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 because Examiner suggests that the arrow associated with reference character “7” be changed to a double-sided arrow in figure 1, so as to better reflect the forward moving direction (similar to the double-side arrows shown in figures 2 and 3). 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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 6 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Regarding claims 6 and 7, the phrase "in particular" renders the claims indefinite because the boundaries of the claims are not discernable. Description of examples and preferences is properly set forth in the specification rather than in a single claim. A preferred embodiment may also be set forth in another independent or dependent claim. If stated in a single claim, examples and preferences lead to confusion over the intended scope of the claim. Clarification and rewording are required (see MPEP 2173.05(d)).
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 2 sets forth the same limitations as lines 5-7 of preceding claim 1. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 3-5 are allowed.
Claims 6 and 7 appear to be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the allowable subject matter of claim 1 is a combination of features, including each housing compartment for the drive wheels being delimited by a back wall facing at least part of the spark plugs of the engine, and the back wall of each housing compartment is provided with at least one opening configured to allow a tool to remove at least one spark plug from the engine and to allow at least one spark plug to be mounted on the engine, in combination with other features of claim 1. Rinklin (US 6003933 A) discloses a car comprising an engine, drive wheels, and a support frame defining a pair of housing compartments for the drive wheels with a detachable covering for the housing compartments, but does not disclose each housing compartment for the drive wheels being delimited by a back wall facing at least part of the spark plugs of the engine, and the back wall of each housing compartment is provided with at least one opening configured to allow a tool to remove at least one spark plug from the engine and to allow at least one spark plug to be mounted on the engine. Additionally, Ichikawa et al. (US 5360079 A), Yasuda et al. (US 6910929 B2), Kobayashi et al. (US 7000726 B2), Tsubouchi et al. (JP 2007296994 A), and Belzile et al. (US 8453775 B2) teach easy access panels for servicing spark plugs on a car engine. Pentia (DE 102018109710 A1), Suzuki (JP 2003276454 A), and Schunemann et al. (DE 102014116612 A1) teach air ducts on a rear fender of a car.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA FREEDMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-2442. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.
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, Jason Shanske can be reached at 571-270-5985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LAURA FREEDMAN/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3614