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 17 is objected to under 37 CFR 1.75(c) as being in improper form because a multiple dependent claim cannot depend from another multiple dependent claim. See MPEP § 608.01(n). Accordingly, the claim 17 has not been further treated on the merits.
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) 1-5 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kiousis et al. (US 2003/0085586).
The Kiousis et al. reference discloses a removable top (see at least Figure 9) for a pick-up type vehicle comprising a top cover (150,180) with associated connecting plates (see overlapping flange proximate reference numerals 162 and 42 in Figure 5b) located on multiple sides thereof for detachable connecting to multiple side covers (60,90,30,120).
In regard to claims 2, 3 and 5, see one-to-one correspondence in Figure 9.
In regard to claim 4, see plate mounting arrangement in at least Figure 5b.
In regard to claim 8, see connecting plate of the top cover defines a splicing plate (see Figure 9) is as much structure as the term “splicing” defines.
Claims 6, 7 and 9-16 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 Wang et al. reference pertain to a vehicle top with overlapping plates on the side thereof.
The Deckard et al. and Voss references pertain to various vehicle tops with associated reinforcement structures.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art of record, with the applied Kiousis et al. reference being the closest prior art device, alone or in combination teach Applicant’s invention of a trunk cover for a vehicle with a top cover and multiple side cover with respective conning plates inclusive of details regarding a forth side cover with a mounting plate hinged to an outer frame thereof, a water groove provided with an opening structure covered by a second splicing plate or multiple reinforcement ribs arranged in a grid-like distribution where the end portion of each reinforcement rib is connected to a first connecting plate, as claimed. To modify the closest prior art device to have such features would involve teachings gleaned only from the instant application for patent.
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/STEVEN O DOUGLAS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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