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 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Noel (US 2008/0217937).
Noel discloses a vehicle front structure comprises a fender flange (20) that is part of a front fender panel (10) and that projects inward in a vehicle width direction from an upper edge of an aesthetic surface (12) of the front fender panel (10), as shown in Figure 1. An object component (22) is disposed lower than the fender flange (20) in a vehicle vertical direction, as shown in Figure 1. The object component (22) has a fastening portion, as shown in Figure 1.
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A bracket (24) connects the fender flange (20) and the object component (22), as shown in Figure 1. The bracket (24) includes a bend portion (32,36,41) that extends in a first direction, outward, in the vehicle width direction and then bends to extend in an opposite direction, inward, in the vehicle width direction as the bracket (24) continues upward, as shown in Figure 1. The lower branch (36) extends outward and the upper branch (32) extends inward, as shown in Figure 1. Lower portion (36) extends in the first direction and the upper portion (32) extends in the opposite direction, as shown in Figure 1. The fastening portion is fastened to the bracket (24) at element (38), as shown in Figure 1. The bracket (24) forms a closed space with itself. The bracket (24) does not form a closed space with the object component (22) when viewed from the front of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 1.
In reference to claim 7, the bracket (24) includes a bent portion formed by elements (32,36,41) and a second bent portion (44,46,47), as shown in Figure 1. This meets the limitation of a plurality of bent portions.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Noel (US 2008/0217937) in view of JP 2020082859.
Noel discloses the bracket (24) includes a bend portion (32,36,41) that extends in a direction toward one side in the vehicle width direction while extending toward a vehicle-upward side and then turns back in a direction toward an opposite side in the vehicle width direction while extending toward the vehicle upward side. The lower branch (36) extends outward and the upper branch (32) extends inward, as shown in Figure 1.
However, Noel does not disclose the object component is a lamp unit and the fastening portion is a lamp stay.
JP 2020082859 teaches a lamp unit (33) with a lamp stay (43) is erected from an upper face of the lamp unit (33), as shown in Figure 4. The lamp stay (43) is attached to a bracket (50). The bracket (50) is attached to a flange (44) of the fender (11), as shown in Figures 1-4.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to attach a lamp unit to the bracket of Noel through a lamp stay erected from an upper face of the lamp unit, as taught by JP 2020082859, with a reasonable expectation for success to provide a headlight for driving at night that connects to existing structure to minimize parts and weight.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-6 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 5/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The applicant has argued Noel does not disclose the newly claimed limitations of claim 1. The examiner disagrees because the bracket does not form a closed shape with the object component when viewed from the front of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 1. The bracket has a closed shape without the object component.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY A BLANKENSHIP whose telephone number is (571)272-6656. The examiner can normally be reached 7-4:30.
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, Amy Weisberg can be reached at 571-270-5500. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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GREGORY A. BLANKENSHIP
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3612
/GREGORY A BLANKENSHIP/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612 June 8, 2026
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