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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 03/09/2029 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The applicant argues that Sato does not disclose the limitation as presented in claim 1. The examiner respectfully disagrees. Sato (figures 1-4) discloses a vehicle outer mirror as claimed including a light guiding lens (60) that includes a main body portion (62-63), a rear portion (the end portion of 63) of the main body portion being disposed further along an inner face of the outer lens (figures 2 and 4), at the vehicle rear side, than the protruding portion, and an intermediate portion of the main body portion being separated from an inner face of the protruding portion (33) toward a vehicle width direction inner side, and that includes an outer-side extending portion (61) that is integral with and branches from the rear portion of the main body portion and that is disposed along the inner face of the protruding portion, the light guiding lens guiding light from the light source (figures 2-4; the connecting portion 63 of the light guide 60 is located at the distal end on the vehicle width direction side of the light distribution light guide portion 62 and the decorative light guide portion 61, and the light distribution light guide portion 62 and the decorative light guide portion 61 are integrally connected; see at least paragraph 0032), wherein a thickness of the outer-side extending portion (61) is formed thinner than a thickness of the main body portion (62-63; figures 2-4). The claim language therefore does not patentably distinguish over the applied reference[s], and the previous rejections are maintained.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sato (JP 2018-002089).
Regarding claim 1, Sato (figures 1-4) discloses a vehicle outer mirror, comprising:
an outer lens (23; see at least paragraphs 0023-0024) that includes a protruding portion (design part 33), the protruding portion protruding out further toward a vehicle width direction outer side, at a vehicle rear side, than a cover (11) that covers a vehicle width direction outer side of a light source (70; the design portion 33 is curved toward the back as it goes outward in the vehicle width direction, following the outer surface shape of the front wall 15 of the mirror body 11; see at least paragraphs 0023-0025; figures 1-2); and
a light guiding lens (60) that includes a main body portion (62-63), a rear portion (the end portion of 63) of the main body portion being disposed further along an inner face of the outer lens (figures 2 and 4), at the vehicle rear side, than the protruding portion, and an intermediate portion of the main body portion being separated from an inner face of the protruding portion (33) toward a vehicle width direction inner side, and that includes an outer-side extending portion (61) that is integral with and branches from the rear portion of the main body portion and that is disposed along the inner face of the protruding portion, the light guiding lens guiding light from the light source (figures 2-4; the connecting portion 63 of the light guide 60 is located at the distal end on the vehicle width direction side of the light distribution light guide portion 62 and the decorative light guide portion 61, and the light distribution light guide portion 62 and the decorative light guide portion 61 are integrally connected; see at least paragraph 0032),
wherein a thickness of the outer-side extending portion (61) is formed thinner than a thickness of the main body portion (62-63; figures 2-4).
Regarding claim 2, Sato (figures 1-4) discloses wherein a pattern is formed at an outer face of the outer-side extending portion (61d; figure 4).
Regarding claim 3, Sato (figures 1-4) discloses a connecting portion (portion of 63) that is integral with and connects a front end portion of the outer-side extending portion with the main body portion (61 and 62).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 4-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sato (JP 2018-002089) in view of Asami et al. (JP 2012-169231).
Regarding claim 4, Sato (figures 1-4) discloses a vehicle outer mirror, comprising:
an outer lens (23; see at least paragraphs 0023-0024) that includes a protruding portion (design part 33), the protruding portion protruding out further toward a vehicle width direction outer side, at a vehicle rear side, than a cover (11) that covers a vehicle width direction outer side of a light source (70; the design portion 33 is curved toward the back as it goes outward in the vehicle width direction, following the outer surface shape of the front wall 15 of the mirror body 11; see at least paragraphs 0023-0025; figures 1-2); and
a light guiding lens (60) that is made of resin (the light guide 60 is made of a transparent resin material such as acrylic; see at least paragraph 0031), that is disposed along an inner face of the outer lens (23; figure 2);
wherein the light guiding lens includes a hollow portion (SL; figure 4) that is formed at a vehicle width direction inner side of the protruding portion (slit SL is provided between the light distribution light guide portion 62 and the decorative light guide portion 61 in the front-rear direction. The slit SL extends from the base end side of the light guide body 60 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction along the front end side; see at least paragraph 0032).
Sato discloses the limitations as shown in the rejection of claim 5 above. However, Sato is silent regarding the hollow portion having a substantially right-angled triangle shape in plan view. Asami et al. (figure 13) teaches the hollow portion having a substantially right-angled triangle shape in plan view (122). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the hollow portion as taught by Asami et al. in order to attain outer mirror having improved efficiency of the light emission of the light guide and simply the manufacturing costs.
Regarding claim 5, Sato (figures 1-4) discloses wherein a pattern is formed at an outer face of the light guiding lens which faces the inner face of the outer lens (61d and 23; figure 4).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAUREN NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-1428. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM -6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Carruth, can be reached at 571-272-9791. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LAUREN NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871