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
The numbering of claims is not in accordance with 37 CFR 1.126 which requires the original numbering of the claims to be preserved throughout the prosecution. When claims are canceled, the remaining claims must not be renumbered. When new claims are presented, they must be numbered consecutively beginning with the number next following the highest numbered claims previously presented (whether entered or not).
Misnumbered duplicate claim 8 has been renumbered 9.
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 7-12 are 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. The phrase “the seat back frame” lacks proper antecedent basis.
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) 1-3, 5-9 and 11-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Iwakata et al (2018/0279791). Iwakata et al. disclosed the use of a vehicle front seat pass-through plastic (40) comprising: a front pass-through (41) positioned adjacent a headrest; a rear pass-through (63) positioned adjacent the headrest; a mechanism (44,66, Fig. 8) slidably coupling the front pass-through with the rear pass-through (during assembly see para[0065]) for enabling movement of the front pass-through with respect to the rear pass-through when a seat back cushion is moved into a seat back frame (during assembly). The slidable coupling includes a plurality of sliding snaps (44,66) that comprises a loop (66) coupled with a stop (44). Regarding claims 5-6, the front and rear pass-throughs include a reinforcement members (43,45,67) and the front pass -through slides (telescopically) on the rear pass-through (during assembly). Regarding claim 7, Iwakata et al. shows the use of a vehicle seat (S) with a seat frame (F1) along with a seat back (S2) and a seat back frame (F2).
Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Adachi et al (7367603). Adachi et al. disclosed the use of a vehicle front seat pass-through plastic (30) comprising: a front pass-through (31) positioned adjacent a headrest; a rear pass-through (41) positioned adjacent the headrest; a mechanism (33,43, Fig. 6) slidably coupling the front pass-through with the rear pass-through (during assembly) for enabling movement of the front pass-through with respect to the rear pass-through when a seat back cushion is moved into a seat back frame (during assembly). The slidable coupling includes a plurality of sliding snaps (33,43) that comprises a loop (43a) coupled with a stop (33a). Regarding claim 4, the front pass through has apertures ((61a) via the headrest skin member) that received headrest posts (25) therein. Regarding claims 5-6, the front and rear pass-throughs include a reinforcement members (35,45) and the front pass -through slides (telescopically) on the rear pass-through (during assembly). Regarding claim 7, Adachi et al. shows the use of a vehicle seat (1) that inherently has a seat frame along with a seat back (2) and an inherent seat back frame.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Reference Nos. 2011/0272977, 7.537,282, 6,585,318, and DE 10030549 A1 show features of the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY D BARFIELD whose telephone number is (571)272-6852. 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. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANTHONY D BARFIELD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
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June 27, 2026
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