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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the anchorage mountings of claim 8 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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) 1-7 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Schiffer (DE 103 02 212).
Regarding claim 1, Schiffer discloses Electric or hybrid car (fig 1) comprising: - a pair of front wheels (fig 1) and a pair of rear wheels (fig 1); - an outer body having a floor (generally outer body 2 and floor 3, fig 2), a front bonnet (fig 1), a roof (generally at 4, fig 2), and a windscreen (5) extending between the front bonnet and the roof; and - a passenger compartment (fig 2) formed within said outer body between said front and rear wheels, bounded at the front by said windscreen and defining at least one driver's position (15) and one front passenger's position (15) side by side (fig 2); wherein the floor comprises at least one pair of oblique side members (shown in dotted lines of fig 4) converging from a front portion and/or from a rear portion of the floor towards a central portion of the floor, which comprises a central node to which one end of each oblique side member is mounted (center of X shape created by oblique members shown in dotted lines of fig 4); characterised in that it further comprises a central pillar (10) extending within said passenger compartment between said floor and said roof and arranged in correspondence with an intermediate longitudinal axis of said passenger compartment between said driver's position and said front passenger position (figs 2, 4); wherein said central pillar comprises a first end connected to said central node and a second end connected to said roof (at least figs 2 and 4).
Regarding claim 2, Schiffer discloses wherein said outer body further comprises two front flanks extending to opposite sides of said front bonnet, and two opposing rear flanks aligned with, and spaced from, said respective front flanks and in which each of said front flank and the corresponding rear flank delimit between themselves and with said floor and said roof a single, totally free side door compartment (at least figs 1, 4 wherein these limitations simply describe conventional vehicle body structures).
Regarding claim 3, Schiffer discloses wherein said outer body further comprises two windscreen pillars (generally at 7, figs 1 and 4) which laterally contain said windscreen and protrude superiorly from said respective front sides up to touch said roof, and wherein each of said single side door compartment is also delimited laterally by said windscreen pillar (figs).
Regarding claim 4, Schiffer discloses wherein said central pillar has a main portion substantially plate-shaped, parallel to said longitudinal axis, and an upper end portion which widens towards said roof from said main portion (see annotated fig below).
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Regarding claim 5, Schiffer discloses wherein said passenger compartment has, between said driver's seat and said front passenger's seat, a central tunnel; and wherein said central pillar crosses said central tunnel to extend from said central node to said roof (figs 2 and 4 at least inasmuch as is the case in the instant application).
Regarding claim 6, Schiffer discloses wherein said roof has a central portion laterally tapered with respect to a front portion and a rear portion; and wherein said central pillar is arranged in correspondence with said tapered central portion of said roof (at least figs 1-3).
Regarding claim 7, Schiffer discloses wherein said passenger compartment further comprises at least two rear passenger seats arranged on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis (rear seats 19, at least fig 1).
Regarding claim 9, Schiffer discloses wherein said floor comprises at least four slanted side members, of which one pair of rear side members and one pair of front side members (fig 4, shown in dotted lines).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Manzoni (US 2023/0347987) in view of Favaretto (EP 3 674 122) [provided by Applicant].
Regarding claim 1, Manzoni discloses an electric or hybrid car (fig 1) comprising: - a pair of front wheels (2, fig 1) and a pair of rear wheels (3, fig 1); - an outer body having a floor, a front bonnet, a roof, and a windscreen extending between the front bonnet and the roof (at least Abst, fig 1); and - a passenger compartment (at least Abst, fig 1) formed within said outer body between said front and rear wheels, bounded at the front by said windscreen and defining at least one driver's position and one front passenger's position side by side (at least Abst, fig 1); further comprising a central pillar (20) extending within said passenger compartment between said floor and said roof and arranged in correspondence with an intermediate longitudinal axis of said passenger compartment between said driver's position and said front passenger position (at least fig 2).
