . (act:ord'ing to the, 1nvent1.on)

A cor:iv~r,tioll'al polyu:rethane foam (dens1t.Y 28 kg/m 3 ) was irnpt:-egnate.d w1th the folloll"ing dH.persfon of

75 100

('

o 1 8 I

parti;; b;t wei'ght of aalum1nurn hydroxfd1~ apd p11~ts by WQiSht of a m'ixture consisting of:

21,1 7 ~ b.y .we1.gh.t l,)f a pol~ur.ethane lat!'!x (40 ~ 1:1quet1us an1on-1c: pol'yure'tha11e dfsperston based .qn a polyest:er and hexarnethylene df~ ;f,:soc,Janate, prepared according to

~erman Offenlegung~schrift No, ,i Qj 5 I 7 ~ 2 }.

65 .. % b:,Y v'ie .. i 9 h:t :i:i~ water

0,6 % by Wei.ght of an alum1nos1 l ic11te (Ben tone LT,

it rad~ pi"oduc t of Krorios Titan),

I\ l % ~':Y VJ'cHS:~.'t 'l;l"r ii- Ch'loro,paraff1n, 55 % in water

(Arubrer/ID , tirade product of B11yer AG)

5,8 ,r: b'y ,,:wei1fht q,F a sod{um salt of an a.lkane,.s,u1phon1c: ac:id, 30 % tn w.ater (Sulfop.ori~ 120, ~ra~e pl"qd(Jct of Henkel)

weig~t o-f a r:eaction product of nonylphcnol wh:h,, I

9 rnol ethylene oxide &s defoami~g agent~ z O " i n ,l'I ate r { L av (Ir a /ID 15 D tr 11'd e prodl:lc't o,f stocld1ausen) and

parts by weight of a dyestuff (Hel1oecht Violett) ~nd p,175 parts by w~ight a-fa sfl1con surfact~nt,

After impr~gn~t1on, th~ foam was dried for 45 minutes at about ~20c, The Table I shows the mechanical propert1es,and Table II shows the f1re character1st1cs.

- 3 ~-

,,


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,, '

11(,;e,dme.11,t . .2 .. (correspond1n9. to expe~irmmt l tut Wjt~out aluminum hydrox1de)

A, co:l'lv,ent1onal p,olyUf"$:that1e: fQan), (d~ri:_s'1t::y ?i3. ~-g-/hl 3) w~s impr'1n1nated with the following dispersion c.f

,1QO parts by weight of a mixture con,s15t1ng, oJ: ,1

'I I

I'

ii' : ,1

I, :! ii '! .' ' ,, . '

.. ,, I

'I

:: ':':18

. . '., 17 5 ',' ,.

21r7 % by weight of 11. polyure,thane 1,a.,t~x., (MJ % aqueous 11 ni O r'I 1 p l)J).1 y I.I l" e:t h ~.r)e d 1 Sp G i:, S 10 n b a,s e d on a pol_yes,t'er and hexamethy,lene d1-1socyanate1 pre~ar~d accor~f~g to German OHen'l eg,unqs s cl'tir fft No, ~ I Q 3 5 1: ]3 2.)

65 X by we1ght, of water

0,6 % b.Y .we 1 g ht of an al umi nos i 11o11h ( Elent'O'OE! LT,

.,J. ... tr~de product of Kronos T.1t an) 1

l I l % by wei9ht of a chlaropri.r11ffin 1 5.5 1' i.n w~.ter ( Ar u b re n'Jll I tr 11,d e fl r'IJ'd'lllf'tr o"f B11yer AG)

s.s % by rweight of a s o d 1 u rn s a 1t o F an a n, an e s u 1 p h o n:.i c . a C i d , 3 0 % i n W ate r ( S u, 1-fl Op O r\(ro 12 0 , '

trade product of H~nkl)

5 1, 8 % by w e i g h t of a I" a a c: t 1 on p r o d 11 c t

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J

~. ~alyU!'ethane foam was P.repared in known manner according \ tJ1 th e f O 1 l OW i n g re C 1 p e : i,

100 p~rts"' by weight (;)f II jjolyethor polyol of a DH-number of !' 45,obta1ned by add1tion of ethylene. ox1de ; and propylene oxide to trimet~flol propanei (Desrnophen 7135Z, Bayer A!J 1 ~enan,Y)

