DETAILED 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 .
This is the first action on the merits for application 18/243,817. Claims 1-18 are currently pending in this application.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 4, “a vehicle” should be changed to - -the vehicle- - for claim consistency (see, for reference, Claim 1, line 1, “a vehicle”). Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by HAYASHI et al. (US 2023/0331313 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, HAYASHI et al. discloses a mounting structure of a charger connection module for a vehicle (Fig. 8), the mounting structure comprising: a mounting bracket (paragraph [0078], “frame part”) for the charger connection module to which an external electric charger of a vehicle is selectively connectable (paragraph [0078], “a charging receiver module”), wherein the mounting bracket includes a front portion and a rear portion (Fig. 8 depicts general shape of “frame part” described in paragraph [0078]), and wherein the front portion of the mounting bracket is attached to a quarter internal panel (paragraph [0078], “For example, the outer panel structure may comprise a rear fender panel (which is also referred to as a quarter panel) instead of the front fender panel. In that case, a frame part for a charging receiver module 80 is similarly formed in the rear fender panel, and a bracket 90 is mounted to a part located below an opening/closing hinge axis L1 of the charging receiver module 80 in terms of the vehicle height direction”), and the rear portion of the mounting bracket is attached to a side external extension panel positioned behind the quarter internal panel (paragraph [0078], “For example, the outer panel structure may comprise a rear fender panel (which is also referred to as a quarter panel) instead of the front fender panel. In that case, a frame part for a charging receiver module 80 is similarly formed in the rear fender panel, and a bracket 90 is mounted to a part located below an opening/closing hinge axis L1 of the charging receiver module 80 in terms of the vehicle height direction”).
Regarding Claim 18, HAYASHI et al. discloses the mounting bracket has a structure bent in a shape of "L" (Fig. 8 depicts general shape of “frame part” described in paragraph [0078]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
SASAKI (US 2023/0302930 A1) discloses a charging inlet apparatus for a vehicle (see Figs. 3-4).
STANFIELD et al. (US 2022/0371443 A1) discloses an electric vehicle power port device (see paragraph [0015]).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDWIN YOUNG whose telephone number is (571)272-4781. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (CST).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jacob S Scott can be reached at (571)270-3415. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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EDWIN YOUNG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3655
/Edwin A Young/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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