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 as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description:
Reference number 109 and 29’ are not included in the drawings.
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. 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.
The drawings are objected to because Fig. 5 lead line on the left side does not have a reference number.
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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “40” has been used to designate both backrest and headrest; “41” has been used to designate both backrest and headrest; in Fig. 5, “31” has been used to designate a side of seat cushion and in Figs. 2-4 “31” has been used to designate to a seat cushion.
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. 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.
All reference numbers in all claims must be corrected.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
On page 4, Applicant defines the reference number “2” in line 1 as “the body” and then in lines 9, 12, and 14 as “passenger compartment”.
Appropriate correction is required.
All reference numbers in specification must be corrected.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 10 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1: On pg. 1 in line 6 “first side (98, 99; 108, 109)” and “second side (98’, 99’; 108’, 109’)” are inconsistent with line 10 “second side (99, 109; 99’, 109’)” and line 13 “first side (98, 108; 99’, 108’)” and line 5 “second side (98, 108; 99’, 108’)”.
On pg. 2 in lines 1-2 “first seat (30)”, “second seat (31)”, and “third seat (32)” are inconsistent with pg. 1 in lines 8, 10 and 24 “first seat cushion (30)”, “second seat cushion (31)”, and “third seat cushion (32)”.
The same content applies to claim 10
Appropriate correction is required.
All reference numbers in all claims must be corrected.
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.
Claim 1 and 10 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.
Claims 1 and 10 recites the limitation “moving from the respective first edges (160, 160’) to the corresponding second edges (161, 161’);”. It is unclear what Applicant intends to mean by this language.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 10 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
In claims 1 and 10, the first and second side diverge from one another in a second configuration or the cockpit and the side seats converge towards one another in a configuration that forms the one single third seat for the driver rather than a configuration that forms the first and second seats. For example, Brncick discloses a middle seat configured from the side seats however not located in the front of the vehicle and the side seats only converge. Additionally Brncick discloses that the middle seat is not "one single" seat but is usable with first and second seats. It would not be obvious to someone of the ordinary art to include the passenger and driver’s side seat diverging and converging to configure a third seat in the middle.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Brncick, et al. (US 20110012386 A1) discloses a middle seat form from the left and right-side passenger’s wings. However, the sides do not diverge to a second configuration and is located in the back of the vehicle not the front cockpit.
Luce (US 2621708 A) shows in Figs. 1-2 the side arm movement of passenger seats.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Alma D Schuster whose telephone number is (571)272-8938. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 8:30am-6:30pm and Fri 7am-11am.
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, Amy R Weisberg can be reached at (571)270-5500. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Alma D. Schuster/Examiner, Art Unit 3612
/AMY R WEISBERG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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