150 - parts b,:Y wei g'ht of aluminum hydt"Ol(ide

p. 2 parts by we1ght of an 11mine catalyst (Desmorap1J'ID P:S 20::l of Bayer AG, Germany)

0 ,.8, parts by we1ght of a si1icone stabilizer ( Sta b 1 l 1 z er O S 22 of Bayer AG, G'er,m11n~)

0.3 parts"'by weight of stannous oc::tonte

38~8 pa.rts by weight of tolylene diisoc;yanete (mixt.ure of 80 % by weight of 2,4-isornet ~l'_nd 20 % by weight of 2,6-isomer)

3~0 parts by we1~ht of water

Index: 106

~;ecause of many .. ::;.plits in -the foam obtained the n1ech11nic11l ~,ro_pert'ies of the.Joam could not be determined.

I ,r: ~. !: ,,

:.~._llr1mtinJ,..!, (according to British patent 13597311,example 14) ,,

A! convent i on a 1 foam ( dens i t y 2 8 k g / m 3 ) w as i mp reg n ate d ii.cc of d -\ n g to the :t@ac:h1ng of British patc11t 1359734 with the fol lowing ~'i spers io11-of

aluminum hydroxide polyurethane latex 40 % aqueous ~nionic polyurethane dispersion ~ased on a polyester and hexamethylene diisocyanate 1 prcp~red according to Ger~an Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,035 732)

16 parts by wefght

205 parts by weight

5 M

,I

r"'"'H"''-~--_._,,.. ~" ---------~ ........ .........-:-... ... ~-1J1,,11,U'l,-.~~"'-.1iv,1.TC11'11o:"""""H....,'m"''".J..,......_,,..........+--:~r.1r,,....,........,--..1'n"l!i .. "'1"--'ll'r1'"'":rl''l,:r'+.,."r.-rf """:""'r"'---fr ,,.,..,.... 1-~

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If

I I 11

::' .. a .. I :

: : .a~~-r 80 parts ~'

'',

'. ~l:~:m:1num sulfate '2 p

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.

,, The above outlfoed experiments showi tho.t the impregnated foams acao~d.t~g to th,e fo\t'an-t:fon h11,ve rn:11rl'kerJ''l.Y 1mp,\"oved 'f'l am@ retardene-':Y 1,n*aornb1i11atign wft,H 9.00.d' mechanical prop~rtie!s.

~-: The 1:1ndi!tfelgn~. ~e~la.rant demJ.ares ;t1,,1,rther that all state~

: ment.s mad'$ a.er-e.tn d';f' h1Si own knowledg~ are true, and that e.11 .. . : sti&temants made. on inform~M.t>n !'!,f).,cj. iiij+:11;11' a.Fe beJ.ie~ed to be

. true;, and ;f'Urther that 'these ata:tsr11ents 'W'et'e made with the . knowJ,edge 'tlha.t will,fui !alee atatements Etnd the. likl! ,50 made

I

are puni.Elhabl.~ by 1'1na JlI' impI':I.J;\i;mmen;:t;, c,:v both, under: .Section

1001 of Title' 1.9 :ol the United Stai:es Code and that such wiJ.1-

ful false ate.:t"!lmeXl,ti;s may jeopardize the valid:\. ty of pendf'ng .. Application Serial No.90195 or any patent is.suing thereon,

! , ;: Signed at tev:eikue.an,, Oerm~ny. ;t:hd.s 16th day of Octobel" ., 198Q, .,

~ : I '.


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Mo-2014 LeA 19- 1 212

D TRADEMI.i'.

REGEIVE~1 NOV 6 t!lfPJ

,, GROUP,J~(l hf~~;9;~tbN OF I HANS-;1',I,\l'~R !LLGER /L J EXAMlNEh; ,:

StllR:C,!'!:I:. blO. : 90 'l.!9..5 :NO\J 1 7' 1980' f. FILED: November 'l, 19~9' l

~i ~eaponee to. !aper No. 5 / :~ ~

GijOUP

l!:XAM:CNER:

