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 § 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.
Claims 6-12 and 16-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2021/194430.
WO 2021/194430 discloses a vehicle comprising a chassis (3,5,20), an electronics module (6) connected to the chassis (3,5,20), a jack mount (54) connected to the chassis (3,5,20) and configured to support a jack (60), and a jack bracket (30,52), as shown in Figures 1-5. The term electronics module has been used in the applicant’s specification to refer to several different parts such as a battery, amplifier, or a driver assistance controller, as disclosed in paragraph [0043]. The electric cord (6) appears to meet the term as used by applicant since it is part of the vehicle electrical system. The jack bracket (30,52) is connected to the jack mount (54) and the chassis (3,5,20) such that the jack bracket (30,52) is positioned between the electronics module (6) and the jack mount (54) to thereby inhibit contact with the electronics module (6) during retrieval and placement of the jack (60), as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
In reference to claim 7, the jack bracket (30,52) includes a body (30) and a guard (52) extending laterally from the body (30) along a width of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 5. The guard (52) is generally aligned with the electronics module (6), as shown in Figure 5.
In reference to claim 8, the guard (52) includes a generally J-shaped configuration at the lateral end of the guard (52), as shown in Figure 3B.
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In reference to claim 9, the body (30) includes a pair of legs (32) and a bridge extending between the pair of legs (32), as shown in Figure 3A-5.
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In reference to claim 10, the body (30) is configured such that the pair of legs (32) and the bridge subtend first and second angles therebetween, as shown in Figure 3B.
In reference to claim 11, the body (30) is configured such that the first and second angels are generally identical, as shown in Figure 3B.
In reference to claim 12, the body (30) is configured such that the first and second angles are greater than or equal to 90 degrees, as shown in Figure 3B.
In reference to claim 16, the vehicle comprises a chassis (3,5,20), a jack mount (54) connected to the chassis (3,5,20) and configured to support a jack (60), and a jack bracket (30,52) connected to the jack mount (54) and the chassis (3,5,20) such that the jack (60) is exclusively supported by the chassis (3,5,20), the jack mount (54), and the jack bracket (30,52), as shown in Figures 1-5.
In reference to claim 17, the chassis includes the floor panel (3) and a cross member (20) connected to the floor panel (3) such that the cross member (20) extends laterally along a width of the vehicle, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The jack mount (54) is indirectly connected to the cross member (20), as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In reference to claim 18, the jack bracket (30,52) is connected to the jack mount (54) via upper fasteners, welds, and to the chassis (3,5,20) via lower fasteners, welds, as disclosed on lines 22-25 of page 5 and lines 22-30 of page 6.
In reference to claim 19, the jack bracket (30,52) is configured such that the upper fasteners and the lower fasteners are oriented in a generally orthogonal relation, as shown in Figure 3C, since the lower fasteners will extend generally vertical and the upper fasteners will extend generally horizontally.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 are allowed.
Claims 13-15 and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The primary reason for indicating allowable subject matter of claims 1, 13, and 20 is the lower flanges extending rearwardly from the pair of legs and the guard, which is not found in the prior art of record. The closest prior art, WO 2021/194430, has lower brackets that extend laterally from the pair of legs and in front of the guard. Extending the lower brackets to extend rearwardly from the legs and the guard does not make sense because it would increase material costs and weight while interfering with the jack mount.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY A BLANKENSHIP whose telephone number is (571)272-6656. The examiner can normally be reached 7-4:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amy 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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GREGORY A. BLANKENSHIP
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3612
/GREGORY A BLANKENSHIP/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612 June 24, 2026
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