Manzoni does not specifically disclose wherein the floor comprises at least one pair of oblique side members converging from a front portion and/or from a rear portion of the floor towards a central portion of the floor, which comprises a central node to which one end of each oblique side member is mounted; wherein said central pillar comprises a first end connected to said central node and a second end connected to said roof.
However, at least Favaretto discloses an electric or hybrid car comprising wherein the floor comprises at least one pair of oblique side members converging from a front portion and/or from a rear portion of the floor towards a central portion of the floor, which comprises a central node to which one end of each oblique side member is mounted (at least fig 7).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have incorporated the electric vehicle battery floor mounting technique of Favaretto with the central pillar body and frame technique of Manzoni to provide wherein the floor comprises at least one pair of oblique side members converging from a front portion and/or from a rear portion of the floor towards a central portion of the floor, which comprises a central node to which one end of each oblique side member is mounted; wherein said central pillar comprises a first end connected to said central node and a second end connected to said roof, since it would have provided an upgraded vehicle arrangement, since vehicles are more commonly utilizing a central battery arrangement for electric vehicles over traditional vehicle structure and such an arrangement would have provided structural rigidity to the passenger compartment and battery pack arrangement.
Regarding claims 2 and 3, Manzoni in view of Favaretto discloses wherein said outer body further comprises two front flanks extending to opposite sides of said front bonnet, and two opposing rear flanks aligned with, and spaced from, said respective front flanks and in which each of said front flank and the corresponding rear flank delimit between themselves and with said floor and said roof a single, totally free side door compartment; wherein said outer body further comprises two windscreen pillars which laterally contain said windscreen and protrude superiorly from said respective front sides up to touch said roof, and wherein each of said single side door compartment is also delimited laterally by said windscreen pillar (at least figs 1-3 and associated description of Manzoni).
Regarding claim 4, Manzoni in view of Favaretto discloses wherein said central pillar has a main portion (21) substantially plate-shaped, parallel to said longitudinal axis, and an upper end portion (22) which widens towards said roof from said main portion (at least fig 2 of Manzoni).
Regarding claim 5, Manzoni in view of Favaretto discloses wherein said passenger compartment has, between said driver's seat and said front passenger's seat, a central tunnel (19); and wherein said central pillar crosses said central tunnel to extend from said central node to said roof (at least figs 2-3 of Manzoni in view of combination above).
Regarding claims 6-7, Manzoni in view of Favaretto discloses wherein said roof has a central portion laterally tapered with respect to a front portion and a rear portion; and wherein said central pillar is arranged in correspondence with said tapered central portion of said roof; wherein said passenger compartment further comprises at least two rear passenger seats (17) arranged on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis (at least figs 1-3 of Manzoni).
Regarding claim 8, Manzoni in view of Favaretto discloses wherein said centre pillar defines on its opposite sides respective anchorage mountings for seat belt restraint systems for the driver's position and for the front passenger's position (at least fig 2, para 40 of Manzoni).
Regarding claims 9-12, Manzoni in view of Favaretto discloses wherein said floor comprises at least four slanted side members (at least BF11, SBR of fig 7 of Favaretto), of which one pair of rear side members and one pair of front side members; wherein the floor comprises a front cross-member (front end of BF1) extending transversely from side to side of the automobile (fig 7 inasmuch as is the case in the instant application); wherein the pair of front side members extends from the front cross-member converging at the centre node (at least fig 7); wherein said floor accommodates at least one battery pack (generally at BT2), in particular surrounding the oblique side members (at least fig 7); wherein said battery pack comprises a plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged with their own axis of rotation perpendicular to a plane of said floor, so as to occupy all available space within at least one triangular structure (at least fig 7, paragraphs 71-83 of Favaretto).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACOB B MEYER whose telephone number is (571)270-3535. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9-7.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, J Allen Shriver can be reached at 303.297.4337. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JACOB B. MEYER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3613
/JACOB B MEYER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3613