Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2024-10-28)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims:

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Original) A method of manufacturing a multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product comprising the steps of:a. providing a first tissue web having a first outer surface and a second outer surface;
b. providing a heated creping surface;
c. applying a latex emulsion comprising a non-crosslinked vinyl acetate-ethylene polymer to at least the first outer surface of the first tissue web to yield a latex treated tissue web;
d. adhering the latex treated tissue web to the heated creping surface;
e. contacting the adhered tissue web with a creping blade to remove the adhered tissue web from the heated creping surface and yield a creped tissue ply;
f. conveying two or more creped tissue plies through an embossing-laminating device to yield a multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product having a geometric mean tensile strength (GMT) from 700 to 1,700 g/3", a Durability Index from 10.0 to 18.0 and a Slosh time from 10 seconds to 2 minutes.

2\. (Original) The method of claim 1further comprising the step of applying a softening composition to the outer surface of at least one creped tissue ply, wherein the softening composition is selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy compound having a molecular weight of at least about 1,000 g/mol, a diamidoamine quaternary compound, an ester quaternary compound, an alkoxy alkyl quaternary compound, a benzyl quaternary compound, an alkyl quaternary compound, an imidazolinium quaternary compounds, a polysiloxane and glycerin.

3\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the latex emulsion further an anti-blocking agent selected.from the group consisting of surfactants, silicones, waxes and polysaccharides.

4\. (Original) The method of claim 1further comprising the step of spirally winding the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product around a core to yield a rolled tissue product.

5\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the first tissue web consists essentially of wood pulp fibers.

6\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the first tissue web has a basis weight ranging from about 10 to about 30 grams per square meter (gsm).

Reply to Office Action of June 27, 2024

7\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product has a wet CD tensile from about 110 to about 160 g/3".

8\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product has a Wet/Dry Ratio from about 0.10 to about 0.15.

9\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product has a Durability Index from 15.0 to 18.0.

10\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product has a Stiffness Index from 4.0 to 6.0.

11\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product has a Slosh time from about 15 to about 45 seconds.

12\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the multi-ply, creped and embossed tissue product has a wet burst strength from 150 to 200 gf.

13\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the latex emulsion is applied to the first tissue web by gravure printing, spraying, flexographic printing or ink jet printing.

14\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the latex emulsion is applied to the first tissue web in a pattern.

15\. (Original) The method of claim 14 wherein the pattern is a continuous pattern.

16\. (Original) The method of claim 14 wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of discrete dots.

17\. (Original) The method of claim 16 wherein the density of discrete dots ranges from about 25 to about 35 dots per square inch (25.4 mm2) of tissue web surface area.

18\. (Original) The method of claim 14 wherein the pattern is a continuous reticulated pattern.

19\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the latex emulsion comprises a non-carboxylated latex emulsion.

20\. (Original) The method of claim 1wherein the latex emulsion comprises a carboxyl-functional latex emulsion polymer.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art does not teach nor fairly suggest a process of making multiply tissue products including the application of a non-crosslinked vinyl acetate-ethylene polymer to a surface of a first web/ply, creping it and then plying the creped tissue with two or more creped tissues to form a product with the claimed properties.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
I
ARGUMENTS
Claims 1-20 are presented for the Examiner's consideration. Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.111, reconsideration of the present application in view of the foregoing amendments and the following remarks is respectfully requested.
I.  Amendments to the Specification
The Title has been amended to correct a typographical error.
The Abstract has been amended to address and overcome the objections raised by the Examiner and to conform with guidance set forth in the MPEP.
Applicant respectfully submits the present amendments do not constitute new matter. II.  Allowable Subject Matter
Applicant thanks the Examiner for indicating that claims 1-20 constitute allowable subject matter. Ill.  Claim Rejections
Claims 1-20 stand rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,885,073 B2 and claims 6-13 of U.S. Patent No. 11,661,707 B2 and claims 1 and 5-11 of U.S. Patent No. 11,371,191 B2. Applicant is filing an electronic Terminal Disclaimer via EFS-Web contemporaneously herewith rendering this rejection moot. IV. Conclusions