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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Grottke, et al. (11,040,740).
Grottke discloses a motor vehicle component, comprising a first profile 11 having a first connecting surface; a second profile 12 having a second connecting surface that is connected to the first connecting surface; and at least one connector member 121 operable to form, at an end of the first connecting surface and at one end of the second connecting surface, an interlocking connection 14 between the first profile and the second profile. The end of the first connecting surface extends in a longitudinal direction of the first profile, and the end of the second connecting surface extends in a longitudinal direction of the second profile, as shown in Figure 4a. The interlocking connection comprises a rotatable connection that facilitates a rotating of the first profile and the second profile about a pivot axis (see col. 3, lines 45-60). The interlocking connection comprises a pivotable connection that facilitates a pivoting of the first profile and the second profile about a pivot axis. The interlocking connection 14 between the first profile 11 and the second profile 12 is such that the first profile is fixed at least in a region of the end of the first connecting surface at least in transverse directions to the longitudinal direction of the first profile, and the interlocking connection between the first profile and the second profile is such that the second profile is fixed at least in a region of the end of the second connecting surface at least in transverse directions to the longitudinal direction of the second profile. A supplemental connector member operable to fasten, at an opposite end of the interlocking connection, the first profile and the second profile, as shown in Figure 4a. The connector member comprises one or more of an adhesive 17, rivets, screws, and a weld. The first connecting surface has a plurality of indentations to divide the first connecting surface into a plurality of sub-connecting surfaces, and the second connecting surface has a plurality of indentations to divide the second connecting surface into a plurality of sub-connecting surfaces, as shown in Figure 5. The motor vehicle component comprises a sill.
Regarding claims 10-19, the method is disclosed with the structural elements described above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art recited discloses common inventive concepts as the claimed present invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Faye M. Fleming whose telephone number is (571)272-6672. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am-5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Paul N. Dickson can be reached at (571) 272-7742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FAYE M FLEMING/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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