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 Objections
Claims 1, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 15-20 are objected to because of the following informalities: the claims use the phrase “in communication” or “in removable communication”. This phrase is typically used for electrical or fluid connections. While the phrase is clear enough in the context of the specification, it is confusing during a first reading of the claims. Applicant may want to consider a more traditional phrase like “in contact” or “removably joined”. Each instance has been circled in the attached annotated claim set. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Thompson (US 7677662 B2).
Thompson discloses:
1. An underseat (similar to applicant’s Fig 14, See Thompson’s Fig. 9 which goes under on the right side of the figure) cover for folding seat bottoms comprising:
a panel (“main piece of cover material”; Col 5 Line 65) of protective material having a first side (side shown in Fig. 2A, outer facing), a second side (Side shown in Fig. 2B, downward/seat facing side), and a perimeter (See perimeter in Figs. 2A and 2b);
reinforcement stitching (See dotted line on perimeter in Figs. 2A+2B; and indication of stitching mentioned in Column 6 Line 6 “e.g. cross stitched”);
an attachment mechanism (120 or 122 or 132); and
a first relief cutout (hole associated with 150);
wherein said perimeter of said panel of protective material is configured to substantially match a perimeter of a rear seat lower cushion bottom (See Fig. 9), said reinforcement stitching in communication with (since it’s visible in Fig. 2A) said first side of said panel of protective material and proximate to at least a portion of said perimeter, said attachment mechanism in communication with (See Fig. 2B; 120, 122, and 130 overlap the side shown in Fig. 2B) said second side of said panel and in communication with said reinforcement stitching.
2. The underseat cover of claim 1, wherein said first side of said panel of protective material comprises a non-permeable material (“a shield that prevents water, mud, dirt, or other debris”; Col 4 Line 8).
3. The underseat cover of claim 1, wherein said first relief cutout (150) is configured to clear a seatbelt buckle (1000).
4. The underseat cover of claim 3, further comprising a second relief cutout (132);
wherein said second relief cutout is configured to clear a folding seat bottom hinge (at the intersection of 310 and 320).
5. The underseat cover of claim 1, further comprising at least one organizing feature (162);
wherein said at least one organizing feature is selected from the group consisting of a pocket (“plurality of compartments 162”; Col 4 Line 42), a zipped pocket, a file pocket, one or more small loops, and one or more large loops.
6. The underseat cover of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises the hook material of a hook and loop fastener (“the fastener 132 shown is a hook and loop fastener”; Col 6 Line 51).
7. The underseat cover of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises:
a first attachment strap (120);
a second attachment strap (122); and
a closing mechanism selected from the group consisting of magnets, snaps, buckles (500), and a hook and loop fastener.
8. The underseat cover of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises:
an anchor (300) comprising at least one pair of attachment straps (each of 112), a closing mechanism (110) for said at least one pair of attachment straps, and a release mechanism;
wherein said at least one pair of attachment straps is configured to secure said anchor to a seat bottom frame and said release mechanism is configured to allow said anchor to be in removeable communication with said panel of protective material (See Fig. 3D).
9. The underseat cover of claim 1, further comprising a side storage unit (160).
10. The underseat cover of claim 1, further comprising a debris catch (112) in communication with said panel of protective material and in removeable communication (“positions can be easily reversed”; Col 4 Line 40) with a second underseat cover (portion separated by 140);
wherein said debris catch is configured to extend across a gap (See location of 140 in Fig. 1) between said panel of protective material and said second underseat cover.
11. The underseat cover of claim 10, wherein said debris catch further comprises a first catch end and a second catch end;
said first catch end of said debris catch extending a first distance below said panel of protective material and said second catch end of said debris catch extending a second distance below said panel of protective material, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance (112 has a top and a bottom, i.e. two distances. See Fig. 3C).
12. The underseat cover of claim 1, further comprising a cover extension;
said cover extension comprising a first cover end (end associated with 120) and a second cover end (end associated with 122);
said first cover end (both ends) in communication with said panel (“main piece of cover material”; Col 5 Line 65) of protective material.
13. The underseat cover of claim 12, further comprising a weighted strip (“weighing down against the upper sides”; Col 6 Line 37);
said weighted strip in communication with said second cover end (with both) of said cover extension.
14. The underseat cover of claim 13, further comprising a second weighted strip (portion of cover on other side of 140), said second weighted strip proximate to (both ends) said first cover end of said cover extension.
15. The underseat cover of claim 12, further comprising a cover attachment mechanism (122) in communication with said second cover end;
said cover attachment mechanism comprising the hook material (“securing the straps around the headrest, although any suitable fastening system can be used”; Col 3 Line 45 including “other means such as hook and loop fasteners”; Col 7 Line 25) of a hook and loop fastener.
16. The underseat cover of claim 12, further comprising a cover attachment mechanism in communication with said second cover end;
said cover attachment mechanism comprising a first cover attachment strap (120), a second cover attachment strap (122), and a cover attachment closing mechanism selected from the group consisting of magnets, snaps, buckles (500), and a hook and loop fastener.
17. The underseat cover of claim 12, further comprising a cover attachment mechanism in communication with said second cover end, said cover attachment mechanism comprising:
a cover anchor (300) comprising at least one pair of cover anchor attachment straps (112), a cover attachment closing mechanism (110) for said at least one pair of cover anchor attachment straps, and a cover anchor release mechanism;
wherein said at least one pair of cover anchor attachment straps is configured to secure said cover anchor to a seat frame and said cover anchor release mechanism is configured to allow said cover anchor to be in removeable communication with said second cover end (See attachment in Fig. 3D).
18. The underseat cover of claim 1, further comprising a skirt (portion that is laying on the floor when 140 is unzipped);
said skirt in communication (at 132) with at least a portion of said perimeter of said panel of protective material;
said skirt extending away (See Fig. 9) from said first side of said panel of protective material.
Regarding Claims 19-21, Thompson discloses all of the elements as described above and so is applied exactly the same as the combination of elements in the remaining claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. There are many seat covers which both cover front or rear portions of seats and ALSO cover portions of the bottom of the seat. Rus (US 10864833 B2) is an example where primarily the rear of the seatback is being covered, and also the bottom is covered and used as an anchor spot. The other cited art is very similar in that regard.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRIAN M O'HARA whose telephone number is (571)270-5224. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM eastern.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joshua Huson can be reached at 571-270-5301. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRIAN M O'HARA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642