-i: TI~LEc:' F!LAME F:ESISTANT FOAM A~I:l A .j-

i'l\OCESS -~OR "I'l'S. l'RO.J;J.l,lt;'l'ION t

'l'he Hono,rabl!!I' Commissioner of F.atent:s :!lnd Trademarks

m,u1hingt9n,,, o. c .. 2,0.2. ;31

Sd.r ~

ll'hi& d:s in response to an O:fl,f.i.0e Ant.i.0n of :M.l.y 30,

1980, A e1rat ~xtenBion of time w~~ granted on Augueb 19, ., lJJ~()., 8'1!~t1ng the date tor resEonae at September 30 1, J.9,,80. J,

A i,ecop.1 e;i(tens:idn of t.i:me wae gn:nte~ on September, 29, lc-900,

setting a new data for re~ponse of October 30, l9{l""O.'

A];lplioants aubmit'herewith :!I. D@olBration under

ij~i~ 132, in whieh oomparative test results nre pres&nted. ' .

'l'lie l!lignifiea.ncei of these- tei;t r~eults is di11cus11ed below.

"

;r,

The p~esent inv~ntion relates to flame resistant foam

made by imprBgnating the fOQ~ with a dia~e~a~Qn comprising a

polyurethane late~, alumihum hydroxide, an atuminaailicate and '',

B~rface active BUbstanceS,

Le)\ l!}, 212

l,

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1'/

Clairnlil l th:i:ough 10 atand reject@d under JS USC 103

on the b,i._il!i;l!I 0 Br'itii;ih Patsnt 1,359,734 in view ot Green (.U.S.

3,262,89;41 taken with Raoky (U,8. -3,'683,4V'5',) ,. r!!-PiB (U: .. 8,.

4 1 lJ4,e7.!) ana C.:t."i.ft'in 121t al. British 1,35.9/l.~.A waa cited as

ehowing that it ilil knQwn in the art to lmpregna}'e an opan-oeH.

polyurethane resin with either ll.nionc or oation.i:c polyurethl!llne

latex ani!I flame reta.:rdanta: suoh as red pho~phol:'ui;i. Green wai'l

cited as disclosing that ,aluminodlicate o.h,;y.a and .al\lm:Lnum

hy.dro.te .i.re well known flame rel:a.rdan:!:'s in flame.px:oo!Einq fo.amsd

polyurathanes. Rack~ e:t al: Wl!llil cited tor ita haching, th,:1t t'he

red phoephorue employed in the polyurethane ;l.!!.te)I; ef the Bri t.ish

patent is a well-kp,own fJ.a111e ret,atp.ant, Tapiill \.,PM o.f.ted for its

teaching at ,c.olurnn 2, Uneei 58 i;,!.'fi1!'.diJ\1P (i,2, :t{iEft ht.!l1:\a;!je,d .ti;lm-1,"a

is the same as t,l;ti.i;, dlaimed aluminum hyd"I .. Oxide.

A.a no :i;..,~~,...!!~Qc, 9~ti.P. ,;ii;') Pll1R ... ~:~~ 1':!~ tt~. n:~m~ Gdf,f;i.n lis;'ted .as one ril.f :'liho invant.or-e, XppJ.:l.cart-t".B a;i:e. not awa:i::e of a

pertinl!!nt .pabant ,iaeued in tl:tts tiame,, ano no ,;i;-eaaon for

reUa.ho~ upon such pat.ant is given in: J;!!lragraph 12 or 13 of the

0.ioe Aol:.,l,dp, il.t] is i,.e:ewn!!la. th'at ,the reference to Gdffin st ,a1

in par~graph 13 1 line .2, of the Off-:l.oe A:ctd:on is it:I error.

Applicants do not conteet the Examiner's reading of

the cited references . T.hey do, however, submit that the

E~aminer's prima facie case of obviousneea is rebutted by the

surprieip.g and unexpected ;r;esulte achieved by the present

invention. Such unexpected resulta a;r;e presented in the

attached Rul.e ].32 Declaration of Dr, l'.1.lger.

