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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 6/25/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-3 are objected to because of the following informalities: “the connecting member” should read –flexible connecting member--. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 4-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schroedel et al. (US 2017/0149363).
In claim 1, Schroedel discloses (Fig. 1-11) a protective cover (34, 38) for a connector (12) of an electric device (1; [0036]) mounted on a vehicle ([0004]) and a cable (33) connected to the connector (12), the protective cover (34, 38) comprising: a first rigid protective member (38) that covers the connector (12); a second rigid protective member (respective 38) that covers the cable (33) extending from the connector (12) at a position distant from the connector (12); and a flexible connecting member (34) that is provided in a clearance between the first rigid protective member (38) and the second rigid protective member (respective 38) and connects the first rigid protective member (38) and the second rigid protective member (respective 38) while slacking away from the cable (33).
In claim 2, Schroedel discloses wherein: the connector (12) is attached to a side surface of the electric device (1; [0036]) in a vehicle width direction; and the connecting member (34) has a slack shape to project in the vehicle width direction.
In claim 4, Schroedel discloses wherein the electric device (1) is a unit including at least a drive motor of the vehicle ([0032]).
In claim 5, Schroedel discloses electrified vehicle comprising: an electric device (1); and the protective cover (34, 38) according to claim 1 that is provided for the electric device (1).
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(s) 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Schroedel et al. (US 2017/0149363) in view of Szilagyi et al. (US 2010/0170693).
In claim 3, Schroedel teaches the cover of claim 1, with the exception of wherein the connecting member is a mesh sheet member.
However, Szilagyi teaches a protective cover (Fig. 1-4) wherein the connecting member (26) is a mesh sheet member.
Therefore in view of Szilagyi, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have arrived at the claimed invention, in order to provide structural integrity to the cable and protect against cable damage caused by short circuit connections (Szilagyi; [0021]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Adachi et al. (US 2010/0243321) teaches a motor cable assembly connecting a motor and an inverter including a cable main body, which can move flexibly.
Kogure et al. (US 2020/0070748) teaches a wire harness including: a flexible conductor; a flexible restricting member extending along the conductor and restricting a path of the conductor; a flexible armoring member through which the conductor and the restricting member are inserted; a first holding member including a first recessed part and fixed to the vehicle body.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RASHAD H JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1231. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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RASHAD H. JOHNSON
Examiner
Art Unit 2834
/RASHAD H JOHNSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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