DETAILED ACTION65
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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 8/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The amendments present do not require all light reflective surfaces to covered in the housing and then becoming exposed, instead merely requiring “at least one”. In other words, the claim language does not require every element readable on a “light reflecting surface” present to be covered in the housed position just “at least one”.
Claim Objections
The claim objections are overcome by the present arguments.
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.
Claim(s) 1-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cervone et al. US 20220018168 A1 (hereinafter Cervone) in view of Nolan et al. US 20110121631 A1 (hereinafter Nolan).
In regards to claim 1, Cervone teaches an outer handle device for a vehicle door, comprising: an outer handle (16) including an operating portion (40) configured to be manually operated (see fig 5), and being attached to a support case (14) fixed to an outer panel of a door (12a; see fig 2) so as to be movable between a housed position (see fig 5) where an outer surface of the outer handle is substantially flush with an outer surface of the outer panel (see fig 5) and a pop-up position where the operating portion protrudes outward from the outer panel (see fig 8); and an actuator (20) configured to drive the outer handle from the housed position to the pop-up position (para 27), wherein the outer handle is attached to the support case so that the outer handle is fully stroked manually from the pop-up position to a full stroke position further outward (para 37) and at least one surface (a surface within 12a when the handle is retracted that becomes visible when the handle is extended note figs 5-6) wherein a first surface (a surface of the at least one surface above) is provided at least part of a rear surface of an end portion at least on a vehicle rear side among exposed surfaces of the outer handle that are exposed to an outside in the pop-up position (note figs 5-6 and 8), wherein each of the at least one surfaces is completely covered by the outer panel of the door when the outer handle is in the housed position (see figs 2 and 5).
However, Cervone does not teach the at least one surface is at least one light reflecting surface.
Nolan teaches a similar device where reflective tape may be applied to any part of the locking mechanism.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have Carvones at least one surface be a light reflecting surface in order to aid a user in locating or utilizing the handle (Nolan para 30).
In regards to claim 2, Cervone teaches an outer handle device for a vehicle door, comprising: an outer handle (16) including an operating portion (40) configured to be manually operated (see fig 5), and being attached to a support case (14) fixed to an outer panel of a door (12a; see fig 2)) so as to be movable between a housed position (see fig 5) where an outer surface of the outer handle is substantially flush with an outer surface of the outer panel (see fig 5) and a pop-up position where the operating portion protrudes outward from the outer panel (see fig 8); and an actuator (20) configured to drive the outer handle from the housed position to the pop-up position (para 27), wherein the outer handle is attached to the support case so that the outer handle is fully stroked manually from the pop-up position to a full stroke position further outward (para 37) and at least one surface (a surface within 12a when the handle is retracted that becomes visible when the handle is extended note figs 5-6) wherein a first surface (a surface of the at least one surface above) is provided at least part of an upper surface (see figs 2 and 5-6), of the outer handle , that is exposed to an outside in the pop-up position (see fig 6), wherein each of the at least one surfaces is completely covered by the outer panel of the door when the outer handle is in the housed position (see figs 2 and 5).
However, Cervone does not teach the at least one surface is at least one light reflecting surface.
Nolan teaches a similar device where reflective tape may be applied to any part of the locking mechanism.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have Carvones first surface be a light reflecting surface in order to aid a user in locating or utilizing the handle (Nolan para 30).
In regards to claim 3, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 1, wherein, on the upper surface, of the outer handle, that is exposed to the outside in the pop-up position, at least one cover (Cervone 38) configured to cover at least part of the upper surface is detachably attached (Cervone see fig 15), and the at least one light reflecting surface is provided at at least a rear surface of the at least one cover (Nolan teaches applying to any surface and Cervone’s 38 is covered when the handle is retracted).
In regards to claim 4, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 2, wherein, on the upper surface, of the outer handle, that is exposed to the outside in the pop-up position, at least one cover (Cervone 38) configured to cover at least part of the upper surface is detachably attached (Cervone see fig 15), and the at least one light reflecting surface is provided at at least a rear surface of the at least one cover (Nolan teaches applying to any surface and Cervone’s 38 is covered when the handle is retracted).
In regards to claim 5, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 3, wherein a pivot shaft (Cervone 42) configured to guide and support a pivotal movement of the outer handle (Cervone see figs 5 and 15) is fitted with the outer handle when the outer handle is pivotally operated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, and one of the at least one cover is provided with an engagement portion (Cervone portion covering the heads of the pins , see fig 17) configured to engage with the pivot shaft to prevent the pivot shaft from coming off the outer handle (Cervone see fig 17 and para 35).
In regards to claim 6, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 4, wherein a pivot shaft (Cervone 42) configured to guide and support a pivotal movement of the outer handle (Cervone see figs 5 and 15) is fitted with the outer handle when the outer handle is pivotally operated from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, and one of the at least one cover is provided with an engagement portion (Cervone portion covering the heads of the pins , see fig 17) configured to engage with the pivot shaft to prevent the pivot shaft from coming off the outer handle (Cervone see fig 17 and para 35).
In regards to claim 7, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 1.
However, Cervone does not teach wherein the outer handle is provided with a lighting device configured to illuminate the at least one light reflecting surface.
Nolan teaches a lighting device used to illuminate their locking mechanism to indicate the locked or unlocked position (para 30).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have the outer handle is provided with a lighting device configured to illuminate the at least one light reflecting surface in order to indicate the status of the handle (see Nolan para 30).
In regards to claim 8, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 2.
However, Cervone does not teach wherein the outer handle is provided with a lighting device configured to illuminate the at least one light reflecting surface.
Nolan teaches a lighting device used to illuminate their locking mechanism to indicate the locked or unlocked position (para 30).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have the outer handle is provided with a lighting device configured to illuminate the at least one light reflecting surface in order to indicate the status of the handle (see Nolan para 30).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PETER H WATSON whose telephone number is (571)272-5393. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9 - 5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine M Mills can be reached at (571) 272-8322. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PETER H WATSON/Examiner, Art Unit 3675