As can be geen from ~able II (page 5 of the

Declaration) , 01:1:ly thE! foam of ~he prt:!!B!:mt invention

~2-

;LeA 19 1 21Z

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(.E:iq;ieriment 1') was nd:.ed normally inf.laTl'IJ(\t1.blo . Example 2 of

the Electar,at-d,ain l!lh~Ws that oo'liaeion . of 'b.he ai.uminum hY,dro:i:d,~e.

t:i::0m t;,hey disperiarions ,::la.:Lmed '1?~ 11.~.pl:lc:ant.s. hae a !lignifioeint

d~let..e,,:iti:~S!: ~.e:~E!.i:!t upon the flame retardl!!l;)'.lst propecrt:iea of

"bhe- prod\lc,t, foarn,,,i Henee, El:is:amp1e 2 elsacr-ly ehows tna,u

e.l,1.i1mi,num '11yd:i:-oxide is a key feature ~;f: the o,l~imed i,nventi,on.

In l!lxperiment 3, .aluminilm hydroxide w~s inoo:i;-poit'.'a,tsd

in thlit ;l!bam oornpoeit!on r:athe:r. th11n 1;1 . .a a di/"lpersion component

i'n'jp,l."~gri,a.tad int.o an 11:l:.r@aqy ex.t.eiHng foam, The n\e,:il).l!,niaa1

p:rop~;rti~iil {'J_f 'this' foam comp.osition, ce.otilq nd'b, even be dElte;r:mined

ancil: :t't.e f,J.arne ret11.:rdancy property wa.e infie!rio~ to that of the

foa'I\: having_. the compoal tion ol!;litneEx.p,e.r'imeri:t 9 eliows that: al.tun:i,num hidl::Cl&l~r::i mv.at be incorporated in 'the foam of' th~ c.llspereiiJn after ~ha- :team has been formed,

'J!hie ehcwing is oon-ora~Y ~o titte. :teaahing of~- that, tire

i""e.t!u:dan.o.y, !lli!I.Y l:>e aehd-eved J:>y in'1o:r;;por&tion of the fire

ret.:u:'dant m1i:1!.e:1ra.:"eti 1:in~o a foam ,::omJ_:?olilition.

l;n Expe,ri.rnent 4 ~ a foam w-a:e rnada in o1coordance with

Example 14c tif Bt',i'tiah Patent 1, 359, 7 34, which compoaition

most olo!!!ely corresponded to th~t c1aimed by A@plicante, II:.

can be seen from Table II 1 however, that the foam of E)~perirnent.

4 was eaailf inflail'llll~ble in contra.st to the normally inflarnm~ble

foam Of E~peii~ent 1.

!n view of the result$ achieved tn thase comparative

te~ts, it cnn hardly be argued that the cited references

make the Qlaimed invention obvious.

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ln vhw of tl\e ~bi,v.e rem!'l.rk~, _t,'i.,.q?\~!J'~ and

aLlowai:u::i, of C!lams l through 10 are reepeotfully :re,quelil t:ed.

l}jcibay chem1oaL corpQration Penn Linoo1n ~arkw~y West Pittsburgti 1 FA J.5206 (4l.2l -771-

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

In re

Ex Parte Reexamination of: Patent of Witherspoon

For "Fire and Water Resistant Expansion Joint System"

Patent No.: 8,739,495

Patent Issue Date: June 3, 2014

Art Unit: 3993

Examiner: Gellner, Jeffrey L.

Confirmation No.: 9773

PATENTS

Reexam Appln. No. 90/013,395

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Atty. Docket No.: 1269-0001-lCON-RE

Middletown, Connecticut, May 9, 2016

Via Electronic Filing

Mail Stop Ex Parte Reexam ATTN: Central Reexamination Unit Commissioner for Patents U.S. Patent and Trademark Office P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

AMENDMENT AND RESPONSE TO FINAL OFFICE ACTION

Dear Sir:

In reference to the above-identified Patent, this is a reply to a Final Office Action having

a mailing date of April 7, 2016 and a one ( 1) month period for response set to expire on May 7,

2016 or, more appropriately, a next succeeding business day of Monday, May 9, 2016.

Accordingly, this reply is timely. No fee is believed to be due upon the filing of this reply.

However, the Commissioner is authorized to charge any required fees associated with this filing

to Deposit Account No. 503342 maintained by Patent Owner's attorneys. The Commissioner is

also authorized to charge Deposit Account No. 503342 for any necessary fees required by Patent

Owner during this reexamination proceeding.

