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: the term “their” should be deleted. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 3, 6, 7 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.
The phrase “a terminal or a reciprocal terminal respectively” is unclear.
Claims 3 and 10 recites the limitation "the flap". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 6 and 7 recites the limitation "the supporting part". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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, 4 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Prior art (JP S5950836 A).
Prior art (JP S5950836 A) discloses a system for covering a motor vehicle luggage compartment, the system comprising an assembly for covering the compartment 48, the assembly comprising a shelf 31 removable by vertical translation and an electrical device 52, 53, the shelf comprising a power supply socket 37 for the device disposed along one of its
lateral edges, as shown in Figure 3, the socket being provided with a plurality of power supply terminals 39 for the device (see Figures 3 and 4), two side trims 46 of the compartment receiving the shelf, one of the trims being provided with a reciprocal socket for receiving the socket (see Figure 3), the reciprocal socket being provided with a plurality of reciprocal terminals (see Figures 3 and 5) for receiving each of the terminals, the connection of the terminals and reciprocal terminals being made by mounting the shelf on the trims (see Figure 3), the system being characterized in that a terminal or a reciprocal terminal, respectively is in the form of a blade extending in a transverse vertical plane (see Figures 3 and 5), a reciprocal terminal or a terminal 57, respectively being in the form of a spring-loaded metal clamp defining a vertically opening aperture 68, the clamp comprising two branches 59, 64 resiliently biased towards one another (see Figure 5), the end portions of the branches diverging from one another upon directing towards free ends, so as to define a flared shape 58, 63 enabling the terminal 39 or the reciprocal terminal, respectively to be inserted so as to be squeezed between the branches, the sockets, once connected to one another, can slide with a minimum transverse clearance of 5 mm, while remaining connected, so as to allow absorption of transverse positioning tolerances of the shelf with respect to its nominal position, while ensuring power supply to the device. The electrical device 52, 53 is in the form of an electrodynamic transducer because sound is produce from speaker 51, see Figure 3. The socket 37 is connected to the electrical device 52, 53 by cables which fit into a trench provided in the shelf 31, the trench being closed by a layer of covering material, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 5 and 8 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art recited discloses common inventive concepts as the claimed present invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Faye M. Fleming whose telephone number is (571)272-6672. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am-5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Vivek Koppikar can be reached at (571) 272-5109. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FAYE M FLEMING/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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