DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed July 13, 2026, have been fully considered.
Applicant has argued that the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been overcome by amendment. Examiner mostly agrees, and has withdrawn the majority of the rejections under 112(b). However, examiner maintains the rejection regarding the term “500 MPa class” which has been amended to “500 MPa grade.” Examiner asserts that the new language is confusing for the same reason.
Regarding the prior art, applicant has argued that the claim amendments overcome the previous rejections. Examiner agrees, and has withdrawn the previous prior art rejections.
Claim Objections
Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “a vehicle longitudinal direction” in lines 2-3 is awkward, because the concept of a vehicle has not been previously introduced in the claim.
The term “an automotive body lower portion” in line 2 is awkward, because the claim already refers to “a lower automotive body structure” in line 1, and it is unclear if the “automotive body lower portion” is the same thing, or another element.
In lines 34 and 36, the phrase “provided at least two positions” and “provided at least one position” are incorrect, because the word “at” or “in” is missing, e.g. --provided at at least two positions--.
Appropriate correction is required. Examiner suggests the following amendments:
20. (Currently Amended) A lower automotive body structure for a vehicle comprising:
side sills arranged on both sides of the vehicle
a floor cross member arranged between the side sills and having both side portions of the floor cross member fixed to upper portions of the side sills; and
a battery case arranged below the floor cross member and having both side portions of the battery case facing lower portions of the side sills, wherein
each of the side sills includes:
a partition member that vertically passes a closed sectional space in the side sill, and has a structure in which the closed sectional space is partitioned into a first closed sectional space and a second closed sectional space in a vehicle width direction
an impact absorbing structure including:
a pair of first and second sectionally groove-shaped members joined to the partition member in a state where the partition member is sandwiched from both sides in the first and second closed sectional spaces, and forming third and fourth closed sectional spaces with the partition member, respectively; and
bulkheads provided at a plurality of positions spaced apart from each other in a vehicle front-rear direction in the third and fourth closed sectional spaces, the bulkheads being provided in the first and second closed sectional spaces along the vehicle width direction, respectively to partition the third and fourth closed sectional spaces, the bulkheads including: first bulkheads provided in a region within a width of the floor crossmember in the vehicle front-rear direction; and a second bulkhead provided in a region outside the width of the floor cross member,
in the impact absorbing structure, one of the bulkheads is provided in the third closed sectional space and another one of the bulkheads is provided in the fourth closed sectional space to face each other in the vehicle width direction with the partition member interposed therebetween, and each of the bulkheads is joined to at least the first sectionally groove-shaped member or the second sectionally groove-shaped member,
in an upper portion of the impact absorbing structure, an inner side portion and an outer side portion face each other across the partition member, and are aligned in the vehicle width direction along a horizontal extension of the floor cross member,
the first bulkheads are provided at at least two positions in the region within the width of the floor cross member in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second bulkhead is provided at at least one position in the region outside the width of the floor cross member, and
w1 < w2 is satisfied, where w1 represents an interval between two adjacent first bulkheads, and w2 represents an interval between one of the first bulkheads and the second bulkhead adjacent to the one of the first bulkheads.
Claims 22-27 are objected to because of the following informalities: The preambles of these claims are not consistent with claim 20. It is suggested that the phrase “lower structure of automotive body of the automobile” in lines 1-2 of each of these claims be changed to --lower automotive body structure--. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 28 is objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “in a vehicle width direction” in lines 3-4 is awkward, because the concept of a vehicle has not been previously introduced in the claim.
In lines 23 and 25, the phrase “provided at least two positions” and “provided at least one position” are incorrect, because the word “at” or “in” is missing, e.g. --provided at at least two positions--.
Appropriate correction is required. Examiner suggests the following amendments:
28. (Currently Amended) A side sill structure for a vehicle, comprising:
a partition member that vertically passes a closed sectional space in a side sill, the closed sectional space being partitioned into first and second closed sectional spaces in a vehicle width direction by the partition member, wherein
the side sill structure for the vehicle includes an impact absorbing structure including:
a pair of first and second sectionally groove-shaped members joined to the partition member in a state where the partition member is sandwiched from both sides in the first and second closed sectional spaces, and forming third and fourth closed sectional spaces with the partition member, respectively; and
bulkheads provided at a plurality of positions spaced apart from each other in a vehicle front-rear direction in the third and fourth closed sectional spaces, each of the bulkheads being provided in each of the third and fourth closed sectional spaces along the vehicle width direction to partition the third and fourth closed sectional spaces, the bulkheads including: first bulkheads provided in a region within a width of the floor cross member in the vehicle front-rear direction; and a second bulkhead provided in a region outside the width of the floor cross member,
in the impact absorbing structure, one of the bulkheads is provided in the third closed sectional space and another one of the bulkheads is provided in the fourth closed sectional space to face each other in the vehicle width direction with the partition member interposed therebetween, and each of the bulkheads is joined to at least the first sectionally groove-shaped member or the second sectionally groove-shaped member,
the first bulkheads are provided at at least two positions in the region within the width of the floor cross member in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second bulkhead is provided at at least one position in the region outside the width of the floor cross member, and
w1 < w2 is satisfied, where w1 represents an interval between two adjacent first bulkheads, and w2 represents an interval between one of the first bulkheads and the second bulkhead adjacent to the one of the first bulkheads.
Claims 29 and 31-37 are objected to because of the following informalities: It is suggested that the phrase “for the automobile” be deleted from line 1 of each of these claims, in order to be consistent with the amendments suggested above. Appropriate correction is required.
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 27 and 34 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 27 and 34, the phrase “500 MPa grade” is confusing. It is unknown what the word “grade” contributes to this limitation, and its inclusion imparts potential ambiguity into the claim. It is suggested that the word “grade” simply be deleted.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 20, 22-26, 28, 29, 31-33, and 35-37 are allowed.
Claims 27 and 34 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.
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 ROBERT E FULLER whose telephone number is (571)272-6300. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30AM - 5:30PM.
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, Tara Schimpf can be reached at 571-270-7741. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ROBERT E FULLER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3676
Prosecution Insights