DETAILED ACTION
The following action is in response to application 18/924,266 filed on October 23, 2024.
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 Interpretations
The limitations of a “cargo bed cover mode” and “cargo bed liner mode” have been interpreted as the system that covers or lines (which can be both) a cargo bed.
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) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Anthony (US 5110171). With regard to claim 1, Anthony teaches a multifunctional protection and storage system for a vehicle, comprising: at least two panels 18/12; and at least one hinge connecting two of the at least two panels (fold); wherein the at least two panels are configured to be arranged in at least two modes selected from a group consisting of: a cargo bed cover mode (Fig. 1), a cargo bed liner mode (Fig. 1), a storage box mode (Fig. 8), and a cabin protection mode (Fig. 1). With regard to claim 2, Anthony teaches the system, further comprising at least two fasteners (Col. 5, line 66 – Col. 6, line 5) formed on edges of the at least two panels, the fasteners configured to selectively connect two 18/16 of the at least two panels. With regard to claim 3, Anthony teaches the system, wherein the at least one hinge (fold) is a living hinge made of a same material as the at least two panels 18/12 (Col. 3, lines 6-11). With regard to claim 4, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cargo bed cover mode (Fig. 1) the at least two panels are arranged with at least one of the panels 12 spanning a vehicle cargo bed of the vehicle (Fig. 1). With regard to claim 5, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cargo bed cover mode the at least two panels are further arranged with at least one of the panels 12 in contact with a sidewall of the vehicle cargo bed (Col. 2, lines 26-27; wheel wells considered part of the sidewalls; “slidably loose” considered not tight or interference fit, but still in contact with the sidewalls). With regard to claim 6, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cargo bed liner mode the at least two panels are arranged with at least one of the panels 12 in contact with a vehicle cargo bed of the vehicle (Fig. 1). With regard to claim 7, Anthony teaches the system,
wherein in the cargo bed cover mode the at least two panels are further arranged with at least one of the panels 12 in contact with a sidewall of the vehicle cargo bed (Col. 2, lines 26-27; wheel wells considered part of the sidewalls; “slidably loose” considered not tight or interference fit, but still in contact with the sidewalls). With regard to claim 8, Anthony teaches the system,
wherein in the storage box mode (Fig. 8) the at least two panels comprise at least five panels 18/16/12/14/46 arranged and connected to form a box. With regard to claim 9, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cargo bed cover mode (Fig. 1) the at least five panels are connected by the at least one hinge (fold) and by at least one fastener (Col. 5, line 66- Col. 6, line 5). With regard to claim 10, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cabin protection mode the at least two panels are arranged with at least one of the panels 12 in contact with an interior of a cabin of the vehicle (Col. 2, lines 26-27; wheel wells considered part of the sidewalls; “slidably loose” considered not tight or interference fit, but still in contact with the sidewalls). With regard to claim 11, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cabin protection mode the at least two panels are further arranged with at least one of the panels 12 in contact with a vehicle cargo bed of the vehicle (Fig. 1). With regard to claim 12, Anthony teaches the system, wherein in the cabin protection mode the at least two panels are further arranged inside the cabin interior to at least partially form a box (Figs. 1 and 8).
Suggestions for Applicant
It is suggested applicant claim the specific details of the cargo bed cover mode (Fig. 1).
Some suggested limitations would be as follows:
Wherein in the cargo bed cover mode, the at least two panels comprise at least six connected panels, and wherein three panels vertically support three other panels above a cargo bed floor, and wherein the three vertically supported panels cover an entire length of the cargo bed.
Applicant would not need to amend claims 4 or 5, since they would not conflict with or repeat any suggested limitations above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Davis (US 4890874) has been cited to show a similar protection and storage system comprising: panels 16/18/14/14/12, living hinges 20/24; fasteners 38/42/54; the system being configured in a cargo liner mode, cargo cover mode, and storage box mode (Fig. 3).
Wilson (US 5464264) has been cited to show a similar protection and storage system comprising: panels 22/22/24, a hinge 54; fasteners 44/48; the system being configured in a cargo liner mode, cargo cover mode (Fig. 1C), and storage box mode (Fig. 1A).
Johnson (US 5524951) has been cited to show a similar protection and storage system comprising: panels 16/80/27/24/18/20/14, hinges 84; fasteners 29/74; the system being configured in a storage box mode (Fig. 3) and cabin protect mode (Figs. 1 and 3).
Brooker (US 5570921) has been cited to show a similar protection and storage system comprising: panels 14/18/20/16/12, living hinges (folds); fasteners (Col. 2line 40-44); the system being configured in a cargo liner mode (Fig. 3), cargo cover mode (Fig. 3), storage box mode (Fig. 2) and cabin protect mode (Fig. 2).
Inagaki (US 6644709) has been cited to show a similar protection and storage system comprising: panels 30/40/50/20/110/112/100/102, hinges 52/42/31/32; fasteners 60/70; the system being configured in a cargo liner mode (Fig. 8), cargo cover mode (Fig. 8), storage box mode (Fig. 4) and cabin protect mode (Fig. 4).
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/ROGER L PANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
/ROGER L. PANG/
Examiner
Art Unit 3655B
June 11, 2026
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