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
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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable by Cha et al (US 10,266,214).
As concerns claim 1, Cha discloses a vehicle exterior air guiding device intended to be installed on a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a fixed part (Cha - 10) intended to be attached to said motor vehicle,
- a movable part (Cha - 200) movably mounted on the fixed part (Cha - 10),
- at least one connecting mechanism (Cha – 110, 170, 190, 150, etc) allowing a movement of the movable part (Cha - 200) relative to the fixed part (Cha - 10) between a stowed position and a deployed position, and
- for each connecting mechanism, an assembling device (Cha - 300) for connecting the connecting mechanism and the movable part (Cha - 200), the assembling device (Cha - 300) comprising a link bar (Cha – 400, among others) extending along a bar axis (Cha - Figure 2 and Figure 4 both illustrates such extents) the link bar (Cha - 400) being inserted in at least one opening defined in the movable part (Cha - 200) and in at least one opening defined in the connecting mechanism (Figures 3 and 4 illustrate such a configuration),
wherein the assembling device (Cha - 300) comprises one fastening element (Cha - 500) extending along a fastening axis and locking the link bar (Cha - 400) in position, the bar axis and the fastening axis extending in different directions.
As concerns claim 2, Cha discloses the air guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the bar axis (Cha - Figure 2) is substantially parallel to a transverse axis, said transverse axis defining a rotation axis and/or a translation axis of the movable part (Cha - 200) relative to the fixed part (Cha - 10).
As concerns claim 3, Cha discloses the air guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the bar axis (Cha - Figure 2) and the fastening axis are substantially perpendicular. (Cha- Figure 3)
As concerns claim 4, Chat discloses the air guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element is a screw. (Cha – 526 is a screw mechanism)
As concerns claim 5, Chat discloses the air guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the link bar (Cha - 400) is inserted in two openings (through two sections of 170, connected directly to 200 and considered a part there-of) defined in the movable part (Cha - 200) and in one opening (at either side of 110, wherein 400 inserts) defined in the connecting mechanism (Cha - 110), the three openings being aligned along the bar axis (Cha - Figure 3) and the opening defined in the connecting mechanism (Cha - 110) being located between the two openings defined in the movable part (Cha - 200).
As concerns claim 6, Cha discloses the air guiding device according to claim 5, wherein the movable part (Cha - 200) comprises, for each connecting mechanism (Cha - 110), two distinct protruding housings (50) comprising each one of the two openings (46) of the movable part (Cha - 200) for the passage of the link bar (Cha - 400), the two housings (50) defining between them a cavity (54) to receive a part of the connecting mechanism (Cha - 110) in which the opening (48) for the passage of link bar (Cha - 400) is defined.
As concerns claim 7, Cha discloses the air guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the link bar (Cha - 400) comprises a fastening head (Cha - 540), said fastening head being fastened to the movable part (Cha - 200) through the fastening element (Cha - 526).
As concerns claim 8, Cha discloses the air guiding device according to claim 4, wherein the link bar comprises a fastening head (Cha – 540), said fastening head being fastened to the movable part via the screw (Cha – 526), and wherein a threaded hole (Cha – Figure 2) is defined in the fastening head, the screw being screwed into said threaded hole of the fastening head of the link bar (Cha – Figure 4).
As concerns claim 9, Cha discloses the air guiding device according to claim 1, comprising a sealing system (Cha – 20).
As concerns claim 10, Cha discloses a method for assembling the air guiding device according to claim 1 on a motor vehicle, the method comprising at least the following steps, for each connecting mechanism (Cha - 110): - placing the link bar (Cha - 400) close to one opening defined in the movable part (Cha - 200); - placing the movable part (Cha - 200) on the connecting mechanism (Cha - 110); - pushing the link bar (Cha - 400) along the bar axis (Cha - Figure 2), so that the link bar (Cha - 400) passes through the openings; and - locking the link bar (Cha - 400) in position using the fastening element (Cha – 526) extending along the fastening axis, which extends in a different direction than the bar axis (Cha - Figure 2).
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 AARON L LEMBO whose telephone number is (571)270-3065. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 7am-4pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicole Coy can be reached on (571) 272-5405. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/AARON L LEMBO/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3679