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 were received on 3/4/2026. These drawings are accepted.
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 8-14, 16-18, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Sjodell (US PgPub #2025/0326339).
For Claims 1 and 9, figures 53, 67-69, and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose a child restraint system comprising: a seat; a headrest (2300) comprising a rear portion (2322), a first sidewall (2538), and a second sidewall (2536), wherein the headrest further comprises: a first region protruding a first distance from the first sidewall; and a second region protruding a second distance from the first sidewall, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, wherein the first region is provided between the rear portion and the second region, wherein a slope is formed between the first region and the second region, and wherein the slope extends from the first region at the first distance to the second region at the second distance such that the slope transitions from the first region downward into the second region.
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For Claims 2 and 10, figures 53, 67-69, and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose that the first region comprises a first material of a first firmness, wherein the second region comprises a second material of a second firmness, and wherein the first firmness is greater than the second firmness.
For Claims 3 and 11, figures 53, 67-69 and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose that the first and second material are the same material.
For Claims 4 and 12, paragraph [0703] of Sjodell ‘339 discloses that different materials can be used.
For Claims 5 and 13, figures 53, 67-69 and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose that the first region comprises a sold material and the second region comprises a hollow material (2328 or 2530).
For Claims 6 and 14, figures 53 and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose that the second region comprises a void (2328 or 2530).
For Claims 7 and 15, paragraph [0703] of Sjodell ‘339 disclose
For Claims 8 and 16, paragraph [0189] of Sjodell ‘339 discloses that the headrest can be made of EPP.
For Claim 17, figures 53, 67-69 and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose a child restraint system comprising: a seat; a headrest (2300) comprising a rear portion (2322), a first sidewall (2332), and a second sidewall (2334), wherein the headrest further comprises: a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is provided between the second region and a rea portion, wherein the first region comprises a first material of a first firmness, wherein the second region comprises a second material of a second firmness, wherein the first firmness is greater than the second firmness, and wherein a transition between the first firmness and the second firmness causes a motion of a vehicle occupant to be directed from the first region and into the second region during an impact event.
For Claim 18, figures 53, 67-69 and 95-96 of Sjodell ‘339 disclose that the first region comprises a solid material and the second region comprises a hollow material (2328).
For Claim 20, paragraph [0189] of Sjodell ‘339 discloses that the headrest can be made of EPP.
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.
Claim(s) 7, 15, and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sjodell (US PgPub #2025/0326339).
For Claims 7, 15, and 19, while Sjodell ‘339 discloses varying the reinforcing strength and firmness of the headrest, it is silent about ribbing elements within the material of the first region of the headrest, it teaches in paragraph [0690] using ribs in the seat structure so as to provide reinforcing strength. Therefore it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art to use ribbing elements in a headrest as they would provide an optional known way to provide reinforcing strength to the headrest.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/4/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The Applicant argues that Sjodell ‘339 does not disclose that the slope extends from the first region at the first distance to the second region at the second distance, however, the Examiner respectfully disagrees. Annotated fig. 96 of Sjodell ‘336 clearly discloses a slope formed between the first region and the second region, and wherein the slope extends from the first region at the first distance to the second region at the second distance such that the slope transitions from the first region downward into the second region.
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Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 PHILIP J BONZELL whose telephone number is (571)270-3663. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5.
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, Joshua Michener can be reached at 571-272-1467. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PHILIP J BONZELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642 3/19/2026
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