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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted February 26, 2026 and October 7, 2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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)(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) 1-10 and 12-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sykosch (DE 10205989).
In regards to claim 1, Sykosch teaches a support member (1) configured to route at least one fluid or electrical line (6) within a channel of a structural member (2), the support member (1) comprising: a conduit (sleeve of 1 comprising 11) having a wall (see the figure below) defining a passage configured to receive the at least one line (6), wherein the passage is capable to permit free movement of the at least one line (6) along a longitudinal axis of the conduit (sleeve of 1 comprising 11); and a plurality of longitudinal slots (see the figure below) formed in the wall of the conduit and configured to define, in an expanded state of the support member (see the figure below), a plurality of arms (the plurality of walls, see the figure below) radially extending from the conduit (see the figure below).
PNG
media_image1.png
521
507
media_image1.png
Greyscale
In regards to claim 2, Sykosch teaches a the support member of claim 1, wherein the conduit (11) and plurality of arms (see figure in claim 1) are configured for deployment within a structural member (2) of a vehicle (pipe - a thing used for transporting people or goods).
In regards to claim 3, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 2, wherein the structural member (2) is an axle (see figure 2).
In regards to claim 4, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 1, wherein each arm of the plurality of arms is formed from a portion of the wall (see figure 2).
In regards to claim 5, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms are spaced apart from each about a circumference of the conduit (1) (figure 2).
In regards to claim 6, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 5, wherein the plurality of arms are equally spaced about the circumference of the conduit (1) (figure 2).
In regards to claim 7, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms comprises at least two arms (see the arms in figure 2).
In regards to claim 8, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 7, wherein the plurality of arms are configured to contact an inner periphery of the channel (see the channel of 2, figure 2).
In regards to claim 9, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 8, wherein the plurality of arms contact the inner periphery of the channel (2) with sufficient force to retain the support member (1) at a location along a length of the structural member (2).
In regards to claim 10, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 1, wherein each arm of the plurality of arms comprises at least two linear sections defining the arm (se figure 2, starting from the top section and the bottom section of (1)).
In regards to claim 12, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 10, wherein the two linear sections are the same length (see figure 2).
In regards to claim 13, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms includes a first set of arms at a first location along the longitudinal axis and a second set of arms at a second location along the longitudinal axis (see figure 1).
In regards to claim 14, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a first conduit part and second conduit part (plurality of conduits 6, see figure 1), where the first conduit part comprises, for each arm of the plurality of arms, a first linear section and where the second conduit comprises, for each arm of the plurality of arms, a second linear section (see figure 1).
In regards to claim 15, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 14, wherein distal ends of the first and second linear sections comprise complementary arm coupling features (4,5) configured to connect the first and second linear sections to each other (see figure 1).
In regards to claim 16, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 14, wherein an end of the first conduit part (6) opposite the first linear section comprises a complimentary conduit (6) coupling feature (4,5) configured to connect the first conduit part (6) to a third conduit part )see the plurality of conduits (6) in figure 1) also comprising the complimentary conduit coupling feature (4,5).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sykosch (DE 10205989).
In regards to claim 11, Sykosch teaches the support member of claim 10 and the arm comprises two linear sections defining the arm and forming an arch shape relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit
Sykosch does not explicitly teach each arm of the plurality of arms comprises two linear sections defining the arm and forming a triangular shape.
It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to made the arm and forming a triangular shape, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the shape of a component. A change in shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Dailey, 357 F.2d 669, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 17-19 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. Hoi (US 6,809,266) teaches a cable sleeve with slits; Grajewski (DE 19742078) teaches a cable sleeve with slits.
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRYSTAL ROBINSON whose telephone number is (571)272-9258. The examiner can normally be reached on 9-5 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, Timothy Dole can be reached on (571)-272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KRYSTAL ROBINSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2848
Prosecution Insights