Patent Owner EMSEAL Joint Systems Ltd. ("Patent Owner") respectfully requests

reconsideration of the above-identified Patent, and entry and consideration of the following

wherein: 1

Reexamination App./Control No. 90/013,395 Art Unit: 3993 Amendment and Response to Final Office Action of April 7, 2016


Amendments to the Claims are reflected in the listing of claims which begins on page 3

of this paper;

Status of Claims begins at page 15 of this paper.

Support for Claim Changes begins at page 17 of this paper.

Written Statement of the Reasons Presented at the Interview Warranting Favorable

Action begins at page 18 of this paper.

Remarks begin at page 23 of this paper.

Certificate of Service begins at page 59 of this paper.

Two 1.132 Declarations are attached.

2


AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS:


This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of the claims in the

Patent:

1. (Twice Amended) A fire and water resistant expansion joint system, comprising:

foam in a compressed state which is less than fully expanded;

a fire retardant material infused into the foam; and

a water resistant layer;

wherein the infused foam has a density in a range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700 kg/m3

in the compressed state;

wherein the fire and water resistant expansion joint system is configured to define a

profile to facilitate compression and expansion of the system when installed between substrates,

and the fire and water resistant expansion joint system is capable of withstanding exposure to a

temperature of about 540C or greater for about five minutes and able to accommodate

movement of the substrates by compressing and expanding while maintaining the compressed

state.

2. (As issued) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 1, wherein the

water resistant layer is disposed on a surface of the foam.


profile is a bellows profile.


water resistant layer comprises silicone.

5. (As issued) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 1, further

comprising a fire resistance layer.

3



6. (Amended) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 5, wherein the

fire resistance layer is disposed on a surface of the foam and the water [resistance] resistant layer

is disposed on a surface of the foam opposing the fire resistance layer.

7. (Amended) The fire and water [resistance] resistant expansion joint system of claim 6,

wherein the fire resistance layer and the water [resistance] resistant layer are configured to define

a bellows profile.

8. (As issued) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim I further

comprising at least one of a sealant band and a corner bead.


ratio of the fire retardant material infused into the foam is in a range of about 3 .5: I to about 4: I

by weight.

10. (Cancelled) [ The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 1, wherein

the foam has a density when compressed in a range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700 kg/m3.]


foam uncompressed has a density of about 130 kg/m3 to about 150 kg/m3.


foam comprises open celled polyurethane foam.

13. (As issued) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 12, wherein

the open celled foam comprises a plurality of laminations of the open celled polyurethane foam.


foam has an infused foam density when compressed in a range of about 400 kg/m3 to about 450

kg/m3.

4

Reexamination App./Control No. 90/013,395 Art Unit: 3993


Amendment and Response to Final Office Action of April 7, 2016

15. (Twice Amended) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 1,

wherein the fire retardant material infused into the foam is water-based aluminum tri-hydrate and

material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, aluminum oxides,

antimony oxides and hydroxides, iron compounds, ferrocene, molybdenum trioxide, nitrogen-

based compounds, and combinations of the foregoing materials; and other compounds capable of

suppressing combustion and smoke formation.

16. (Amended) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 1, wherein the

foam comprises a plurality of laminations, at least one of the laminations is infused with the fire

retardant material.

17. (Amended) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 16, wherein

the infused lamination is an inner lamination of the plurality of laminations.

18. (Amended) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 16, wherein

the laminations are oriented, with respect to the direction in which the joint extends, in at least

one of a parallel orientation, a perpendicular orientation, and a combination thereof.


fire retardant material infused into the foam has a density which is substantially the same

throughout the foam.


fire retardant material infused into the foam is selected from the group consisting of metal

oxides, metal hydroxides, aluminum oxides, antimony oxides and hydroxides, iron compounds,

ferrocene, molybdenum trioxide, nitrogen-based compounds, water-based aluminum trihydrate

and combinations of the foregoing materials.

5





fire and water resistant expansion joint system is capable of withstanding exposure to a

temperature of about 930C for about one hour.



temperature of about 1010C for about two hours.



temperature of about 1260C for about eight hours.

24. (As issued) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 23, wherein

the ratio of the fire retardant material infused into the foam is in a range of about 3 .5: 1 to about

4: 1 by weight.

