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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species II in the reply filed on 2/10/2026 is acknowledged.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the lighting device must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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 5-6 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.
Claim 5-6 recites the limitation "at least one cover". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Furthermore, it’s unclear if the claims intended to introduce this term within themselves or to depend on a claim which introduces this term. For the purposes of examination, the former is assumed.
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 (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).
However, Cervone does not teach a light reflecting surface 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.
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 applied a light reflecting surface is provided at 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 in Cervone 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 (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).
However, Cervone does not teach a light reflecting surface is provided at least part of an upper surface, of the outer handle, that is exposed to an outside in the pop-up position.
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 applied a light reflecting surface is provided at at least part of an upper surface, of the outer handle, that is exposed to an outside in the pop-up position in Cervone 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 configured to cover at least part of the upper surface is detachably attached, and the light reflecting surface is provided at at least a rear surface of the at least one cover.
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 light reflecting surface is provided at at least a rear surface of the at least one cover (Nolan teaches applying to any surface).
In regards to claim 5, Cervone in view of Nolan teaches the outer handle device for a vehicle door, according to claim 1, wherein a pivot shaft (42) configured to guide and support a pivotal movement of the outer handle (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 (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 (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 2, wherein a pivot shaft (42) configured to guide and support a pivotal movement of the outer handle (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 (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 (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 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 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 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 light reflecting surface in order to indicate the status of the handle (see Nolan para 30).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Aubry EP 1975348 A1 – teaches a similar device.
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