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
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 8-10 and 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chernoff et al. (US 7,310,878).
The Chernoff et al. reference discloses a floor panel reinforcement member 20 for a vehicle attached to a floor panel 15 and comprising a front longitudinal portion 40 with integral left and right side walls (see Figure 2) that define a hollow volume (see Figure 6), a plurality of front transverse portions 42,44 and a front transition portion (i.e. any portion proximate reference numeral 44 in Figure 2), wherein the floor panel reinforcement member is formed from a single metal blank (see col. 4, lines 30-40).
In regard to claims 9 and 10, see col. 4, lines 30-40 and Figures 3-5 which clear show the process of hot stamping the member.
In regard to claims 12 and 13, see Figures 1 and 2.
In regard to claim 14, see the body 10 of a vehicle in Figure 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The Pyun reference pertains to a vehicle with a reinforcement member with similarities to that of Applicant’s.
The Soma reference pertains to another vehicle with a reinforcement member with similarities to that of Applicant’s.
Claim 11 is 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: none of the prior art of record, with the applied Chernoff et al. reference being the closest prior art device, alone or in combination, teach Applicant’s invention of a floor panel reinforcement panel inclusive of details regarding the ratio of the sum of the front transition portion side wall curvature radii to the sum of the heights of the of the front transition portions side walls is at least 4, as claimed (see the particulars of claim 11). To modify the closest prior art device to have such limitations would involve teachings gleaned only from the instant application for patent.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN O DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)272-4885. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 5:30-4:00 EST.
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/STEVEN O DOUGLAS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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