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 .
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)(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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Browne et al. (US 7,392,876 B2).
Regarding claims 1-10, Browne et al. (at least Figs. 1-4) discloses
(claim 1) a vehicle comprising:
a first vehicle component including a shape memory polymer (SMP) 6, 12, 14 having a first modulus of elasticity in a first state and a second modulus of elasticity in a second state, the second modulus of elasticity being less than the first modulus of elasticity;
a heating element 14 selectively movable from an OFF state to an ON state to supply the SMP with heat, the SMP moving from the first state to the second state in response to the heating element moving from the OFF state to the ON state (at least column 5 line 14-column 6 line 28, column 6 line 61-column 7 line 11, column 12 lines 4-26); and
at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 attached to the vehicle and configured to generate an electric signal in response to a force of a predetermined magnitude being applied to the vehicle to move the heating element 14 from the OFF state to the ON state;
(claim 2) wherein the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 is a piezoelectric sensor (at least column 8 lines 55-56);
(claim 3) wherein the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 is disposed proximate to a front fascia of the vehicle;
(claim 4) wherein the first vehicle component is located under a hood panel of the vehicle (at least Figs. 2-4);
(claim 5) wherein the heating element 14 is a wire (at least Figs. 3-4);
(claim 6) wherein the wire is embedded within the SMP 6, 12, 14 (at least Figs. 3-4);
(claim 7) wherein the wire is in electrical communication with a power source 8 of the vehicle, the wire receiving current from the power source 8 when moved from the OFF state to the ON state (at least Fig. 1);
(claim 8) further comprising a switch (at least Fig. 1) in electrical communication with the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18;
(claim 9) wherein the switch (at least Fig. 1) is moveable from an open state to a closed state in response to the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 generating the electric signal to supply current to the heating element;
(claim 10) wherein the heating element 14 is a wire embedded within the SMP 6, 12, 14 (at least Figs. 3-4).
Regarding claims 11-17, Browne et al. (at least Figs. 1-4) discloses
(claim 11) a vehicle comprising:
a first component including a first portion formed from a first material and a second portion formed from a shape memory polymer (SMP) 6, 12, 14 having a first modulus of elasticity in a first state and a second modulus of elasticity in a second state, the second modulus of elasticity being less than the first modulus of elasticity;
a wire 14 embedded within the second portion and selectively receiving current in an energized state to move the SMP from the first state to the second state; and
at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 attached to the vehicle and configured to generate an electric signal in response to a force of a predetermined magnitude being applied to the vehicle to move the wire 14 into the energized state;
(claim 12) wherein the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 is a piezoelectric sensor (at least column 8 lines 55-56);
(claim 13) wherein the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 is disposed proximate to a front fascia of the vehicle;
(claim 14) wherein the first vehicle component is located under a hood panel of the vehicle (at least Figs. 2-4);
(claim 15) wherein the wire 14 is in electrical communication with a power source 8 of the vehicle, the wire receiving current from the power source 8 when in the energized state (at least Fig. 1);
(claim 16) further comprising a switch (at least Fig. 1) in electrical communication with the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18;
(claim 17) wherein the switch (at least Fig. 1) is moveable from an open state to a closed state in response to the at least one sensor 2, 9, 18 generating the electric signal to supply current to the wire 14.
Regarding claims 18-20, Browne et al. (at least Figs. 1-4) discloses
(claim 18) a vehicle comprising:
a first component including a first portion formed from a first material and a second portion formed from a shape memory polymer (SMP) 6, 12, 14 having a first modulus of elasticity in a first state and a second modulus of elasticity in a second state, the second modulus of elasticity being less than the first modulus of elasticity; and
at least one piezoelectric sensor 2, 9, 18 (at least column 5 lines 55-56) attached to the vehicle and configured to generate an electric signal in response to a force of a predetermined magnitude being applied to the vehicle to move the SMP 6, 12, 14 from the first state to the second state;
(claim 19) further comprising a heating element 14 selectively movable from an OFF state to an ON state to supply the SMP 6, 12, 14 with heat, the SMP moving from the first state to the second state in response to the heating element 14 moving from the OFF state to the ON state;
(claim 20) further comprising a switch (at least Fig. 1) in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric sensor 2, 9, 18 (at least column 5 lines 55-56), the switch configured to move the heating element 14 from the OFF state to the ON state in response to the at least one piezoelectric sensor generating the electric signal.
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 JOSELYNN Y SLITERIS whose telephone number is (571)272-6675. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason D. Shanske can be reached at 571-270-5985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSELYNN Y SLITERIS/Examiner, Art Unit 3614
/JASON D SHANSKE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3614