Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-04-03)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

Please amend the claims as follows:

1\. (Currently amended) A sticking component comprising:
a sheet-shaped adhesive component having first and second sticking surfaces with adhesiveness opposed to each other, the first sticking surface constructed to be removably adhered to a bottom surface of a stick-on biometric device;
a first release layer\[\[component\]\] removably adhered to the first sticking surface of the sheet-shaped adhesive component ; and
a second release layer \[\[component\]\] removably adhered to the second sticking surface of the sheet-shaped adhesive component ,
wherein at least one of the first release layer \[\[component\]\] or the second release layer \[\[component\]\] has an outline that is visible, and that, when the sheet-shaped adhesive component is to be adhered to the stick-on biometric device, at least partially overlaps an outline of the bottom surface of the stick-on biometric device in a plan view of the sticking component, and
wherein the first release layer includes at least one region that is defined by a slit, and that, upon removal of the first release layer, the at least one region remains on the first sticking surface of the adhesive component, the slit being a closed slit and not in contact with an outer perimeter of the first release layer.

2\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the first release layer \[\[component\]\] or the second release layer \[\[component\]\] is made of an opaque material or a colored transparent material.

3\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the first release layer \[\[component\]\] or the second release layer \[\[component\]\] has an outline that, when the sheet-shaped adhesive component is to be adhered to the stick- on biometric device, overlaps the outline of the bottom surface of the stick-on biometric device in the plan view in respective straight sections of at least two sides of the bottom surface.

4\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to The sticking component according to
wherein the first release layer \[\[component\]\] has an outline that is visible, and that, when the sheet-shaped adhesive component is to be adhered to the stick-on biometric device, at least partially overlaps the outline of the bottom surface of the stick-on biometric device in the plan view, and
wherein the second release layer \[\[component\]\] is made of a colorless transparent material, and has an outline that is at least partially larger than an outline of the adhesive component.

5\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to Claim 1, wherein the first release layer \[\[component\]\] is divided by a cut line into a plurality of portions.

6\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to Claim 1, wherein the adhesive component includes a core made of a resin film, and respective adhesive layers disposed on opposite sides of the core.

7\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to Claim 1, wherein the second release layer \[\[component\]\] is divided by a perforation, a cut, or a fold into a plurality of portions.

8\. (Currently amended) The sticking component according to Claim 1, wherein a release strip is sandwiched partially between the first sticking surface of the adhesive component and the first release layer \[\[component\]\], the release strip being non-adhesive and film-shaped.

9\. (Original) The sticking component according to Claim 8, wherein the release strip is colored and transparent, or is opaque.

10\. (Canceled)

OFFICE ACTION:
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The claims are allowed for the reasons provided on page 11 of the previous office action, mailed 06 January 2025. The allowable subject matter indicated in the previous office action has been incorporated into claim 1.
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: REMARKSSummary of Claim Amendments In response to the Office Action, claims 1-8 have been amended, claim 10 has been canceled, and no claims have been added. No new matter has been added. Claims 1-9 are now pending.Allowable Subject Matter Applicant thanks the Examiner for indicating that claim 10 contains allowable subject matter. In response, Applicant has amended claim 1 to include all the limitations of allowable claim 10, including all any intervening claims. As noted below, Applicant has also amended claim 1 to address the §112 rejections set forth in the Office Action.Claim Interpretation The Office has taken the position that certain claims include means-plus-function elements that must be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. §112(f). While Applicant disagrees, Applicant has amended the claims to replace the "first release component" and the "second release component" with the "first release layer" and the "second release layer," respectively, so as to remove any interpretation of these elements as being means-plus-function elements. Acknowledgement of the same is respectfully requested.Response to Rejections/Objections Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C.   112 Claims 1-10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) as allegedly being indefinite. In response, Applicant has amended the claims to be in full compliance with all §112 requirements.Reconsideration and withdrawal of this rejection is respectfully requested.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C.   102 Claims 1, 3 and 6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S.Publication No. 2019/0046033 (hereinafter "Gannon"). Claims 2, 4-5 and 7 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Gannon in view of U.S. Patent No. 9,580,626 (hereinafter "Colby"). Claims 8-9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Gannon in view of Colby and further in view of U.S. Publication No. 2018/0243141 (hereinafter "Park").With the amending of claim 1 to include the subject matter of allowable claim 10, these rejections are deemed moot.Conclusion In view of the foregoing, favorable consideration of the amendments to claims 1-8, and allowance of the present application with claims 1-9 is respectfully and earnestly solicited.If for any reason the Examiner feels the application is not now in condition for allowance, it is respectfully requested that the Examiner contact the undersigned practitioner at the telephone number indicated below to arrange for an interview to expedite the disposition of this case.If this communication is filed after the shortened statutory time period had elapsed and no separate petition is enclosed, Applicant(s) hereby petitions, under 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a), to extend the time for filing a response to the outstanding Office Action by the number of months necessary to avoid abandonment under 37 C.F.R. § 1.135. Please charge any fee due under 37 C.F.R. §1.17, to our Deposit Account No. 01-2300, under 036433.04638, from which the undersigned is authorized to draw.Customer No: 38485