February 12, 2026
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 § 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 1-12 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.
In claim 1, line 13 and Claim 12, line 13, Applicant uses the word “it” in the claim language. The use of pronouns in claims is prohibited. Applicant needs to replace each instance of the word “it” with the actual structure that is being described or referenced.
The aforementioned problem renders the claims vague and indefinite. Clarification and/or correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(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 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by HALAND et al. (GB 2270834 A).
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As for claim 1, HALAND et al. teach a child safety seat stabilizing assembly comprising: a shell 15 defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular (when the shell is rotated in the position shown in annotated Fig. 2 above), the rear facet and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the rear facet and a lower edge of each opposed side forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the lower edge of each opposed side forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear surface of a child safety seat, wherein the shell is configured to be positioned between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety seat such that it can be securely fastened (see the shape of the shell 15 shown in Figures 1-2 above), using one or more straps 4, to anchors integral to the vehicle, thereby enabling use of the child safety seat to transport a child in a cargo area of the vehicle.
As for claim 2, HALAND et al. teach that the base, the rear facet, and the front facet are each substantially rectangular shaped.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-11 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.
Claim 12 would 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.
Claims 13-14 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: HALAND et al. (GB 2270834 A) fails to teach opposed sides extending past the base defining a pair of bottom rails and a bottom recess, the bottom recess facilitating access to the one or more straps used in fastening the child safety seat to the anchors; the shell having a void extending into said rear facet and said base, the void defining a vertical section and an angular section of the rear facet, such that a space exists between the vertical section and the rear surface of the passenger seat of the vehicle upon positioning of the angular section against the rear surface of the passenger seat, the space facilitating access to the one or more straps used in fastening the child safety seat to the anchors; and a connector attached to the rear facet of the shell and being configured to removably attach the shell to the rear surface of the passenger seat, wherein the connector is configured to limit movement of the shell relative to the passenger seat during attachment of the child safety seat to the anchors, the connector comprising a hook element of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the hook element is configured to reversibly attach to a loop element of a hook and loop fastener or to loop carpeting attached to the rear surface of the passenger seat, as defined in claim 12. HALAND et al. (GB 2270834 A) fails to teach a ratcheting strap comprising a first section fitted with a first hook and a second section fitted with a second hook and a ratchet; positioning the shell between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety; attaching the first hook to one of the anchors and the second hook to another of the anchors; positioning the rear facet of the shell against the rear surface of the passenger seat; positioning the rear face of the child safety seat against the front facet of the shell; passing the first section of the ratcheting strap through a channel in the child safety seat; feeding the first section of the ratcheting strap into the ratchet; and manipulating the ratchet to tighten the ratcheting strap so that the child safety seat and the shell are fixedly positioned relative to the passenger seat., as defined in claim 13.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rodney B. White whose telephone number is (571)272-6863. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David R. Dunn can be reached at (571) 272-6670. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Rodney B White/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636