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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on June 11, 2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over by Atsushi Kageyama et al. U.S Patent Publication 2016/0375807 A1 (Kageyama) in view of Mary V. Grover U.S. Patent 8,689,711 B1 (Grover).
Regarding claim 1, Kageyama discloses a seat cover which is a skin material of a seat cushion or seatback, the seat cushion or seatback having a first seam allowance and a second seam (area of Element 40 sewn together) allowance sewn together with a first seam line (Element 38), the first seam allowance being provided at a first end side of a first cover piece, the second seam allowance being placed at a second end side of a second cover piece. Kageyama does not directly disclose a first and second design surface on the first and second cover pieces wherein the design having a plurality of stitches crosses the first seam line. Grover discloses first and second design surfaces on first and second cover pieces wherein a seam line intersects with the design stitches (Figure 2 Element 140 for two pieces that are joined at a seam Column 7 Line 1-38).
Therefore it would have been an obvious modification well known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kageyama as taught by Grover to include Grover’s design stitching that intersects with the seam line. Such a modification is a design modification provided as a decorative technique of stitching surfaces to be joined with other pieces of material.
Kageyama in view of Grove disclose the plurality of stitches (stitches as disclosed in Grover) to include a first portions interposed between the first cover and second cover piece (pieces of Kageyama), and a second portion provided on the second cover piece so as to be exposed from the cover piece (stitched placed in areas to be exposed as defined), wherein the first and second portions are directly joined (Kageyama portions). Kageyama in view of Grove does not directly disclose the plurality of stitches to bend along a corner portion of the cushion pad from the first portion to the second portion. Orientation modification is common and well known in the art. It would be obvious to provide the stitches in the areas necessary along the vehicle seat cover.
Regarding claim 2, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein the first seam allowance and the second seam allowance are sewn together, and then brought into contact with a rear side of the second cover piece and sewn to the second cover piece with a second seam line, the rear side being not a design surface (Figure 3 Element 28a 30a with seam element 40, Kageyama; design surface are stitches selectively placed for the aesthetics of the design Grove).
Regarding claim 3, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein each length of the plurality of stitches extending from the first seam line are the same (Figure 1-5, seams, Kageyama).
Regarding claim 4, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover comprising the plurality of stitches (Element 38 and 40). Kageyama in view of Grove does not directly disclose wherein the plurality of stitches are constituted using threads of a plurality of colors. Color modification is common and well known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. It would be obvious to provide stitches of various colors. Such a modification would provide a means to enhance the appearance of the trim cover.
Regarding claim 5, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein the plurality of stitches are formed continuously ([0055], stitches are along the same line, Kageyama).
Regarding claim 6, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein the second seam allowance is sewn to the second cover piece with a second seam line in a state where the second seam allowance is sewn to the first seam allowance and in contact with a rear side of the second cover piece, the rear side being not a design surface (Element 40), Kageyama; design surface are stitches selectively placed for the aesthetics of the design Grove.
Regarding claim 7, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein the second cover piece is a top cover configured to cover a seating surface ([0039]), Kageyama).
Regarding claim 8, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein the first seam allowance and the second seam allowance are sewn together and form an integrated seam allowance, and the integrated seam allowance are sewn to the second cover piece with a second seam line (Figure 3 Element 38 and 40, Kageyama).
Regarding claim 9, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein the plurality of stitches is formed at the first end side on the design surface (Figure 3, Kageyama in view of design stitch positioning of Groove).
Regarding claim 10, Kageyama in view of Grove discloses the seat cover wherein end portions of the stitches at the first end side are disposed between the first seam line and the second seam line (Figure 3, Kageyama).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHIN H KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-7788. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM.
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/SHIN H KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
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