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 Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: “are coupled each other” is suggested to read as “are coupled to each other.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities: “a fixing members is inserted” is suggested to read as “a fixing member is inserted.” Appropriate correction is required.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed August 12, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
At present, the prior art to Sano et al. (U.S. Patent 9,953,819 B2) and Bartilucci (U.S. Patent 5,663,707 A) remain applicable to the claims.
In response to Applicant’s arguments concerning the newly amended limitation, “in a state where the body of the at least one of the plurality of lamp units and the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units are coupled (to) each other, the coupling portion is in contact with a rear surface of the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units,” Sano discloses, “The panel member 12 is disposed to surround the first and second lamp units 20, 40,” but does not specifically teach the coupling portion (12) being in contact with a rear surface of the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units. However, it would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the vehicular lamp to have incorporated the coupling portion to be in contact with a rear surface of the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units, so as to ensure greater security and/or promote illumination efficacy. Such an obvious modification is highlighted below in the prior art rejection.
All arguments hinge on the above and have been addressed by the Examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 1-2, 4, 6, and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sano et al. (U.S. Patent 9,953,819 B2) in view of Sazuka et al. (JP 2005-141919 A).
With regards to Claim 1, Sano discloses a vehicular lamp configured to be mounted on a vehicle [Figures 1-7], the vehicular lamp including:
A plurality of lamp units (20, 40), each of the plurality of lamp units including a light emitting element (22, 42), a lens (24, 44) disposed on a front side relative to the light emitting element, and a body [e.g., (46, 54)] supporting the light emitting element,
Wherein the body of at least one of the plurality of lamp units includes a coupling portion [e.g., (12)] configured to couple the body of the at least one of the plurality of lamp units with the body of another one of the plurality of lamp units.
Sano does not specifically teach in a state where the body of the at least one of the plurality of lamp units and the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units are coupled (to) each other, the coupling portion is in contact with a rear surface of the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units.
Sazuka teaches in a state where a body of at least one of a plurality of lamp units [e.g., (40, 50A-B)] and a body of another one of the plurality of lamp units being coupled to each other [note Figure 3], whereby a coupling portion (22, 24) is in contact with a rear surface of the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units [note Figure 3].
It would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the vehicular lamp of Sano to have incorporated the coupling portion of Sazuka, such that the body of at least one of the plurality of lamp units and the body of another one of the plurality of lamp units are coupled to each other, the coupling portion being in contact with a rear surface of the body of the another one of the plurality of lamp units, as taught in principle by Sazuka, in order to provide additional support as needed, and/or promote illumination efficacy by providing the support from blocking any light.
With regards to Claim 2, Sano discloses the coupling portion (12) [Sazuka teaches the coupling portion (22)] being a plate-shaped member configured to contact a surface of another body in a state in which the body including the coupling portion is coupled with the another body [note Figures 1-7].
With regards to Claim 4, Sano discloses orientations of light emitting surfaces of light emitting elements of the respective lamp units differ from one another in a state in which the lamp units are attached to the vehicle [note Figures 1-7 and Column 4, Lines 14-21].
With regards to Claim 6, Sano discloses orientations of light emitting surfaces of light emitting elements of the respective lamp units differ from one another in a state in which the lamp units are attached to the vehicle [note Figures 1-7 and Column 4, Lines 14-21].
With regards to Claim 9, Sano in view of Sazuka discloses the claimed invention as modified and cited above. In addition, Sazuka teaches the coupling portion (22, 24) having a first hole into which a fixing member(s) is inserted and a second hole into which a positioning pin is inserted [note Figure 3: both sides with (24)].
Claims 3, 5, and 7-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sano et al. (U.S. Patent 9,953,819 B2) in view of Sazuka et al. (JP 2005-141919 A) as applied to Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, respectively above, and further in view of Bartilucci (U.S. Patent 5,663,707 A).
With regard to Claims 3 and 5, Sano in view of Sazuka et al. (JP 2005-141919 A) discloses the claimed invention as modified and cited above, but does not specifically teach a cord configured to supply power to the light emitting element for each of the lamp units, wherein the cord of each of the lamp units is wired by a common wiring component.
Bartilucci discloses a vehicular lamp [Figures 1-4] and teaches a cord [e.g., (42)] configured to supply power to a light emitting element for each of a plurality of lamp units [e.g., (30, 32, 34)], wherein the cord of each of the lamp units is wired by a common wiring component [e.g., (40)].
It would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the vehicular lamp of Sano in view of Sazuka to have incorporated a cord configured to supply power to the light emitting element for each of the lamp units, wherein the cord of each of the lamp units is wired by a common wiring component, as taught in principle by Bartilucci, in order to provide sufficient control/power to the various light emitting elements as desired. Such an obvious configuration/modification is well-known and established within the art with respect to light emitting elements and power distribution via wiring/cords.
With regard to Claims 7-8, Sano in view of Sazuka, and further in view of Bartilucci discloses the claimed invention as modified and cited above. In addition, Sano discloses orientations of light emitting surfaces of light emitting elements of the respective lamp units differ from one another in a state in which the lamp units are attached to the vehicle [note Figures 1-7 and Column 4, Lines 14-21].
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON M HAN whose telephone number is (571)272-2207. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM EST M-F.
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, Abdulmajeed Aziz can be reached at 571-270-5046. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
September 27, 2025
/Jason M Han/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875