25. (Twice Amended) A fire and water resistant architectural expansion joint system,

compnsmg:

a first substrate;

a second substrate arranged at least substantially coplanar to the first substrate; and

an expansion joint located in compression between the first substrate and the second

substrate, the expansion joint comprising,




wherein the infused foam has a density in a range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700

kg/m3 in the compressed state;

6



wherein the fire and water resistant expansion joint system is configured to define

a profile to facilitate compression and expansion of the system when installed between

substrates, and the fire and water resistant expansion joint system is capable of withstanding

exposure to a temperature of about 540C or greater for about five minutes and able to

accommodate movement of the substrates by compressing and expanding while maintaining the

compressed state.

26. (As issued) The fire and water resistant architectural expansion joint system of claim

25, wherein the ratio of the fire retardant material infused into the foam is in a range of about

3 .5: I to about 4: I by weight.

27. (Cancelled) [ The fire and water resistant architectural expansion joint system of claim

25, wherein the foam has a density when compressed in a range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700

kg/m3.]


25, wherein the water resistant layer is disposed on a surface of the foam.


25, wherein the profile is a bellows profile.


25, wherein the water resistant layer comprises silicone.


25, further comprising a fire resistance layer.

32. (Amended) The fire and water resistant architectural expansion joint system of claim

31, wherein the fire resistance layer is disposed on a surface of the foam and the water

[resistance] resistant layer is disposed on a surface of the foam opposing the fire resistance layer.

7



33. (Twice Amended) A method of installing an expansion joint, comprising:

locating a first substrate;

locating a second substrate arranged to be at least substantially coplanar with the first

substrate and being spaced therefrom by a gap;

providing a compressed fire and water resistant expansion joint system comprising a

foam in a compressed state which is less than fully expanded, infused with a fire retardant

material and having a water resistant layer thereon, wherein the infused foam has a density in a

range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700 kg/m3 in the compressed state;

inserting the compressed expansion joint system into the gap between the first substrate

and the second substrate; and

allowing the compressed expansion joint system to decompress to fill the gap between

the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the expansion joint system is capable of

withstanding exposure to a temperature of about 540C or greater for about five minutes and able

to accommodate movement of the substrates by compressing and decompressing while

maintaining the compressed state.

34. (As issued) The method of claim 33, further comprising applying an adhesive to an

edge of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate to anchor the expansion joint

system.

35. (As issued) The method of claim 33, wherein the ratio of the fire retardant material

infused into the foam is in a range of about 3 .5: 1 to about 4: 1 by weight.

36. (Cancelled) [ The method of claim 33, wherein the foam has a density when

compressed in a range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700 kg/m3.]

37. (As issued) The method of claim 33, wherein the compressed expansion joint system

comprising the foam infused with the fire retardant material and having the water resistant layer

thereon, further comprises a fire resistance layer.

8




38. (New and Twice Amended) A fire and water resistant expansion joint system,

compnsmg:




wherein the infused foam has a density in a range of about 200 kg/m3 to about 700 kg/m3

in the compressed state;

wherein the fire and water resistant expansion joint system is configured to be installed in

a gap between substrates and configured to define a profile to facilitate compression and

expansion during use to accommodate movement of the substrates as the fire and water resistant

expansion joint system repeatedly cycles by expanding and contracting between minimum and

maximum sizes of the gap, and is capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of about

540C or greater for about five minutes and able to accommodate movement of the substrates

while maintaining the compressed state.

39. (New and Cancelled) [ The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 38,

wherein the foam with the fire retardant material has a density when compressed in a range of

about 200 kg/m3 to about 700 kg/m3. ]

40. (New) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 38, wherein

the foam with the fire retardant material uncompressed has a density of about 130 kg/m3 to about

150 kg/m3.

41. (New) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 38, wherein

the foam with the fire retardant material compressed has a density in a range of about 400 kg/m3

to about 450 kg/m3.

9



42. (New and Amended) The fire and water resistant expansion joint system of claim 38,

wherein the system is capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of about 930C for

about one hour.


wherein the system is capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of about 1010C for

about two hours.


wherein the system is capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of about 540C or

greater for about five minutes after exposure to movement cycling selected from the group

consisting of: at least 1 cycle per minute for at least 500 cycles, at least 10 cycles per minute for

at least 500 cycles, and at least 30 cycles per minute for at least 100 cycles, wherein a movement

Engineering

Remember an ex-parte re-examination is a one sided argument with no rebuttal yet ALL REJECTIONS